The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-05-21
DEMOCRATS LIKE PORK.
Cheese PAIRING Scruples Vanish When
the Barrel Is Opened.
LIVELY DEBATE ON THE RIVER
AND HARBOR BILL.

The Attitude of the Democratic Senators
on This Measure Contrasted With Their
Opposition to the Naval Appropriation
Bill - Conference With the House
Aslxed-Another of Mr.. Frye's Shipping
Bills Passed-Other Washington News.
WASHINGTON, May 20.-The Senate to-
day resumed consideration of the river
and harbor bill. Mr.. Pugh moved to
take $4,000 from the appropriation of
$262, 800 for Mobile harbor and appropri-
ate that sum to the improvement of the
Warrior river.
Mr.. Hale opposed the amendment. He
said the Democratic Senators, particular
ly referring to Messrs. German, Vest,
Cockrell and Villas, were not seen to rise
and protest against provisions put in the
bill by the Democratic House of Repre-
sentatives. He discovered in that fact
something of the masquerading which
had been referred to the other day by the
Senator from Maryland. That Senator
had the sagacity to see that his party
would be confronted at the end of this
session with the fact that it was not able
to reduce the appropriations. He also
had seen that the cry about the s'Billion-
Dollar Congress would be overwhelmed
in the inextinguishable laughter of the
American people when they learned that,
in its very first session, the Democratic
House of Representatives had increased
the appropriations. That cry of derision
would overwhelm the cry Of the 'sBillion
Congress- and nothing could be answer
ed to it. The Senator from Maryland
had asserted that the House was bound
by the statutes passed by the Republican
Congress, and the appropriations could
not be reduced until the Democratic par
ty gained possession of every branch of
the government. Mr.. Hale now called
Mr.. Gorman's attention to the fact that
enormous appropriations in the river and
harbor bill, such as for the improvement
of Mobile harbor, had not their basis on
any act of the Republican Congress or
the Republican administration. They
we're simply the result of influence,
which, where it could pare and cheese
pare in small matters, did so, going be-
fore the country claiming reputation
for economy. Where an opportunity to
pass log-rOlling appropriation bill arose
every particle of economy disappeared.
Mr.. Mcpherson asked Mr.. Hale why
he had not voted yesterday for the mo-
ton to recommit the bill and have it re-
duced SO per cent.
Mr.. Hale answered that there were
items in the bill that ought not to be
reduced. These were minor items in re-
gard to cost, but very important as to
the work to be done.
Especially in the state of Maine?"
said Mr.. Mcpherson.
Mr.. Hale drew comparison between
the course of the Democratic Senators on
the naval appropriations bill and on the
river and harbor bill, and asked the
clerk to read letter from distinguish
ed Democrat as to the Importance Of pro-
viding defences for sea coast cities.
Mr., Turpie-"Who is the writer?'
Mr.. Hale-'Samuel j. Tilden. 1t is
the letter written from Greystone in 1885
to the Speaker of the House. The writer
was at one time, considered an authority
in the Democratic party. / want the
Senate to hear what that distinguished
leader, luminary, light, guide, philoso-
pher and friend of the Democratic party
said in 1885,
After some Interruptions by Mr..
Turpie the letter was read.
Mr.. Mcpherson expressed surprise at
finding Mr.. Tilden quoted by the Senator
from Maine, who had been one of the
visiting statesmen by whom Mr.. Til
denis election to the presidency had been
defeated.
Mr.. Hale recalled the fact as patent
answer to Mr.. McPhersons S remarks that
when the Democratic party four years