The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-06
IN THE HOUSE.



Washington City. May THE opponents
of four hattleships sustained an over
wheiming defeat in the house today ON the
proposition TO accept the senate amend
ment 10 the naval appropriation bill recuc-
ing the number TO two. Sayers. Dem,
Tex, ex-chairman Of the appropriations
committee made the motion, and In its
support argued that the question presented
was purely business one. and he appealed
10 the house not 10 allow political matters
10 influence it's Judgment. He proceeded
to contrast the appropriations OF the pres
ent session with the available revenues.
The direct appropriations for'the next fiscal
year as they passed the house were $s5.-
Oh. CO. while the total estimate OF the reve-
une was but 1854 4.0o.e00. II no provision
we're made for the sinking fund ESQ CO oop),
the total outstanding obligations would be
S455.0a.o0o. leaving q working balance OF
ss.0ne But IN addition contracts were
authorized In the sundry civil. naval and
fortifications bills aggreFating ss5. .ooo0 900.
In other words. there would be So 0oo.00o to
meet almost Slooooo.oa0 OF expenditures.
With this situation staring congress In the
face. he argued that IL was wise to re-
trench.
Boutelle. chairman OF the naval commit
tee. who replied to Sayers. thought II un-
fortunate that these business facts had
not been brought into the house when we
were undertaking TO regulate boundary
lines in South America and in other ways
asserting the primacy of the republic. No.
a suggestion was made then that less than
sour battieships should be authorized. At
that time elso. he said he had the best OF
reasons for believing that the senate would
agree to four ships: indeed the fear was
that the upper branch of congress would
go further and authorize six.
Cummings Dem. N. T. in opposing
Sayers motion criticised that gentleman
for proposing to surrender TO the senate
without firing a gun. He recalled the man.
ner In which the senate had forced the
house TO accept its ame endment to the last
naval appropriation bill and TO accept the
tarifY bill. with all its errors" He argued
that II was time for the house to make
stand against the arrogance of the Amer
lean house of lords"
Cannon. chairman OF the appropriations
committee. took strong position in favor
OF Savers motion. on the ground OF an in
evitabie deficiency In reyennes for the next
fiscal years This congfess he saiA was
mortgaging the future for $40. .o1n 00n That
was the candid truth That meant a charge
OF s25.odo 900 per snnum for each year OF
the next Republican administration.
But We will raise additional revenue"
suggested representative.
Yes" agreed Cannon, but II will require
eighteen months to write new revenue
bin on the statute books. In the meantime,
IL we put a mortgage on the treasury we
will be obliged to borrow money 10 pay 1t
OF. The gentlemen OF this side OF the house
must understnd this" He did not want
his motives misunderstood. He stood
ready TO see public buildings and public
works in his section stand still if necessary
for the defense of the honor OF the country.
but he desired first TO be convinced that
the necessity existed.
Boutelle concluded the debate with a
brief protest against placing all the onus
of extravsgant appropriations on the naval
committee. The vote was taken by yeas
and nays, Sayers' motion was defeated.
On Boutelle's motion the house requested
n further conference with the senate.
A special order was adopted TO set aside
tomorrow and the 18th for the consideration
OF private pension bills. ten minutes de-
bate 10 be given 10 each. There are 4os pri-
vate pension bills on the calendar Crisp.
Dem. Ga. contended that no bill could he
intelligentiy considered In ten minutes.
Mr.. Loud. Rep, Cal, also opposed the
adoption Of the order. The claims of the
old soldiers. he said. were not so sacred Al
10 Justify their passage without considera-
tior. Mr.. Henderson said that when the
hand OF the administration was held above
the interests Of the Old soldiers, legislation
was needed. II ten hours were allowed for
debate on each bin. Democratic tongues
charged with venom and gall would be
found TO consume II. he hurled back the
imputation that this rule was brought In
for campaign purposrs. and intima,ed ,ha.
some % tho obstructIoniSts on the other
side found obstruction to pensions A great
campaign card in the South. At AIS the
house adjourned.