Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-10
PILOTS MAY BREATHE EASY
Bill to Repeal the Compulsory
PiIotage System
DEFEATED IN THE HOUSE
The A. P, A. Was Bitterly Attacked by Mr.
Fitzgerald of Massachusetts.
rs PENSIONS PASSED IN 60 MINUTES
Mr.. Mantle Made His Maiden Speech and
Was Warmly Congratulated-Ex-
planned Why He Voted Against
the Dingley Bill
rs PENSIONS PASSED IN 60 MINUTES

Washington, April 9.-The bill to repeal
the compulsory pilotage system, so far as
it affects sailing vessels engaged in the
coastwise trade, was defeated in the
house today after days debate, by a
vote of 1T to 50. Mr.. Grosvenor, repub-
lican, of Ohio, in the course of the discus
sion, said that while this congress would
not enact any legislation intended to inn
prove the condition of the laboring men
in this country, he was certain the house
would not pass bill which the laboring
men believed would still further dis
tress and discomfort any portion of
their fellows
The amended District of Columbia ap-
preparation bill for the year ending June
80, 1897, was passed after a brief debate
The most notable incident of the debate
was a bitter attack by Mr. Fitzgerald
democrat, of Massachusetts, upon the
American Protective association, by
name for it's attack in the dark, as he
expressed 1t, upon the Roman Catholic
church, of which he was a member
which resulted in depriving institutions
in the District of Columbia conducted
under the auspices of the church of what
WAS justly and legally theirs. No re-
sponse was made to Mr. Fitzgerald be-
can, of Vermont in charge of the bill,
that it constituted In any sense an at
tack upon the Catholic church The vote
upon the bill was 134 to 21 and only
twenty members an insufficient number,
Joined with Mr.. Sulzer, democrat, of
New York, in a demand for vote by
yeas and nays.
conference was ordered on the SEN
ate amendments to the postoffice appro-
priatfon bill
Consideration was begun of the filled
cheese BILL" imposing tax upon its
manufacture and sale, and will be con-
tinued tomorrow.
Mr.. Cooke, republican, of Wisconsin,
author of one of the bills for which the
pending bill was a substitute, addressed
the house prior to adjournment, which
took place at 8 :05 o. clock.
Discussion of the District or Cofumbta
appropriation bill was interrupted to
pass the resolution asking the secretary
of state to give the house any informa-
tion the department might have regard
ing the case of Mrs. Florence q. May
brick in prison in England for poison
ing her husband, a merchant or Liver
pool
Mr. Fitzgerald, on rising to speak upon
the district appropriation bill, said: I'm
the few moments at my disposal intend
to pay my respects to an organization
existing in this country today that is
behind this bill and has been behind 1t
ever since congress came into session.
The American Protective association or
ganization never made any opposition
to the appropriations for these institu-
tions until the night before the DEBATE
began. and they then bombarded the
committee room and insisted upon the
appropriations being stricken out. The
animus of this organization Is Well
known. A great many members OF TINS
house have been importuned to oppose
txx4A aaf Of
freedom, broad spirit, liberality and
Americanism, but for the simple reason
that ii appropriates money for Catholic
institutions. / stand upon the moor OF
the house born and bred Roman Cath
olic and proud of it, and deny the rignt
of any secret oath-bound organization to
come before the legal representatives or
the American people and. by its dark
deep. underhand methods, seek to de-
priye me and members of the religion
which / profess of the honest rights and
privileges and duties OF American citi-
zenship. What apology is there for
Roman Catholic to live in this country?
Is one necessary? Look at history from
the discovery of this land of ours in
1892 Look at the deeds of bravery and
heroism and craftsmanship that have
been performed by Roman Catholics. l
challenge any member of the American
Protective association in this house, l
challenge any member who Is in sympa-
thv with that organization, to name
sphere in life or any public duty that
has been badly filled or ill-performed by
members of the Roman Catholic church.
Tn the great war of the revolution
washington had no firmer friends no
firmer supporters, than the Roman
Catholic members of his stan, and when
we look at the great naval struggle at
that time the first name that springs 10
our lips is that of an Irishman and Ro+
mn Catholic, Capt. John O'Brien, who
achieved the first great naval victory of
the war off the coast of Maine. IL was
not asked whether Kosciusko, or Pu-
laski, or Lafayette were Catholics when
the thirteen colonies were struggling for
their independence, were struggling for
the rights to breathe and live, the rights
which free born American citizens are
ENJOYING today. At that time could you
find any religious fanatics or persons
stealthily creeping around from one end
of the country to the other in secret or
der and in secret parlance intriguing
against mans religiony / know we
talk about the breadth and liberality OF
the American people In these days. Why,
sir IL is not to be compared with the
breadth and liberality and wisdom that
were exhibited in those times.
Mr. Speaker, / should appeal in the
snirit of broad Americanism and true
charity, If IL could be done. that this ap-
propriation bill which has been reported
here today should be set aside and an
anpropriaton made in the usual form.
7 know, however, that can not be done
at the present time under the rules of this
house. but intend to stand here and ut
ter my protest as an American citizen
and as a Roman Catholic against the un-
lust. unfair and un-American means
that have been used by the organization
to which / referred to deprive these in
stitutiens of the support which is legally
and Justly theirs. My friends. II we
should have war with England on ac-
count the Venezuelan matter or war
with Spain on account of the Cuban mat
ter. where would the members of the fa-
rnans organize tion be found? They
would be foszpd in the same place and
under the same auspices that they were
found In the war Of the rebellion, taking
the steamers for Nova Scotia to put
fhemselves urider the protection of Queen