VOL. XXXIX.- 20. 12,207.
PORTLAND, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1900. " -TWELVE PAGES.
'TRICE FIVE CENTS.
e True Criterion Is Oo
The attention of connoisseurs is called to the Superlative Quality
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try. In London, the acknowledged home of wine connoisseurs,
where QUALITY regulates prices, Pommery commands from two
to six dollars more a case than other leading brands, as per figures
taken from Ridley's wine and spirit trade circular.
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ARRESTED FOR CONSPIRACY
Wealthy. Venezuelan Plotted A&rainst
the Government.
NEW YORK. Jan. 23. Advices from
Caracas, Venezuela, announce the impris
onment there of Manuel A. Mattos, who
was minister of finance under President
AndradeT and Is one of Venezuela's wealth
iest men, by order of President Castro,
on the charge of conspiracy against the
government. Documents found m his pos
session show that lie was in communica
tion with General Jose Manuel Hernandez,
the rebel leader.
A few weeks ago an export firm in this
city received from Senor Mattos an order
for 20,033 Mauser rifics and 5,000,000 car
tridges. It was presumed at the time that
they wore intended for the Venezuelan
government His arrest, however, has
caused the belief that the -war supplies
were meant for the use of the revolution-
iFtfi.
Senor Mattos is well known here, and
was at one time a member of the firm
f Scboltz, Sanchez & Co., of this city.
3
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ros,
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STS., PORTLAND. 0RK31
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"All
Things
Come
To those, who wait" That's
the way the old 'proverb has
it, but if your eyes ache or
burn or water or blur, or the
type runs together, or sewing
and reading makes your ucxu
ache, then, for. the 'sake of
your future comfort and
safety DON'T WAIT.
WALTER REED
Eye Specialist
133 SIXTH STREET'
OREGONIAN BUILDING
PLAGUE IN HONOLULU.
Three Mew Cases and One Death
Since .Last Official Report.
WASHINGTON", Jan. 23. Surgeon-General
Sternberg has received the follow
ing report on the plague from Major Blair
Taylor, chief surgeon at the United States
military hospital at Honolulu:
1 "Jan. 7. Referring to the bubonic
j plague," I have the honor to report that
since my last report there have been three
cases of the disease and one death. The
t process of burning up the infected district
is rapiaiy proceeaing. .out iutie appre
hension is felt of the disease attacking
the troops."
Ii a o
Dundonald Holds n Road.
LONDON, Jan. 24. A dispatch to the
Dally Mall, from Pietermarltzburg, dated
January 23, says: v
"Lord Dundonald holds the road to
Olivers Hock pass..
r "Abetter received here from Harrlsmlth
"relates that three Britishers were shot
, in the market square for refusing to go
I to the front when commandeered."
AsnnCrn
PORTLAND
Bulier Is Unable to Make Fur
ther Headway.
TALK OF A NIGHT ATTACK
Boers Hold Splonkop, and AH Efforts
to Dislodge Thein Have So
Far Failed.
LONDON, Jan. 24, 2:50 A. M. Contrary
to the announcement-made shortly before
midnight by the war office that nothing
furffco,- -ronuiri hs issued before Wednes
day forenoon, the following dispatch
from General Bulier, dated Spearman's,
January 23, 6:50 P. M., has just been
posted:
"Warren holds the position he gained
two days ago. In front of him, at about
1400 yards, is the enemy's position, west or
Splonkop. It is on higher ground than
Warren's position, so it is impossible to
see into it properly.
"It can be approached only over bare
open slopes, and the ridges held by War'
ren are so steep that guns cannot be
placed on them. But we are shelling
the enemy's position-with howitzers and
field artillery, placed on lower ground
behind Infantry.
"The enemy Is replying with Creusot
and other artillery. In this duel,, the
advantage rests with us, as we appear
to be searching his trenches, and his ar
tillery fire Is not causing us much loss.
"An attempt will be made to seize
Splonkop, the salient of which forms the
enemy's position facing Trlchard's and
which divides It from the position facing
Potgleter's drift. It has considerable
command over all the enemy's entrench
ments." i
Preparing for a. Night Attack.
General Butler's great turning move
ment of which so much was expected,
has come to a standstill. His carefully
worded message to the war office telling
this, after a silence of two days, reads
like an apology and an explanation. Gen
eral Warren holds the ridges, but the en
emy's positions are higher. The Britisn
artillery Is playing on the Boer positions
and the Boers are replying. The British
infantry is separated by only 1400 yards
from the enemy, but an approach to the
steep slopes, across the bare open, would
expose the British to a fatal rifle fire.
General Buller's plans have reached
their development. He declines to send
his infantry across this zone against for
midable positions by daylight, and dis
closed his purpose to assault the Splonkop
heights during the night. This appears
to be the key to the Boer defenses. If ha
takes it and thus commands the adjacent
country, an important and possibly de
cisive step will be accomplished.
It seems that General Buller's dispatch
reached the war office rather early in the
night and was the subject of a prolonged
conference between Lord Landsdowne,
Mr. Balfour and several staff officials. A
determination appears to have been
reached not to give out the message dur
inir the night, but towards 2.A.M., cop
ies" of the dispatch were. mde for "dlstf i-
"button among the newspaper offices. These
arrived too late for extended comment.
The Morning Post and the Standard
touch lightly upon the unpleasant feat
ures of the dispatch, and take hope from
the projected night attack, but, altogether
considered, the dispatch looks like prepa
ration for worse news.
Necessity of a Victory.
Parliament will meet In five days. The
cabinet has been hoping for one rallying
British success to cheer the country and
to command generous support for fresh
revenue measures. Among these will be
probably an increase of the Income tax to
a shilling on the pound, but this would
only provide the cost of five weeks' hostil
ities. The duties on tobacco, alcohol, tea
and coffee are likely to be raised. The
cabinet will meet at the end of the week
and discuss the situation.
Political considerations, both foreign
and domestic, press upon the military au
thorities the necessity of sDeedilv accom
plishing something. These authorities
have been persuading General Bulier to
attempt his great operation without ad
equate preparation. This impression,
whether true or not, Is abroad.
Apparently, Lord Roberts has nothing
whatever to do with General Buller's op
eration. General Bulier and the war or
flce communicate with each other direct.
Buller's scheme was conceived before
Lord Roberts arrived at Cape Town, ana
its execution was begun on the day ns
landed. The fact that the judgment of
Lord Roberts has not been brought to
bear upon the movement does not add to
public confidence.
From Vienna comes the statement that
the idea of the intervention of European
powers Is gaining adherents in influential
quarters.
Special dispatches hellographed from
Ladysmlth Monday say that the invest
ment bas not been relaxed and that the
garrison has ceased to speculate regard
ing the precise date of deliverance.
The position, of the British forces out
side of Natal Is unchanged. The forward
movement elsewhere appears to be wait
ing for reinforcements.
NEWS FROM BOER SOURCES.
Account of the Opening: Engagement
on the Tnerela.
BOER CAMP, Upper Tugela river, Jan.
20. The British now occupy three posi
tions along the Tugela river. Their naval
guns have been firing steel-pointed, armor-piercing
shells.
Reports being received that 2000 British
cavalry were attempting to outflank us
along the Drakensberg ridge, a strong
patrol was sent to reconnolter. Mistaking
the signals, the scouts and patrol proceed
ed to a kopje, from which a terrific rifle
and Maxim gun fire suddenly opened.
The Boers lost 14 killed and 20 wounded.
The British loss was probably insignifi
cant. The bombardment of the Boer positions
at Zwartkop was resumed yesterday,
chiefly with a battery brought across the
river. In the afternoon the cannonading
became exceedingly brisk, and under its
cover their infantry advanced In three
lines to ascend a row of kopjes, which
they occupied at nightfall, but later they
retired to their old position.
During the night a score of shells were
fired by the British, and a balloon was
sent tip to spy out the Boer position.
The naval guns resumed the bombard
ment this morning from a new position,
but without results.
The British positions are the old Cheve
ley camp, near Colenso; Zwartkop drift,
the central position, where they hold both
banks of the river, and a point higher up
In, the direction of Zunckles, where they
have bridged the riv.er and established an
immense commissariat. On the summit of
the terraces at Zwartkop they have placed
five naval guns, and they have brought
field artillery across the river to a small
kopje on the northern bank, whence they
keep up an incessant and terrific cannon
ade on the Boer trenches. Since the be
ginning of the week communication with
the different positions has been kept up
under ordeal this cannonade, the casualties
resulting from, this being heavier than
th03e occurring at Colenso. One of the
shells from a naval gun killed a lather
and son, Free Staters, who were chatting
at the time. Strangely, neither had any
visible wounds.
Sunday, Jan. 21. After Commandant
Botha checked the British advance yes
terday morning, it was expected that
there would be no further action until to
morrow. This morning, however, signs were dis
cerned of an Intended movement in the
British northern camp. When the heat,
which was more frightful than any yet
experienced, had worn off, the British
cannon started in full force, and the in
fantry advanced In extended order.
Generals Botha and Cronje held the
high hills over which the road to Lady
smlth passes. When the Mauser fire
opened, a pandemonium of sound filled
the air. The vindictive crash of lyddite
shells, the sharp volleys of Lee-Metfords
and the whip-like crack of the Mausers
were interspersed with the boom of the
Boer Maxims. The battle ended with
darkness, but not without evidence of ex
ecution among the British that was mani
fest at sunrise. Field Cornet Ernst Emillo
was killed, nor did the generals escape
unscathed.
At the central poslton, Zwartkop, where
the other road to Ladysmlth crosses the
hills, the British advanced from low kopjes
on the banks of the Tugela unmolested.
Then they entered the zone of Mauser
fire, and, although their naval guns kept
up the usual terrible racket, the advance
.was stopped, and the British had to count
out their dead and wounded.
Commandant Viljoen and two burghers
were knocked senseless by an explosion
of lyddite, but Commandant Viljoen re
covered. Field Cornet Hellbron was
wounded; and, on refusing to surrender,
was shot. The loss was probably In
significant. They complain that expansive
bullets in Mausers were fired, and soft
nosed bullets with Lee-Metfords. The
Boers admit that sporting Mausers were
occasionally found, but they deny the
charge respecting expansive bullets. Not
a shot was fired by the Boers with cannon
or rifle at the Zwartkop position, this
side of the river.
One thousand Infantry and a battery ad
vanced into the second row of low hills
between the republicans and the river.
Heavy cannonading proceeded at a range
of 2000 yards, but the Boers maintained
the silence of death. This must have
staggered the British, as the advance was
stopped, and this morning they retired to
their old positions.
The Fight nt Oliver's Hoek.
BOER HEAD LAAGER, Ladysmlth,
Monday, Jan. 22. A battle has been rag
ing along the Oliver's Hoek since Satur
day, between the Boers under Pretorlus
and 6C00 British. The fighting Is in full
swing at Splonkop. The Boers under
Botha and Cronje have been sent thither.
The British elsewhere are only making a
reconnolssance of the Boer positions.
President Steyn was under 'fire at the
foremost position of the Free Staters.
The 69th birthday of General Joubert
was celebrated by General Botha making
a reconnolssance In force toward the Dra
kensberg mountains and turning the
British advance after a short engagement.
General Joubert accompanied President
Steyn to the Free State laagers, south of
Ladysmlth. The president was in high
spirits. He proposes to make a tour of all
the laagers.
Ladysmlth sent up many colored rock-
,. urn uw-. " paaMgat,
British Headannrters Smashed.
HEAD BOER LAAGER, Ladysmlth,
Jan. 20. The headquarters of Generals
White and Hunter were smashed this
morning by a shot from a "Long Tom."
It is not known whether any of the occu
pants of the building were killed.
BULLER'S BIG OPERATIONS. .
It Will Take Considerable Time to
Work Them Ont.
LONDON, Jan. 23. Absence of news of
yesterday's movements north of the Tu
gela river is occasioning some additional
anxiety, but General Bulier is engaged In
big operations, which will take consider
able, time to work out. Even the slight
advance of General Warren's forces, after
two days' fighting, does not appear to have
yielded an Important advantage to the
British, as the captured kopjes were evi
dently ones held as advanced posts In or
der to delay the progress of the British
troops and to enable the Boers to com
plete their entrenchments and mount guns
on the positions on which. they have elect
ed to make a stand.
It is remarked that the Boers thus far
have used little artillery, from which It
is judged that their guns are already
mounted on tactical positions, from which
the British will have to dislodge the re
publicans before reaching Ladysmlth.
There Is no confirmation of the report
that Dundonald has entered Ladysmlth,
and none is expected. Experts are of
the opinion that the Boers would be only
too glad to let him In unopposed.
The indignation and disgust expressed
of the blunders and incapacity of the yeo
manry staff, to whom is- ascribed the rank
failure, threatening to overwhelm the
movement started with such a fanfare of
trumpets, are increasing dally. Th&so
who were able to carry the scheme to
success have been met at every turn with
red tape and all kinds of obstacles and
slights by the inner circle of titled incap
ables, resulting in scores of good men
withdrawing from participation In the
plans. In the case of the South Bedford
shire yeomanry, a whole company of 180
selected men has disbanded in disgust.
The dispatches posted at the war office
this afternoon, though dated Spearman's
Camp today, contain nothing but reports
of casualties. General Bulier reports that
the wounded January 20, included: Second
Lancashire, Captains Dod, Whyte and Or
mond, and Lieutenant Campbell. York
and Lancaster regiments. Lieutenants Hal
ford and Duckworth. West Surreys, Cap
tains Baltt (since dead), and Warden, and
Lieutenants Smith and Wedd; Staff Cap
tain Dalkas.
Lord Roberts reported from Cape Town
today that the war situation Is unchanged.
The war critic of the Leader writes in
today's issue:
"Not a word came from General Bulier
yesterday, good or bad. We do not think
he would have refrained from reporting
last night had he had any good news. One
thing only we know the enemy at length
Is outmatched in artillery, but his suprem
acy In rifle fire seems to remain.
"It Is unnecessary to make any remarks
upon the composition of the staff of the
Eighth division (the latest division organ
ized) save that another guardsman Is
pushed up two steps by the vicious old
system. This rule commends Itself to a
secretary of state for war, most of whose
relatives are in the household troops.
Lord Methuen got his command because
he is a guardsman
Captain Friedman's Will.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 23. The Call
says:
When the will of Captain I. Friedman,
who died in the Palace hotel Sunday
morning, Is opened, it will be found that
of an estate valued at $750,000, three-quarters
has been glven-to charity. After be
quests which will reach an aggregate of
55O0,CO( are paid, the residue Is bequeathed
to the Hebrew home for aged'and disabled
persons. This legacy will amount . to at
least 5250,000.
Opening of the Debate in the
Roberts Case.
TAYLER AND L1TTLEF1ELD SPOKE
Plrnxr o the Majority andjJHnorlty
of Ithe Committee No Agree.
nient for n Vote.
"WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. This has been
an oratorical field day in the house over
the case of Brlgham H. Roberts, the Mor
mon representative from Utah. The gal
leries were packed to suffocation, chiefly
with women, and the spectators, after
listening attentively to the arguments of
Tayler of Ohio and Littlefield of Maine
for the adoption of the majority and mi
nority reports, respectively, of the special
committee that investigated the case, re
mained long after nightfall to hear the
Impassioned words of the accused as he
faced the house, like an animal at bay,
knowing that every hand was raised
against him.
Roberts was very adroit in the hand
ling of his case and at times exceedingly
dramatic. Taking advantage of the issue
raised by the division in the committee
as to the method of ousting him, he ap
propriated to himself the argument of the
minority that he was constitutionally en-
titled to be sworn In, and the argument
of the majority that once sworn in, he
could not be expelled. He defended the
action of the Mormons In fighting the au
thority of the United States for years,
because, he said, they believed that sen
timent would change, and dramatically
.stated that in those days he had rather
have his flesh hewn from his bones than
to have renounced his religious tentes.
He concluded with an eloquent peroration,
in which he said he had never been con
scious of a shameful act, and If he was
sent forth he would go with head erect
and undaunted brow.
Strange to say, most of the applause he
won was from women. But while they
appeared to be his only partisans, other
women manifested their bitter hostility
by hissing him at every opportunity.
The speech made today by Littlefield,
who succeeds the late Mr. Dlngley, In de
fense' of the minority proposition to seat
and then expel Roberts, was a masterful
effort, and stamped him as one of the
coming men in the house. The manner in
which he tore some of the arguments of
the majority Into shreds jumped him into
the frbnt rank of debaters in the house.
The speech made a deep impression. In
fact, it Is predicted tonight by many mem
bers that the majority resolution for ex
clusion cannot now carry.
Lacey of Iowa has a proposition which
he will submit to expel Roberts by a two
thirds' vote without seating him, which
will have supporters, and this may lead
to a compromise proposition. Miss Rob
erts, daughter of Roberts, was in the re
served gallery throughout the debate to--day.
The debate will close next Thursday
at 4:30.
Tayler Opened the Debate.
--.Near iTirvery-nTtrmber-was-In'hls -seat a4
'j-ewminmeB laier wncn xnyier vrey. -r.;,
chairman of the special committee which
investigated the case, arose from behind
a desk stacked high with legal authori
ties and manuscript, and called up the
case. Tayler is a young man, slight and
pallid, but with energy and alertness
stamped uoon ever feature. He asked
that the agreement between the majority
and minority of the committee for a vote
on the case at 4:30 o'clock P. M. Thurs
day be ratified by the house.
Lacey (rep. la.) objected unless it be
understood that a subst-tute resolution,
Which he desired to offer, be also consid
ered pending. To this Tayler objected. He
also objected to having Lacey's proposition
read, although appealed to by Bailey
(dem. Tex.) and Richardson (dem. Tenn.).
This proposition, as it subsequently de
veloped, was for the expulsion of Roberta
without swearing him in.
The majority resolutions to exclude him
and the minority resolutions to permit him
to be sworn In and then expelled were laid
before the house without any agreement
as to a vote.
Tayler opened in support of the majority
resolutions. He spoke clearly and with
great earnestness. When he began, Rob
erts changed h!s position to one near the
center aisle of the democratic side, where
he could hear with more ease. Tayler
said:
"Chief Justice Waite, in the Reynolds
case, m 1878, speaking of the claim that
polygamy was a religious practice, said:
'To permit this would be in effect to per
mit every citizen to become a law unto
himself; government could exist only in
name under such circumstances'; and
Chief Justice Matthews. In the Ramsay
case, in 1884, declared in substance that
all political Influence ought to be with
drawn from those who are practically
hostile to the establishment of a free, se.f
governlng commonwealth founded on the
idea- of a family as consisting in and
springing from the union of the life of one
anan and one woman In the holy state of
matrimony. If we are to attach any Im
portance to those fundamental declara
tions of the highest court we must de
clareno matter what moral question may
be Involved that this case presents In bold
relief a question of governmental life,
the basis of which Is law.
"This is a representative government. It
springs from the people who make the
laws', and their representatives are such
because they believe in the law and are
eubjeot to the law. Men may entertain
opinions as to the unwisdom of certain
laws, and a hope that these may be
erased from the statute books; but In the
very nature of things they cannot stand
for defiance of law. As they cannot stand
for defiance of any law, how much the
more must they stand as respecters of
and obedient to such laws as have pro
ceeded from the people at the people's Ini
tiative and sustained by the deliberate and
intelligent approval of substantially all tha
people.
"Now and then we have a law which
springs from the united voice of a united
people, as the expression of the civilized
force In which practically all of them be
lieve, and which Is necessary to the ex
istence of that civilizing force. Of the
more than 75,000,000 of Ameiican citizens,
all but the merest handful believes, and
believe with a mighty fervor, in the kind
of commonwealth which Justice Matthews
says Is founded in the marriage relation
existing for life between one man and one
woman. That idea has been for many
years crystallized in solemn and deliberate
law, whose principle and form have been
approved by the highest judicial authority.
Such laws make imperative demand for
universal respect and obedience, and the
duty of such respect and obedience presses
most urgently upon a representative of a
people In a law-making body.
Fundamental Propositions.
"These propositions are fundamental and
self-dvldent. They He at the root of
things. They are the bedrock on which
written constitutions rest;' they precede
constitution's.' "Constitutions assume their
pre-existence and their perpetual exist
ence: they are institutional.
"If the federal constitution had expllc-j,
itly declared that all persons should be
eligible for representative in congress who
denied that the constitution was the su
preme law of the land, that instrument
and the government it sought to create
would not have endured a single day. Xtv
follows if such specific declaration could
not have been made It cannot be Implied.
Neither the presence nor the absence of
certain words in the instrument can imply
a certain meaning, if it is impossible that
such meaning could have been expressed.
"If the claimant to this seat is eligible
he Is eligible because the constitution so
makes him, either by Its express language
or by necessary Implication. The wordo
'necessary Implication' mean that if the
framers of the constitution had In m.nd
the particular exigency to which the words
are applied they would if the proposition
was approved have written into the con
stitution the words which 'are necessarily
Implied.'
"The constitution says:- 'This constitu
tion and the laws of the United States
which shall be made In pursuance hereof
shall b the supreme law of the land.
"If the member-elect from Utah 13 elig
ible to be a representative in congress,
then for the purpose of his case we must
read Into the constitution other words so
that it would read:
" 'No person shall be a representative In
congress unless he shall have attained to
the age of 25 years and been seven years
a citizen of the United States, and who
shall not, when elected, be an Inhabitant
of that state in which he shall be chosen,
provided no person shall be Inellg.ble to a
seat as such representative who In form
and substance, In word and act. In life
and practice defies the constitution and
the laws and denies their validity and supremacy.'
"It matters not whether this proviso be
I attacned to the clause referred to or to
some other. It must be written into the
constitution somewhere If the cla,mant 13
eligible, and my friends on the other side
of the question will not deny It.
"ihua stands the case, then: If tha
minority be right, the framers of the con
stitution, if they had foreseen the Roberts
incident, with its defiance of the consti
tution and the law and its denial of their
validity and supremacy as to him, would
have said Brlgham H. Roberts Is eligible
and must be seated if elected. I say that
no such provision could have been adopt
ed. and, if it could not, it cannot be im
plied. Moral Side of the Question.
"Much is said about the moral side of
this question. Doubtless It has such a
side, and if that were the only considera
tion before us, the house might take the
same action it will take. But I do not
here and now, In the face of the great
fundamental fact of disobedience of iaw
plus audacious defiance of it, care to assert
the moral ground.
'iMr. Speaker, I do not hesitate to submit
this proposition to the members o this
house and before the bar of history. I am
profoundly convinced that it Is right, and
that history will so declare it; the house
can no more safely part with any power
It possesses. This touches Its very vital
ity. If It loses It, it is in certain con
ceivable Instances absolutely without
power. But we are told that it is a
power that may be abused. What power
does the house possess that it has not at
some time abused? What branch of the
government Is It that, having power, has
not at some tune abused It? What man.
what body of men, clothed with a little
brief authority, has been free from an un
wise abuse o'f that "authority? And shall
they, therefore, be shorn 6f power?
"It Is a mighty question. It Is a ques
tion of governmental life. It is not to be
lightly dealt with or inconsiderately an
swered. The case of Roberts sinks into
insignificance In its presence. I should
assert what I here assert with pre
cise solemnity if the right of expulsion
after admission was absolutely clear. It
we do not exclude this man, we strike
down one of the most vital and necessary
powers that belongs to a great legislative
body. Let no such thing be done. If it
Is not, we may be sure that never again,
while the spirit of civilization dominates
this republic, will any defiant violator of
law, under color of religion or any other
claim, whether polygamlst or murderer,
knock for admlss-on at the door of the
American congress."
Tayler was emphatic in his assertions
that exclusion was In harmony with prece
dent, expulsion In violation of it. He
amplified the three grounds for Mr. Rob
erts' exclusion; first, because of his vio
lation of the Edmunds act; second, be
cause he was living in open, flagrant and
notorious violation of the statutes of the
congress he seeks to enter, and, third,
because his election was a violation of
the compact by which Utah was admitted
Into the Union.
There were no demonstrations through
out Tayler's speech, but at the conclusion
he was vigorously applauded.
The Minority's Finn.
Littlefield (rep. Me.) on behalf of the mi
nority of the committee, then arose In
support of the minority's plan of seating ,
and then expelling Roberts. j
Littlefield, stalwart and tall, made a I
deep impression upon the house In his !
maiden speech. He recounted at the out- '
set the Integrity, honesty and ability of '
the majority of the house, but he could
not concede its judgment. The only issue
between the majority and minority was as
to whether Roberts should be excluded
or expelled. The constitutional qualifica
tions, age and inhabitancy, Littlefield ar
gued, could not be added to. If they and
the house now excluded a member becauso
he was guilty of polygamous practices,
next year it might exclude for adultejry,
or because a member was an attorney for
a trust, for an octopus or for any other
reason. The right of a member to us
seat was a constitutional right.
He took issue with the majority as to
the power of the house to expel a mem
ber for act committed before his entrance
Into the house, citing case after case in
support of his contention. First, he went
back to the case of John Wilkes, the fa
mous English champion of free speech,
who was three times excluded and twice
expelled from the house of commons, the
second time for an act for which he had
been sent to prison five years before. He
quoted from various letters the denuncia
tion of the damnable doctrine that a sin
gle house of parliament could alter, sus
pend or abrogate the law of the land. He
went back to the constitutional debates
to prove that congress could not add to
the qualifications o'f members negatively
stated in the constitution.
After depicting the conditions that sur
rounded the framing of this provision of
the constitution and quoting the words of
Madison, Hamilton and Jefferson, he
asked triumphantly who there was who
could shatter the crucible of history which
surrounded It or the declaration of the
when who framed it. Who would under
take to impeach the integrity of the men
who were present at the dawn of our his
tory? Some of the precedents cited by Tayler
were ridiculed by Littlefield. He also chal
lenged Tayler's authorities. Littlefield
said that the majority were driven back
to support their contention for additional
qualifications upon the general welfare
clause of the constitution.
He won the first burst of applause while
ridiculing the attempt of the minority to
dispose of Justice Story's opinion by stat
ing that he had not sought to give his
own Ideas, but only the Ideas of others.
(Concluded on Third PaseJ
OLD ISSUE DUG UP
Southern Democrats Fall Back
on the Race Question.
NO FINANCIAL TALK IN SENATE
Ellclns Comes to the Front as a. Vlca-
Presidential , Candidate JA ttle-
11 eld's Maiden Speech.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. The pending
bill in the senate Is that fixing the gold
standard, yet the discussion seems to bo
on every other subject. The talk has been
on the Philippines and on the negro vote
in the South. This is most significant.
Southern senators, knowing that the pol-
, icy of the democratic party on the Philip-
, pines is unpopular, and that the silver
' question In the South Is dying, have turned
their attention to the revival of the raca
question, the never-falling Issue, to solid
ify the democratic party by rallying to
. it the white vote of the South. At several
democratic gatherings In Washington it
became apparent that neither upon anti
expanston nor the free-silver slogan could
the party be united. With a higher price
for cotton, with prosperity beaming on
every hand and prospects of enlarged
i markets, the Southern democrats find It
difficult to harp upon silver and anti-expansion.
This Is why there Is so much
talk these days on the race problem in
the South. The old subject Is to be worked
for one more election, and it Is hoped
1 that It will return members of the house
and legislatures to re-elect senators. By
being dragooned and forced, some demo
crats are compelled to antagonize the ex
pansion policy, but for the most part the
fighting is left to men without a party
like Pettigrew and Turner, who harp at
and abuse the administration. Others con
tent themselves with setting up "negro
I domination" and pounding away at it.
! El kins for Vice-President.
The Elklns candidacy for vice-president
Is really a serious matter, and he Is prob
ably one of the first that has been men
tioned who would really like to have the
place. The fact that Elkins comes from a
border state is being used In his behalf,
and It is said his nomination will have a
good effect in Maryland, West Virginia
and Kentucky. It Is not known yet wheth
er Elklns will receive the support of tho
administration, and it is generally con
ceded that whatever Is the desire of tha
administration in regard to a running
mate for McKtnley will be the verdict
of the convention, as the delegates to that
convention will be administration men.
The Xew Man From Maine.
I Although the big four from Maine In the
house has disappeared, it has become
apparent that one man at least is able to
keep up the reputation of the Pine Treo
state. Littlefield. the successor of Dlng
ley. ha3 shown himself to be a man of
great ability, such as Maine usually sends
to congresjo speech delivered in the
house, ni maayfyears by a new man has
attracted as much attention and favorable
comment as that of Littlefield on the Rob
erts case. Even those who do not agree
with him commend the brilliancy of tha
effort.
VanconTcr Military Hospital.
Representative Cushman said today that
he would favor In every way the proposi
tion for a military hospital at Vancouver,
as that post Is within his state, and ho
believes It ought to have an adequate
military hospital.
Candidates for Ivey'a Place.
Tha acceptance by the treasury depart
ment of the resignation of Collector Ivey,
of Alaska, has renewed the activity of
candidates for that position. Governor
Brady has a candidate in Commissioner of
Education Kelly, of Sitka. Skagway pre
sents the name of W. L. Green, through
Its chamber of commerce. Of many states
that are seeking this appointment. In ad
dition to Oregon and Washington, Iowa in
particular Is making a very vigorous
fight.
NATIONAL BOARD OF TRADE
Thirtieth Annual Meeting: Opens la
Washington-
WASHINGTON. Jan. 23. The National
Board of Trade began Its 30:h annual
meeting here today. Ex-Governor E. O.
Stannard, of St. Louis, presided. About
40 commercial bodies were represented by
about 135 delegates. The programme of
the meeting, which will occupy three days,
contemplates the discussion of a wide
range of subjects. After an address by
Governor Stannard, a committee on cre
dentials was appointed. Reports from
the legislative committee and treasurer
were received. Frederick Frailey was
unanimously elected president.
National Guardsmen In Session.
INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 23. Representa
tives of the National Guard of nearly
every state in the Union are here in ses
sion, with tho purpose of proposing a
bill to be submitted to congress that will
give the National Guards of the United
States a larger appropriation and greater
recognition by the federal government.
o
"OPEN DOOR" ASSURED.
Written Guarantees From, the lead
ins Povrers of Europe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. The success of
the negotiations inbtituted by Secretary
Hay with a view of Insuring an "open
door" for American trade In China may
now be regarded as assured. The last
phase of the negotiations was the reduc
tion of the arrangements reached infor
mally to the shape of what are known as
definite notes. Thl3 work has been going
on for some weeks, with the result that
every one of the powers that participated
In the negotiations has returned to tha
state department this written agreement,
with the exception of Japan and Ialy.
There is not the slightest doubt in thesa
cases, for Japan was one of the first of
the nations approached by the United
States to welcome our overtures
while Italy voluntarily entered the- nego
tiation without waiting for advances from
the United States.
ion
Cabinet Discussed Puerto Rico.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 23. The cabinet at
lt3 regular meeting today again discussed
at length the Puerto RJean sttuation. Tho
opinion is unanimous 1n the cabinet that
free trade with the Island, or a nominal
duty. Is essential to prevent widespread
business disaster among all classes of its
people.
s
Dally Treasury Statement.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23. Today's state
ment of the condition of the treasury
shows: "
Available cash balance ...5387,327.479
Gold reserve 219,030,213
.1
n