The Republican journal., 1884-04-17
Milllken Rides the Storm.

GtSIA. A MAINE CYCLONE STRIKES THE
DIRECTING REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEW
JERSEY AND PENNSYLVANIA. A STORM
SQUELCHED.
Thursday last an exciting day in the
House. The bill for public building at Au-
gusta came up, and an effort was made to de-
feat it. This put Congressman Milliken upon
his metal, and how he acquitted himself is told
in the following Washington special to the Bos-
ton journal:
The bill for new building at Augusta, Me-,
was then taken up, and Milliken made speech
in favor of it. The special reason he urged in
favor of the bill, aside from the ordinary argu
mentS about the necessity of it for the accom-
mediation of the public business, was that Au-
gusta is about the only State capital in the
Union at which the Government has built no
public building lie had about finished his
speech when he was drawn into violent per
sona alteration with Mr.. Storm Of Pennsylva-
MA, who repeatedly denounced the whole bust
ness log rolling Job, and declared that
whatever might be MilIiken'> reasons in favor
OF the Augusta bill he would vote for one and
all of the bills reported by the committee,
whether they Were meroriouS or not. Mill
ken was Oh the Democratic side. standing with
IN two or three feet of Storm. and very hot
words passed between the TWO men, who With
clenched fists. made threatening gestures at
eacn other. Reed and the other Maine Con-
gresSmen came over in a body to the support of
their colleague, and the opponents of the bill
rallied around Storm. For few minutes the
scene was an exciting one, but the difficulty
finally subsidized without further trouble. and
the bill was passed by the committee, after
which, in spite of the efforts Of Mr. Stock>lager
to take recess until tomorrow, the House adj
lourned. After the discussion between McSSrs.
| Mllken and Storm had closed. Mills of Texas
/ and other Democrats gathered around the
Maine Congressman and congratulated him
upon his conduct in support Of The biI.
The Washington Post (pemocratirl gives
similar report. Some extracts from the Con
gressiona Record tollciaD will be found inter
esting. After Mr.. NIilliken's speech in support
of the bill he moved that it be favorably
ported to the House. Then McAdoo, of New
Jersey got the floor in opposition;
Mr.. McAdoo. Mr.. Chairman, | think the
argument that these public buildings should ba
/ erected because they represent the ''moral pow
/ err of the United States Is entirely falaciuuS.
/ We want the power of this Government TO be
represented by buildings honestly erected I'M
der honest legislation, and free from all SuSpir
ion OF personal interest. In this case
we are cropping in the dark. We must depend
/ solely on the judgment Of the Representative NJ
/ that particular locality: and ~ay with all due
respect to the gentleman from Maine that hc is
/ on general principle as unfair juror a. would
be the plaintiff in particular case if he were
put INTO the iury-boN to render verdict upon
his own case. We have nothing here but the
statement Of the gentleman who represents the
district, made through the committee or made
/ personally upon the floor OF the House.
Mr.. Mkcn. | will ask the gentleman
whether he intends to reflect upon my integrity
A> Representative:
Mr.. McAdoo | do not intend to rellec upon
the integrity or honor of the gentleman from
Maine or any other gentleman.
/ Mr.. MiIlikcn. desire to say to the gentle
. bt rit N
case be will find in the report of the Post-Otlire
Department. if he Will look at it. The state
! ments are not made upon my authority 4
1 Representative.
! Mr., Holman advocated reducing the amount
of the appropriation, speaking in McAdoo'>
time. When he concluded the Chair announc-
ed that the gentleman from New Jersey had
one minute remaining. We quote again from
the Record:
I Mr.. McAdoo. In that one minute wish to
/ state simply that in that State Of Maine there
are nine cuStom-h0u>es that only collect $40
CPS, while they have public buildings aggrega
ting in value Sl57 sos So, Mr.. Chairman.
they seem to have more public buildings in
Maine, so far as the collection Of customs du-
ties is concerned than they have revenues to
collect.
desire to say if that report i true of which
the capable gentleman from Maine is the au-
thor
Mr.. Milken. What is that:
Mr.. McAdoo. am referring to HE report
in this case, prepared believe by the gentle
man himself.
Mr.. Milliken. But there is better man be-
hind me and Just As capable of drawing the re-
port
NJ, MrAdoo. am not rejecting upon the
reports it is sufficiently capable 1t is an able
document, so far as that goes but | WAS going
on to say that this Sl50,000, if that report be
I opinions expressed in the report itself, and
venture to say that this amount being appro-
prated You will find the gentleman or some
other gentleman applying to the next Congress
and asking that they will vote to the State Of
Maine an additional appropriation to carry ont
the work thus begun.
The Chairman The time of the gentleman
has expired.
Mir. Millikcn. Mr.. Chairman desire TO be
heard for a few minutes, with the consent Of
the committee. wish TO repeat that | pre-
-enlcd this bill to the House. is | said IN the
beginning of my remarks, upon the merits Of
the case itself, and not upon ANYTHING else
whatever. | believe that the great business
demands of that city require that the Govern
mcnt of the uitcd States should build Il good
safe. comfortable, aud convenient building for
I tie accommodation of pOst-otfice that handles
almost nineteen millions of pieces Of mail mat
ter, and does Il pU>t-Otiice business that amounts
TO between >iN and seven hundred thousand
| reason that an office conducting such bust
ness IL that should not be required or expected
TO do it in two bindings three hundred feet
apart, with no vaults for storage, and no posi-
bic safety for the public property and at 50
much Inconvenience that the losses occurring
thereby, and the rate of $500 year paid for
I rent, will amount to more than the interest OH
the 100000 appropriated by this bill.
Now TO my friend from Indiana, whom | am
very glad to find >uStains me in reference to
w sh tn a Dy1 tn
the general question pertaining to the bill, and
that is this, that from the very situation of
affairs it is entirely necessary that this public
building should be pretty near the railroad
depot. You can MOI take it away far from this
depot without great Inconvenience as well as
great expense to the Government.
To place it there where the post-office is now.
You have got to place it in position where
land is most expensive in Augusta; and YOU can
not purchase Il site suitable for a building OF
this character at the point indicated for less
than from so 600 to 100000
do not want. Mr.. Chairman one dollar
more for this public building than is necessary
to give to this Government a proper place to
transact its business efficiently: and wish to
say in one sentence, in so far as all of these bills
are concerned and in answer to gentlemen who
oppose them, that should not vote for one
appropriation here where would not vote for
it if myself owned the resources OF this GOV
eminent. had its debts to pay, and was looking
upon it personally as Il business question
whether would or would not make the invest
ment
Mr.. Storm. May ask the gentleman
question:
Mr.. Miiliken. Yes, sir.
Mr.. Storm. The gentleman is member of
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds
Mr.. Milliken. Yes, sir.
Mr.. Storm. And says that when he presents
this bin he desires it to stand upon its own in
dividual merits:
Mr.. Milliken. Yes, sir.
Mr.. storm. Now. want to ask the gentle
man whether he has not supported and voted
for each of these preceding bills.
Mr.. Milliken. did, sir; and | wish to Say
plainly TO the genteman--
Mr.. Storm. | am not through with my
question. You propose to vote for those that
are to follow:
Mr.. Milken. | propose to vote for every
measure before the House which | think is
Just.
Mr.. Storm. | ask the gentleman to answ Ell
my question.
Mr.. Milliken. The gentleman is now holding
the floor in my own time.
Mr. Storm No, sir; you are speaking now
by the charity of this House.
Mr. Milliken. | do not ask the House to eX-
tend its charity to me. do not ask charity for
this bill. | am speaking on my own bill and in
my own time, and if the gentlemen asks
question, If he is gentleman he will listen for
the answer. say that shall vote for every
bill that comes before the House, whether from