The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1909-05-27

with horror
Senator Tillman of South Carolina
was making nothing less than an inn
FASHIONED speech He was reaching
toward the skies of oratory. when
Senator Warren left his seat unseen
by Tillnan and took station behind
the South Carolinian The speaker
had both hands high over his head di-
recting the soaring of his thoughts
and words. Warren took a step for
ward. His hand stole to Tillman's
side, slipped into his pocket and came
ont again holding in its clutch a big
black bottle
All unconscious, Tiilman went on
with his words of fire Warren held
his find aloft in full view of the pre-
siding officer, of his colleagues and
of the crowded galleries There was
gasp, then a smothered and stimuli
taneous gurgle of horror from a hun
dred threats, and then roaring
laughter
Tillman turned and knowledge of
the awfulness of the situation came
to him. For once, possibly for the
first time in his life. he was stag e
gered to speochlessness He strove
for words, but they would not come.
His face. was black with something g
much like anger Then the cloud II
cleared and smile broke through
Speech returned, and two words
came: "Boracic acid"
1t was boracic acid, but unfortu-
nately for Senator Tilman, it had been
put into black and suspicious bottle
A sore throat was the reason for its 4
carrying, and while the South Caro-
linan is man of truth. he would
not let the matter pass until he had
passed the bottle and had forced his
comrades to smell the stuff and make I
clean his temperance record.
Senator Burrows of Michigan, by
graphic presentation of the case of
Maj Seymour Howell an army nav N
master, secured an order on the treas G
ury of the United States for $4,000 Is
to reimburse the officer for that H
I amount which disappeared in the "
Philippine islands. The story as told 4
by Senator Burrows to his colleagues Il
had all the interest of a Sherlock
Holmes tale. save that for the mvs.
terry involved there was no solution
To this day there has been no solu-
ton 1t is known definitely, however
that the paymaster was In no wise
to blame for the disappearance of the M
l. Nal Howell, paymaster, was trav
through the Philippines with an armed g
He had with him chest containing
sum of money with which to pay the Il
at the different camps. The chest was d,
locked at all times, and night and day a
tinel stood by 1t with a loaded rifle il
hands. No one had keys to the chest
Maj. Howell and he kept them fastened t
| person.
If one of the sentinels had been dishon
inclined he could not have opened the
without duplicate keys, and the originals
of Il kind difficult in the extreme to cou
felt. The guard was composed of men ri
for the pay journey at the last moment
trip was rapid one and no. possible ct
| was offered for the making of keys.
Money to the amount of So 900 disappe
from the chest at some time while it
under the watch and ward of a sentinel S
ing so close to it that he could reach it
his rifle. Search failed to reveal a Gel
the money. Maj. Howell at once made
loss good by personal check drawn OF
own bank account. The case is one OF
army mysteries to this day, and the recit
| the story gave congress an interesting gu
of an hour.
| Neither senate nor house makes light of
J sion pleas in the presence of the gall
but some of the wouldbe pensioners
| comic roles in the committee rooms and
ridors. Claimants who can prove things
| treated as old soldiers and old soldiers
ows ought to be treated-decently and r
emily.
Congress in its weakness has voted pen
| on many an occasion though doubtless \
ing that pensions were unearned and
served. but the day of that sort of thii
passing, If 1t has not altogether gone
member was asked to use his influence
cure an increase of pension for the wide
soldier. There were papers forwarde
him which bore on the case, and thes
turned over to the committee on pensions
er his bill had been introduced.
The widow did not get her money, a
was not long before the whole house kne
The member who had espoused the wiz
cause had been in congress for years. an,
Joke at his expense was too good to keep
! one after another of his colleagues WI
up to his desk and congratulated him oil
wisdom shown In the plea which in WI
form he had turned in to the committee t.
the widows case.
1t is perhaps needless to say that the
Der had never read the plea. 1t set
the fact that while the amount of pensio
crease that the widow of the soldier
asked for was large. 1t must be underl
that she came of good family, moved II
best social circles and was in need of
sum of money to keep up appearances.
| Upon occasions senators and representa-
| permit their constituents to do their ia