The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1910-03-11
Washington Letter.
(By S. H. CARR.)

that given Senator Gordon when he
concluded his farewell address to
that body. Applause by members
of the Senate is prohibited by the
rules just as it is prohibited on the
part of the galleries, yet all joined
in the clapping for the Misslssippian
and the Vice Presidential gavel for
got to fall.
Senator's said that not since the
message froR Admiral Sampson
back in 1898, when he announced
the victory over the Spanish feet
was read on the floor of the Senate,
have Senators themselves been
known to give vent to cheer. At
that time as when Colonel Gordon
concluded, the whole chamber re
sponded with vigorous applause,
andthen, as now, the gavel had no
part in the proceedings.
Occasionally some enthusiast in
the gallery breaks forth into cheers,
but he is Immediately silenced by
the Vice President with the admonl-
ton not to repeat the offense against
the body's dignity.
One of the amusing phases of
Colonel Gordon's speech was the
manner in which the speaker
managed to throw Senator Bailey
into the shade.
1t was the dav of the Texas
Senator's speech in opposition to
the postal savings bank bill. AS
always happens when Bailey. speaks,
there was crowd. The galleries
were filled and the Senate lawyers,
who love an argument on the Con-
stttutien, were ON hand. Senator
Bailey came up to expectations and
no one was disappointed.
Then, when the stage was set,
with the crowd on hand on the
Senate floor and in the galleries,
Colonel Gordon, past seventy-seven
years, tall, gray-haired and vener-
able, arase and spoke out of the
fullness of his heart in simple re-
markable eloquence.
And, in the papers the next day,
in which, ordinarily, Bailey would
have been accorded columns, the
speech on the constitutionality of
the postal savings bank measure was
little noticed. Colonel got yards
Of space. TIe could not have
spoken uader circumstances better
calculated to attract notice.
Unless the Loyal Legion and the
G. A. r. hasten to bring more
pressure to bear on Congress, the
Volunteer Officers Retirement bill
will not be passed at this session of
Congress.
Congress will insist upon being
shown conclusively that the people
of the country are IN favor of the
bill before it adds the amount of
expenditure necessary to provide
the pay of the benshclaries to the
expenses of the Government. About
SIS 700, 600 per annum will be re-
quired to meet the obligations
incurred by the bill if it passes.
The veteran organizations had
better begin to move promptly ia
the matter, and let the Senator's and
Representatives, know by means of
petitions and other methods, for
wardsd in a systematic manner,
that the opinion in their respective
constituencies is in favor of the bill.
The bill drafted by Senator Curtis,
with the amendments suggested by
the Loyal Legion and embodied In
the bill subsequently introduced by
Senator Warner of Missouri, seems
to be the most acceptable to Con.
gress; but the persistent question of
money must be met to the satisfac-
lion of the lawmakers at the Capitol
before they will pass the bill.
The churches at Washington are
offering especially effective musical
programs during Lent. The mest