The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-07-01
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uSSylsGJy sion the senate was I'm
dignified to the point of
striking several of the older senators
with horror
Senator Tillman of South Carolina
was making nothing less than an i'm
passioned speech. He was reaching
toward the skies of oratory, when
Senator Warren left his seat unseen
by Tillman, and took station behind
the South Caroinian The speaker
had both hands high over his head d.
recting the soaring of his thoughts
and words. Warren took step for
ward. His hand stole to Tillman's
side, slipped into his pocket and came
out again holding in its clutch a big
black bottle.
All unconscious, Tiiman 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 throats, 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
gered to speechlessness. He stroye
FOR words, but they would not come.
His face was black with something
much like anger. Then the cloud
cleared and a smile broke through
Speech returned, and two words
came: "Boracic acid"
1t was boracic acid, but unfortu-
nately for Senator Tillman, it had been
put into black and suspicious bottle
A sore throat was the reason for its
carrying, and while the South Caro-
linian 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
clean his temperance record
Senator Burrows of Michigan. bv
graphic presentation of the case of
Maj. Seymour Howell. an army nav.
master. secured an order on the treas.
ury of the United States for, 80. 900
to reimburse the officer for that
amount which disappeared in tho
Philippine islands. The story as told
by Senator Burrows to his colleagues
mad all the interest of a Sherlock
Holmes tale. save that for the mys.
terry involved there was no solution
To this day there has been no solu.
tion. 1t Is known definitely, however.
that the paymaster was in no wise
to blame for the disappearance of the
Mai Howell, paymaster, was tr
through the Philippines with an armed
He had with him a chest containing
sum of money with which to pay the
at the different camps. The chest was
locked at all times. and night and day
tinel stood by it with a loaded rifle
hands. No one had keys to the che.
Maj Howell and he kept them fastened
person.
IL one of the sentines had been dish
inclined he could not have opened tn,
without duplicate keys, and the origina
OF kind difficult in the extreme to c
felt. The guard was composed of men
for the pay journey at the last momen
trip was rapid one and no possible
was offered for the making of keys
Money to the amount of SO 900 disaI
from the chest at some time while
under the watch and ward of sentinel
ing so close to it that he could reach
his rife. Search failed to reveal a
the money. Maj Howell at once ms
loss good by a personal check drawn
own bank account The case is one
army mysteries to this day, and the re
the story gave congress an interesting
of an hour.
Neither senate nor house makes light
sion pleas in the presence of the &,
but some of the would-be pensionel
comic roles in the committee rooms a
ridors. Claimants who can prove thil
treated as old soldiers and old soldier
ows ought to be treated-decently ant
emily.
Congress in its weakness has voted p
on many an occasion, though doubles.
ing that pensions were unearned an,
served, but the day of that sort of I
passing, If 1t has not altogether gon,
member was asked to use his influenc
cure an increase of pension for the W
a soldier. There were papers forwa
him which bore on the case. and u
turned over to the committee on pensi
er his bill had been introduced.
The widow did not get her money,
was not long before the whole house
The member who had espoused the
cause had been in congress for years,
Joke at his expense was too good to Ike
one after another of his colleagues
up to his desk and congratulated him
wisdom shown in the plea which In
form he had turned In to the COMMITTEES
the widows case.
1t is perhaps needless to say that tn
ber had never read the plea. 1t sc
n.
crease that the widow of the soldi'
asked for was large, 1t must be und
that she came of good family. moved
best social circles and was in need OF
sum of money to>keep up appearance
Upon occasions senators and represe
permit their constituents to do their