The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-03-19

| There is no man so poor and no corporation
| SO rich that will prostitute myself to an in-
| justice for the sake of the temporary advAn-
| ts ge which comes of maintaining a false posi-
ton because some dishonest men are cIamor-
| ing against them. | do not undertake to boast
| here but have no occasion to lower my head
| in the presence Of any man in this House, no
matter to what party he belongs, and though
have had occasion TO say severe things about
gentlemen on the other side 1 venture to say
that be is the only man on that side capable
of making the remarks which he has made :"
(Appla SO on the Republican side)
The amendments agreed to in the committee
of the whole were then adopted with the ex-
ception of that Dcreasiug to $500 600 the an
pronatian for letter service, which was re-
jsced, yeas l23, nays 1877. A motion to re-
commit was lost and the bill passed, 100 to
II.
Adjourned.
[The speech of Mr.. Reed, which provoked the
colloquy reported ab We was made last Saturday
while the Post Office appropriation bill was under
discussion. Mr.. Townshend who is vain aud rat
tie he aded partisan. contemptuousy regarded by
men on the Democratic side by the men on the
Republican, had made speech in which he at
tempted to charge upon the Republicans of a Con-
gress IN which the Democrats had majority the
responsibility of passing star route deficiency ap-
p opriation called for by Brady. Mr.. Cameron OBJ
tained the floor and after speaking five minutes
yielded the remainder of his time to Mr. Reed, who
spoke as fellows:
Mr. Reed-Mr. Chairr an, I think there are some
cf us here who have some de-ire to go ON with the
pubic business in some suitable ay. The fact of
the case is that Republican Assistant postmaster
opinion of most of the worl guilty of crimes
against the Government 1t is also fact that two
Republican administrations have pursued that man
with all the resources which the law OF the land al
lows them to use against criminal. Every time
tn find scounrel wi, hin ran ks We punish
him. [Deiisiye laughter ON tue Democratic SIDE }
There is no question about that as fact. You all Of
you know it.
Now The gentleman from Illinois Mr. Towns
hen) arise in his place and makes attacks upon u.s.
And for what purpose? He does 1t Tor the purpose
of stirripg up your partisan feeling And why
h do that? 1t is to conceal his ignorance of the
subject which is under debate. This is question
of bookkeeping. II is question whether this ap-
propriation Of million dollars is really appro
priation at all: The facts and figures show that
there is no million dollars to be appropriated.
The Chairman The time of the gentleman has
expired.
Mr.. Reed-Then will now take the floor in my
own right
Mr.. Horr-I will take the floor and yield to the
Mr.. Townshcnd-I raise the question of order
The debate was limited to ten minutes each side.
My colleague from Illinois (Mr. Cannon) occupied
Mr.. Cannon-Oh, no; 1 only occupied half of my
time and gave the other half Of it to the gentleman
from Maine.
Mr.. Townshend-I withdraw the question of or
der.
Mr.. Reed-Now, when the gentleman from Illi-
nois Mr.. Townsbend) Undertakes TO charge the Re-
publican party with the Improper condu & of any
member of it, it is retorte upon him that Demo-
crat Congress ood by that man. Now, how did
1t happen? Was it because Democratic Cong ess-
man or Republican Congressman here believed in
that rascality at that time? Not SO. You ali of
you know that this Cong e.s was surrounded by
men who undertook to mislead US, and the vote
shows they succeeded in doing 1.-THE Democratic
Congress, as well "a some Republicans that in
hndN fAafa Eunr
whom address knows that no party would sust ain
rascaty Of that XII ID If they knew it believed in
1t; an the moment twas shown the people OF the
United States without distinction with no distinc-
tton exc pit that of commau honesty and common
dishonesty the people rose, determined to punish
those men. Why then, is this talk On the one side
or the other about the responsibility or that? We
all of Us know ready to strike down that sort
of thing wherever we find IT. And inquire again,
why is IL thai the gentleman from, Illinois keeps re-
pedtiDg that speech of his about corruption. say
it is because he wants to distract your attention
from the facts connected with this bill He wants
to the unfarnsss, to disguise the unsta,es
manlIke character Of 1t. he vans you to back
hun up in dmnudon. of the public service under
prefer of saving the pubic money.
Now, say TO you you are just as much bound to
rise up against that kind Of dishonesty as you are
to rise up against any other kind. You are bound
to look after the public service and you are not
mi>led b. any partisan talk to prevent you from
doing justice 10 a deserving public service that
ZONES home TO the business and bosoms of the
pop of this country no other service does.
You ought not to allow you to be led aside by
this kind OF discussion, which he perpetu ally
continually fomepts.
Think Of man in charge OF bill containing
forty six millions Of the ps piles money spent upon
the subjects dearest to them of anything they ave.
entertaining heHouse day after day as he has done
with these discuss ons. Nor can he plead the poor
excuse that somebody else does it. That somebody
else il in charee of the business this House
He ought 10 aLiend that business above all other
men. ami yet he is above all other men, engaged in
fomsnllug this kiu.i of discussion.
ask You to stand by your duties as Representa-
tives, and let us go on with the public basi ess
with references not to charg of political feeling
but with n terence to our sense of public outy
(Applause on the Republican sidelI