Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 October 1893 — THE EXTRA SESSION. [ARTICLE]

THE EXTRA SESSION.

President Cleveland was the object of a prolonged personal attack in the Senate, Monday, on the part of Sepator Stewart. Mr. Stewart spoke for nearly three hours on the resolution which he had offered as to the relative Independence of the three branches of the government. That independence he charged the President with disregarding in not causing the silver purchase law and the Chinese exclusion law to be faithfully executed. But worse even than the non-execution of these laws appeared to be, in Mr. Stewart’s opinion, were the contemptuous allusions to Congress, which he found in some of Mr, Cleveland’s letters and interviews. He was particularly embittered by the President’s allusions, In one of his letters, that “he had Congress on his hands.” This was an indignity beyond endurance. And then, in retaliation, the Nevada Senator scoffed at the President for his want of collegiate or any other liberal education that would fit him for his high office. He read the President’s brief biography fn the Congressional Di-rectory-laying much stress on and seeking to extract humor from the points of Mr. Cleveland’s career as an assistant teacher to the blind, clerk, sheriff, mayor and practicing lawver. Mr. Stewart spoke until 10 o’clock, and the repeal bill was then laid before the Senate as unfinished business. Mr. Stewart asked permission to go on and no objection being made he proceeded until he was interrupted by Senator Hoar for disrespectful remarks concerning Edward Atkinson, whom Mr. Stewart denounced as a financial crank. Mr. Hoar said that Mr Atkinson was one of his constituents and absolutely trustworthy as a statistican. Mr. Stewart then yielded the floor to Senator Cameron, of Pennsylvania, who said our manufacturers might flourish on low silver and a high tariff but'must perish on gold and low tariff. He proposed a gold loan of so many hundred million dollars as Congress may decide, to be bought at the market rate, and held in the treasury as the gold reserve is held in the Bank of France and by the governments of the Latin Union; to open our mints to the free coinage of American silver, in imposing a duty on the imports of foreign silver; to repeal the tax on State bank cir- 1 culation; also press once more for action in favor of our shipping; to meet, in part, the deficit of our income for next year by reimposing the duty of two cents a pound on sugar, and repeal the bounty. Then would wait a year to see how the system worked, and how far we were affected by foreign influence. Mr. Stewart then resumed his attack on the inferior i ability of the President, and held that he was utterly unfit and incapable of filling the presidential office. Finally Ke yielded the floor, and after a brief executive session the Senate adjourned.

In the House, Monday, the time was principally consumed in the consideration of the printing .bill. Mr. Morse, of Massachusetts, made an assault on Commissioner Lochren. In the Senate, Tuesday, Mr. Stewart held that no quorum was present and questioned the propriety of the Senate proceeding. Senator Harris presided, and ordered a roll calk But thirty-five members responded. A stay of proceedings was necessary until a quorum arrived. Mr. Stewart then presented resolutions adopted by a Cleveland mass meeting demanding an investigation as to whether Senators are interested in national banks, etc. Mr. Dubois, of Idaho, created a sensation by offering the following resolution, which went over until Wednesday. “Whereas. Several sovereign States are without full representation in the Senate to which they are entitled; therefore, be it - Resolved, That the consideration of legislation relating to the Federal election laws, tariff and finance matters as materially affecting the partially unrepresented States be postponed in tho Senate until Monday, Jan. 15,1894, to enable the States of Washington, Montana and Wyoming to have the votes, influence and protection in the Senate which are guaranteed each sovereign State by the constitution of the United States.” The resolution was laid on the tableyeas, 27; nays, 19. Tho repeal bill was then at 12:10 o’clock taken up. Mr. Stewart, who was recognized, said he would yield to Mr. Dubois of Idaho, who had given notice of an intention to speak today. Mr. Dubois in turn yielded to Mr. Perkins cf California, who spoke against repeal. At the conclusion of Mr. Perkin’s speech, Mr. Stewart resumed the floor, and continued his attack, of Monday, on the President. A heated argument be tween Mr. Stewart and Mr. Palmer ensued. Mr. Stewart declined to make specific charges but insinuated that the President had used official patronage to change the attitude of Congressmen on tne silver question. Mr. Morgan rose to make a personal explanation. Mr. Voorheps defended tho character es the President from the reflections of Mr. Stewart and paid a glowing tribute to his stalwart character and lofty integrity. After a short executive session the Senate adjourned.— - —— In tho Senate, Wednesday, thre was much excitement. The resolution of Mr Dubois postponing legislation on the federal election laws until Jan. 15, 1894, because of senatorial vacancies, was taken up. Mr. Dubois advocated its adoption. Mr. Wolcott said the States had yet time to be repretented before the vote came. Mr. Wolcott then spoke against cloture and repeal. Mr. Gorman obtained the floor and said tnat he perfectly understood the object of the resolution and of its discussion to be the consuming of time and to delay the action of the Senate on the repeal bill. He had not participated in tho discussion and was. therefore, amazocr that the Senator from Colorado, for whom he had great respect and fondness, should so far forget the great duty of an American Senator as to bring Into the discussion matters that did not belong to It; that he should Indulge In the Insinuation that Senators were controlled by improper motives. Mr. Wolcott said if the Senator from Maryland would read his remarks as uttered he would fall to find the slightest suggestion of impropriety of motive. “Of course I accept the disclaimer of the Senator,” said Mr. Gorman, “but I venture to say that no man who can road the English language' and understand It would have drawn any other conclusion from his remarks.” An acrimonious debate ensued between Messrs. Wolcott and Gorman. Incidentally Mr. Gorman accused MF. Wolcott of eavesdropping, or rather of

acting on information received from eavesdroppers. All th" vitality was drawn out of the proceedings in the House Wednesday, by a weary three-hour filibuster inaugurated by Mr. Morse of Massachusetts because the House refused to allow him to print tn the i Congressional Record some editorial comments attacking Commissioner of Pensions Lochren.