Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1885-12-16
Gibson said he rsmsmbered that The

Gibson said he remembered that the
gentleman from Pennsylvania came
IN on the last Of the last
session of Congress and passed
through the House under threat that
not to do so would cause an extra ses-
sion an appropriation bill which con
tanned an appropriation for public build
ipes in Pennsylvania or Indiana.
Randall thought the gentleman's mem
ory was defective. He had resisted
every addition to the appropriations for
public buildings on the Sundry Civil
BILL and his vote in committee had been
consistent with his public acts, as he re-
membered there was no appropriation in
that bill for public building in Penn
sylvania.
Gibson contended that the Appropria-
tion Committee had no business to hold
back appropriation bills and stifle the
voice of members Of the House.
"Whie the country was demand
ing q general bankruptcy bill and
while the mercantile interests of the
west had been demanding cheap transit
nothing could be done because the Ap-
preparations Committee had chosen to
thrust itself on the House and prevent
other members from doing solitary
thing. Why was it that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania and the gentleman
from Indiana were the only men who
could be trusted with appropriation
billss Did their record show that they
were more patriotic than other members
of the House when these immense land
grants were given to the railroads, When
these thieving appropriations were made
where was this great committee who
protects the interests of the country
The gentleman said they had objected.
Why were not their objections as potent
then as now? They were potent now to
stop legislation for free transportation
but they had no power when confronted
with the railroad steal"
Randall said Il never voted q dollar
nor an acre of land for any railroad. "
Gibson said: 81 did not ask how the
gentleman voted. 1t is well known that
while he had charge Of these matters he
controlled legislation. "
Randall said: mot in the least; but
| am glad to say that the Democrats
voted almost unanimously as l did,
Gibson said: at is not a question as
to how the gentleman voted or how he
did not.
Randall said: 81 thought it was
Gibson said, at Is because the gen.
tleman thrusts himself in here and
makes himself personal feature in this
discussion that he is discussed. Laugh
ter We want to amend the rules for
the public good and not to help or hurt
sL pannaxy % a ~
There il not member OF this
House but knows that millions
of money and thousands Of acres of pub.
lie lands have been given to private cor
porations TO enable them to lay tax on
the traffic of the country where one dol
lar has been expended in free navigation;
the voice Of the railroad is heard not
only in the press but in these halls. and
every attempt to secure free navigation
| is attacked and the committee making
the attack is charged by innuende with
steals. challenge the Appropriation
Committee TO compare their bills with
the River and Harbor bills and see
which have the most Jobs in them.
Gibson then went on to argue in sup
port of the distribution plan and criti-
tAacu hnt NpPhOptfNeibh -
effortsin Congress and charged them with
neglecting to build a navy and
erect Notifications for the protection
of the great cities Of the country. He
would vote to destroy so far as possible
the arbitrary and tyrannical power of
the Appropriation Committee.
Randall thought that in view of the
remarks of the gentleman from West
Virginia as to land grants and subsidies,
it was proper for him to say that since
the House had been under Democratic
control there had not been an acre OF
land or dollar of subsidy appropriated
As 10 his thrusting himself forward here,
every member ought TO know that he
had done Just the reverse. He did not
deal in personalities in the House, and II
anybody attempted to deal with him
personally he ought not to do it here.
MIR. Morrison gave notice that he
would endeavor to close the general de-
bate tomorrow afternoon, and then the
| House adjourned.