Show BIG SENSATION 1 IN THE SENATE Messrs Mitchell and Harris Very Nearly Come to Blows BAD BLOOD EVERYWHERE BTAUTIIVG AS A TRAGEDY IT EIVD ED AS A FARCE An Amendment Providing for the Coining of the Silver te I I in ll o Treasury Amounting to I 55000000 Voted Dorm District of Columbus Appropriation Bill t Passed Objection to Bond Issues i of An Kind I f T o Any t t Washington Feb 5A sensational episode occurred in the Senate as soon ns the session opened today Mr Mitchell of Oregon wished to r make a report on certain sugar bounty claims on which he said he desired to make a brief explanation There will have to be an explanation explana-tion when the subject comes up Interposed l In-terposed Mr Harris of Tennessee so it will be a waste of time to have the explanation now I therefore object Mr Mitchell urged the explanation would not take three minutes but Sir Harris shook his head Then said Mr Mitchell with growing impatience I will not make the report I will withdraw it I is most extraordinary that senators cannot can-not submit a brief explanation if they eo desire I is remarkable I Mr Mitchells words were snapped out vehemently I Is needless for the senator to protest pro-test said Mr Harris I objecti and I emphasize it I object Then I withdraw the report declared de-clared Mitchell Ilnrrin Is Defiant Withdraw it then exclaimed Mr Harris defiantly Mr Mitchell showed intense irritation irrita-tion at the defiance and raising his voice he said to Mr Harris The unusual action of the senator is unusual most 1 want this fellow to understand retorted Mr Harris measuring each word that I am capable of doing unusual things and I am responsible for doing unusual things answered Mr Harris his flushed face showing 1ntense indignation I I appreciate that the senator is capable of doing unusual things and then Mr Mitchell added he is capable capa-ble of doing ungentlemanly things Mr Harris stepped forward from his desk and for a moment it seemed as if he were about to resent the statement in an unusual and emphatic way He paused however and with a gesture toward Mr Mitchell and addressing him directly said Let me tell you sir your conduct is contemptible con-temptible The presiding officer had been ofcer rapping rap-ping vigorously as the controversy proceeded pro-ceeded ceeQ The senators must proceed In order he repeated Looked for a Fight The colleagues of the two angry senators gathered about them and their Indignant expostulations continued in subdued tones The presiding officer directed the clerk to proceed with other business and the incident was summarily closed Mr Mitchell moved about the cham ber reiterating his protests while Harris sat at his desk apparently unmoved un-moved by the sharp exchange of personalities per-sonalities The credentials of Mr Perkins of California for the unexpired term of Leland Stanford were represented and the senator He has sworn previously served on the appointment of the governor gov-ernor pending the choice of the legislature legis-lature The Senate Committee on Claims to day decided to report an amendment to the sundry civil bill providing for sugar bounty claims without making any recommendation or committing the members to the support of the proposition proposi-tion I was this feature of the committees com-mittees action Mr Mitchell desired to explain when objection was made by I I Mr Harris The amount involved in the claims is estimated at 8000000 District of Columbia Bill After considering minor routine subjects sub-jects the Senate again took up the District Dis-trict of Columbia appropriation bill Mr McLaurin offered an amendment to the bond amendment to the bill providing for the coinage of the silver seigniorage in the treasury amounting to 55000QOO which should be used in paying the expenses of the improvements improve-ments contemplated by the amendments amend-ments 1 Mr Harris appealed to Mr McLaurin to withdraw the amendment because it was general legislation and in nowise no-wise pertinent to the pending bill He said he was as strong a friend of silver a McLaurin could be but would be compelled to vote against the amendment amend-ment Mr McLaurin did not accede to the request and Mr Hale Republican of Maine made a point of order against it itMr Mr McLaurin in discussing the question said he considered it in order and could not consent to withdraw the amendment because of his objection to a bond issue of any kind by the government gov-ernment when It could be avoided Mr Mills Democrat of Texas made the point of order that the original amendment was also out of order on the ground that it was a provision for general legislation A long debate followed as to the priority of the points of order made by Messrs Hale and Mills The vicepresident said he would submit sub-mit the two points of order to the Senate He directed that the first vote be on Mr Mills point ot order against the Proctor amendment There was a viva voce vote on which the point of order was sustained by a large majority ma-jority Mr Dubois Republican of Idaho called for the yeas and nays but was induced to withdraw the demand The McLaurin silver amendment followed fol-lowed the course of the main amendment amend-ment Thus both amendments were summarily sum-marily disposed of The District of Columbia appropriation appropria-tion bill was then passed The diplomatic diplo-matic and consular appropriation bill was made the next order of business The Senate then held a brief executive execu-tive session after which at 440 p m it adjourned |