Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1909-06-05

striking several of the older senators
with horror.
Senator Tillman of South Carolina
was making nothing less than an i'm
FASHIONED speech. He was reaching
toward the skies of oratory, when
Senator Warren left his seat, unseen
by Tillman, 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 Tilmans
aide, slipped into his pocket and came
out again holding in its clutch a big
black bottle.
All unconscious, Tiliman 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
n gasp, then smothered and stimuli
taneous gurgle of horror from hun
dred threats, and then roaring
laughter.
Tfllman 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 strove q
for words, but they would not come n
Ills 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-
Rately for Senator Tillman, it had been
put into black and suspicious bottle.
A sore throat was the reason for it's
carrying, and while the South Caro-
unian 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, by
graphic presentation of the case of
Maj. Seymour Howell, an army pay
master, secured an order on the treas.
ury OF the United States for $4,000
to reimburse the officer for that
amount which disappeared in the
philippine islands. The story as told
by Senator Burrows to his colleagues
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.
lion. 1t is known definitely, however.
that the paymaster was in no wise
10 blame for the disappearance of the me
Maj. Howell. paymaster was trav,
through the Philippines with an armed q
He had with him chest containing a
sum Of money with which to pay the tr
at the different camps. The chest was dc
locked at all times, and night and day
dnel stood by it with loaded rifle in
hands. No one had keys to the chest
Maj. Howell and he kept them fastened t
person.
II one Of the sentinels had been dishon
inclined he could not have opened the
without duplicate keys, and the originals
of 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 CHI
was offered for the making of keys.
Money to the amount of 81 900 disappe
from the chest at some time while it
under the watch and ward of sentinel 81
tDg SO close to it that he could reach it
his rifle. Search failed to reveal a Ger
the money. Maj Howell at once made
soss good by a personal check drawn or
own bank account The case is one of
army mysteries to this day, and the recit
The story gave congress an interesting qu
of an hour
Neither senate nor house makes light of
sion pleas in the presence of the gale
but some of the would-be 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 pens
ON many an occasion, though doubtless k
ing that pensions were unearned and
served, but the day Of that sort of THU
passing, If 1t has not altogether gone.
member was asked to use his influence
cure an increase of pension for the wido
soldier. There were papers forwarde
him which bore on the case, and thes
turned over to the committee on pension:
er his bill had been introduced.
The widow did not get her money, al
vas not long before the whole house kne
Pc member who had espoused the vic
1use had been in congress for years, anC
PIKE at his expense was too good to keep
fue after another of his colleagues W;
~ TO his desk and congratulated him or
Iisdom shown in the plea which in VIZ
ITm he had turned in to the committee tC
Inc widows case.
1t is perhaps needless to say that the !
Der had never read the plea. 1t set
TIE fact that while the amount of pensio
crease that the widow of the soldier
asked for was large, IL must be unders
that she came of good family, moved in
best social circles and was in need of a
sum OF money to keep up appearances.
Upon occasions senators and representa-
permit their constituents to do their Ia