The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-06-10
PASSED. OVER THE VETO.
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL PASSED
THE HOUSE, 22o TO 60.

Democrats Voted to Override the Veto
AMI &c Republicans to Sustain the presi'
dent.
WASHINGTON, June 2.-The House
devoted itself to day TO passing the
river and harbor bill over the freSl-
dents veto and unseating, by vote
of 1862 to 20 John J. Walsh. the Dem
ocratic member from the Eigth New
York District, whose place will be
filled by John Murray Mitchell, Re
publican. Both of these actions were
foregope conclusions, so that they ex-
cited comparatively little interest al
though there was a full House to vote
on the river and harbor bill. 1t was
passed by 220 to 60, many more votes
Than the two thirds necessary to over
rule a veto. and it was passed without
debate. although Mr.. Dockery OF Mis-
souri, protested vehemently that de-
bate had been promised. Thlrty,nl
Democrats voted to override the Presl'
Dental objections and twenty-sX he
rublicans stood by Mr.. Cleveland.
The naval appropriation bill was re-
ported from conference with an agree.
ment on all items but the number OF
battle ships. Incidentally, Chairman
Cannon of the Committee on Appro-
priations predicted that Congress Will
adjourn late next week. ..
The report of the COMMITTEE, on
Rivers and Harbors recommending
the passage of the bill over the Presl-
dents veto was made by Chairman
Hooker and the report was read. The
objections of the President were re-
viewed in detail. All but 81 of the
All projects in the bill, the large num-
ber being alluded to by the PRESIDENT
the report says, were contained In pre-
yious river and harbor bills. 1t is
also claimed that most of the projects
were contained in the bill of lo90,
upon which the late General Casey
submitted a report saying that but
eight were of limited local benefit.
1t is also stated that the bill was pre-
pared after careful examination OF the
reports of the engineers: The PreSl-
dent alluded to ''improvidently
planned projects" but the committee
asserts that no provision has been
made for prosecuting works where
there seemed doubt concerning them
by modified projects, all to be done
under the direction OF the engineers.
It is also claimed that the President is
indefinite in his language IN not spe.
cifying the Objectionable features OF
the bill. Replying to the assertion OIL
the President that there are approprla
tions for works which private parties
have actually agreed to do, the COM
mittee SAYS the information upon
which the President bases his assertion
is wholly without foundation.
Answering the charge of extrava-
gance. the committee says that tor the
past six years the average expenditure
has been $16,7OO,000 and estimates
from the present bill and the appro-
priations for 1898 and 1900 that the
average expenditure for the next SIX
wears will be $l3, 100, 900. The com
mittee quotes from the report OF Sec
retary Lamont endorsing the contract
system in making river and harbor
improvements and recommending
"the extension of that policy to en-
brace other worthy improvements.
Attention is called to the fact that If
the bill should fail, work upon hun
dreds of projects in course OF compile
ton would be suspended at great loss.
The report concludes that after a care
full re-examination of the bill, the COM
mittee sees no reason why the House
should recede from its action.
The reading of the report was fol-
lowed by applause, most of 1t on the
Republican side of the House. Mr.
Hooker moved the passage of the bill,
saving that the committee was OF the
opinion that the Presidents message
covered every possible objection to the
bill and that the report answered all
objections. MANY members have
asked me for time to debate this mat
ter" he said, land to yield to their re-
quest would take much time. With
out expressing any opinion on the
question whether there should be de-
bate and to test the opinion of the
House on the question whether debate
is necessary. will demand the pre-
vious question .,.
Instantly Mr.. Dockery Dem. OF Mis-
sourD was on his feet, demanding re-
cognition, but the Speaker told him
that debate was not in order. i
Members were shouting ''Vote, vote"
but the voice of Mr.. Dockery pierced
the uproar, shouting, The gentlemen
agreed with me yesterday to have de-
bate on this bill. This is unfair, un-
just, unmanly."
The House demanded the previous
question, 17S to 10, by rising vote,
and only 46 rose to sustain the request
for yeas and nays. !,
Under the rules, the vote On the
passage of the bill must be taken by
yeas and nays" the Speaker an
nounced.
us there no rule by which we can
have debate?" asked Mr.. Dockery.
Mot if the House orders the con-
trary," said Speaker Reed.
"And the House has so ordered to
stifle debate" responded Mr.. Dockery.
The bill was passed 220 to GO. The
Democrats who voted to pass the bill
over the veto were: Bankhead, Ala
bama; Berry, Kentucky, Buck, Louis
lana; Catchings, Mississippi; Clarke,
Alabama, Cobb, Missouri; Cooper,
Florida; Cooper, Texas; Culberson,
Texas; Cummings, New York; Denny,
Mississippi; Dinsmore. Arkansas; Ell
let, Virginia; Elliot, South Carolina;
Fitzgerald, Massachusetts; Kendall,