Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-08
THE HOUSE.
Argument on the Retaliation BILL.
CannOn,s Clap-Erap.


WASHINGTON, September THE bill
was passed donating to the State of
Lit uislana for quarantine purposes cer-
tain lands on the Mississippi river. The
House then resumed consideration of the
Retaliation bill.
Rockwell, of Massachusetts, said dur.
ing the recent negotiations between the
United States and Great Britain, curren-
cy had been given to the unfortunate
idea that this country should not go to
war on account of a few fish. While the
United States should avoid war as long
as possible, as a nation holding in its
hands the hopes of the world this great
Republic should always stand firm for
the recognition of its rights and
for the protection of it's citizens.
Nutting, of New York, said that some
gentlemen on his side of the House
thought the Presidents message was
sent to Congress, not because the Presi-
dent really needed the power he asked
for, but because it was time in the
juncture of affairs when it might be of
assistance to him and his party. Admit
ting that this was so, it must be remem-
bered that the question which now con-
fronted Congress related to international
policy. The American Government was
to blame for the present difficulties. 1t
had relied upon English honor, when the
history of nations would show that it
was not safe to place reliance on English
promises. Ii the Mills bill should be-
come law, England will have accom-
plished by her diplomacy and her infu-
ence in this country what she had been
unable to accomplish by the sword.
Romeis, of Ohio, called attention to the
fact that off the mouth of the Detroit
river the American Government had ex-
tended a channel that cost thousands of
dollars. That channel was in Canadian
territory and might be closed up by Cana
dian authority.
Hooker answered the charge that the
President had been derelict in exercising
the power conferred upon him by the
act of 1887. The act Of 1887 related only
to the exclusion of Canadian vessels
from United States ports, and did not
extend to the restraining of the shipment
Of goods in bond across American terri
tory. He believed that the Presidents
message, like all his other utterances,
would meet the approval OF his country
men.
Cannon, of Illinois, said the Ad-
ministration had adopted the Chinese
policy and was trying to frighten Canada
by beating gongs. The President already
had a big gong, but he said: 81 am GO
ing into this business, give me another
hammer" [Laughter.l
Cannon then read an order signed by
by the President on March II, 1887.
designating San Francisco as port of
entry for for goods in bonds, to show that
at that time (after the passage
of the Retaliation billy the President
did not think the Goth article abrogated.
Now the President said that it
had been dead since 1885, and the man
that lowered like Colossus among all be-
tween sun up and sun down, turned
double summersault and, with an ana
thema against the Canadian Govern
ment cried, "Gore, gore, gore" Every
body understood that the present Execu-
tive was not going to spill his blood in
the fight. The people would not be again
fooled. Thank God, this was the day of
newspapers and school houses, and the
gentlemen might as we'll undertake to
dip the Atlantic dry with spoon as to
fool the loyal masses of the country by
any such clap-trap.
Mcmillan, of Tennessee-Are you 60
ing to vote for this clap-trap?
Seymour, of Michigan, said that the
Northwest was interested in short and
cheap lines of traffic. The extension of
the power requested by the President
would, if given, result in the prohibition
by Canada of the transit of American
goods through that country. 1t would not
benefit the fishermen, but would damage
Canada and the Northwest mutually.
1t was agreed that a vote should be
taken at O'Clock tomorrow. The House
then took O recess.
The house at the evening session passed
thirty two private pension bills, and at
10 80 adjourned until tomorrow.