The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-05
Especial TO The Messenger.)

w hC I'll
Washington, February 2.-The an
nual fight in the house of representa-
yves TO keep the distribution of free
seeds i'll the agricultural bill, may lead
10 an investigation that will blaze rho
way Tor reforms in this matter. which
mas been charged by some members I'm
deOateS TO be hedged all about with
petty graft. When the question was
De1ore the committee one Of the mem.
Ders brought out the fact that quite
large number of members Of the
house, especially those who have r1Iral
constituency, had for many years been
IN the habit OF selling their free seed
quota
1t was told that energetic young men
about the corridors had engaged In
thriving business in the purchase OF
quotas from those who did not wat
them and their sale to those members
who represented farming districts. The
suggestion has been made that IL would
be interesting TO know just what MEM
bers procured a little extra fYf1ney
through the sale Of their quota of free
seeds and that a comparison OF this
list with those who vote for the contin-
uance Of the practice might throw Il
little light upon the strength of the
vote to continue the practice that IS
condemned by some of the biggest msn
in the house. Many members look upon
this free seed distribution as a good
thing, and from some points of view.
it is, but, like everything else good, It
seems TO be easily abused
An incident happening in the senate
chamber during Mr.. Beveridge's speech
on the child labor bill shows that the
heart-burnings and bruises caused by
heated debate between senator's are
not necessarily Of long standin and in
capable OF being healed. During the
discussion Of the Brownsville affair the
feeling between Senators Tillnlan and
SpOOner became SO strong that Mr..
Spooner in his reply to Mr.. Tillnas
said he could no longer refer to him as
friend. TiIlman replied in kind but
more savagely. The debate became so
acrimonious that a secret session was
held TO discipline the fiery South Car
Gilman and subsequently he apologiZed.
to the senate and senator's.
Now, when Mr.. Beverfdge was talk.
ing ON his pet bill, Mr.. Tillman wanted
TO PROFOUND a few questions, but not
being q lawyer he did not quite see how
to frame his questions so as TO trap
the young Indianian. Spooncr was op-
posed TO the position Of Mr.. BeVeridgc
At one time in the course OF the three
days speech OF Mr.. BeyeridSe, Dir.
Spooner, was ON his feet subjectinS
him 70 a fire OF pertinent question.
Mr.. Tillman walked down from his
desk and throwing his arm around the
shoulders Of the man who only few
days before had declined to recogaize
him as a friend, suggested n question
skill eject ev shrdlu cmfwyp ybgFp
Spooner put the question as a lawyer
would put ii and then Tillman watched
for the answer. In this way Tilinhn
and Spooner combined poured dozeE
questions at Mr.. Beveridge al OF Lnen
apparently being suggested by Ar ihI-
man. and every one of them had TOT
their object the weakening OF Mr. Bev-
evidg9s argument When the iaSt
question had been asked and answered,
Mr.. Tillman took down his arm that
had laid affectionately on the shoulders
OF Mr.. Spooner. The two men turned
and whispered 10 each other, and sep
arated apparently well satisfied with
the punctures they had made In the
ar-mor of the doughty senator from
Indiana. Meanwhile the galleries were
astonished at the resumption OF those
old time personal friendly relations
between the two men who had joined
forces against the advocate OF the chiih
Ill