St. Paul daily globe., 1896-04-07
NOT ENOUGH VOTES AGAINST TT To
SECURE EVEN A ROLL
CALL.
THE OPPOSITION WAS SPIRITED.
Bitter Attacks on the Pending Meas.
ure Were Made by Several of
the Members.

esAiN Ndy, diiu the vote To-Day was taken
Immediately after the reading of the journal
Elghteen Republicans and nine Democrats
voted against the report After the most de-
termlned opposition of those opposed to the
recognition of the insurgents in the senate
and house, there were but ten more votes
against the report than against the original
resolutions. The former vote was 262 to II.
Those who voted in the negative today were:
Republicans, Arnold Or. -, Atwood Black (N.
Y0, Boutelle, Daniels, Draper Gillet N. ",
Gillet (Mass.), Grout, Lefevre, Mccall (Mass),
Moody, Poole. Simpkins, Wadsworth, Walker
| Mass), Walker (Va), Wright-1S. Democrats,
Barry, Black (Ga.), Culberson, Elicit, Elliott,
Lockhart, Tucker. Turner (Ga.), Taylor-9.
By its action today the house agreed to the
senate resolutions and disposed of the Cuban
question for the present. Those resolutions
were as follows:
Resolved, That, in the opinion of congress-
| condition OF public war exists between the
| government of Spain and the government
| proclaimed and for some time maintained
| by force of arms by the people of Cuba; and
! that the United States of America should
maintain strict neutrality between the
| tending powers, according to each all the
rights of belligerents in the ports and terri
tory of the United States.
Resolved further that the friendly offices
of the United States should be offered by
the president to the Spanish government for
the recognition Of the independence of Cuba.
The river and harbor bill passed today car
ries in actual appropriations $10. 1896, $50, and
authorizes contracts for thirty-two new pro-
jects with limit of cost of $51, ,721, ,210. Only
forty minutes debate was allowed. Mr.. Hook
err chairman of the river and harbor COM
mittee attempted to secure an extension of
this time, but, first Mr.. MaGuire Oem., CALI
and then Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep., o. objected.
The debate was very spirited. Mr. Dockery
Oem., MOI attacked the recklessness with
which 1t was proposed to extend the "con-
ttnuing contract" system in the bills;
natural result, he claimed of the policy Of
giving the governments promise to pay in
stead OF paying cash. He admitted however
the great economy Of the contract system,
which Mr.. Burton (Rep., o. had Etated from
omcial reports to be 80 per cent. Mr.. Hep
burn CRep., 1o.) also made vigorous assault
on the bill, which he said had enough s.pork"
In 1t to insure it's passage. He devoted him
SELF to the Mississippi river commission, the
work of which he denounced. This brought
forth reply from Mr.. Catchings, the former
chairman of rivers and harbors and a de-
tense of the measure from Mr.. Hooker Rep..
N. ~, the present chairman. When the
vote was finally taken, the majority in favor
OF 1t was so overwhelming that it's opponents
were unable to secure the ayes and pays.
Before the house adjourned the New Mexico
bond bill was defeated and the bill to omen
the Assinaboine military reservation was
passed. wa"
AS soon as the tumult which had followed
the announcement of the Cuban vote had sub
SIDED, Mr. Hooker (Rep., N. W chairman of
the river and harbor committee moved to
suspend the rules and pass the river and har
Dor Dill. He asked that the reading of the
bill be dispensed with, but Mr.. Richardson
(Dem,. TenQ.l Ohiecfed to naccing I;II a.uu
ing millions Of dollars without the fornalitv
OF reading 1t. The reading Of the bill con-
sumed one and half hours. At the conclu-
sion of the reading Mr. Hooker asked that
the time for debate be extended until 4
O'Clock. Mr.. Hepburn Rep., Iowa. protested,
saying that the bill involved the appropriation
OF S69, 100000, and he submitted that this ex-
traordinary expenditure should not be au-
thorized without debate.
Mr.. Dockery Oem., Mo- led the opposition
to the bill. He favored just appropriations
for the great waterways of the country but
he did not believe such appropriations should
be obtained by the improvement Of unim-
portant streams. He added that, even though
he might favor every item in this bill, he
would oppose its passage under a motion to
suspend the rules, which would prevent de-
bate and amendment
After Mr.. Wheeler Dem, Ala.) had given
his Endorsement to the bill, Mr.. Hepburn
position to the measure. There was, he be-
gan nothing in the bill in the way Of "pork'
for his district, but, he added, there was
enough In it for other districts to insure its
passage, and he felt that nothing he might
say would stop it in its stately march to the
statute books.
Fright here, Mr.. Speaker said ne, "1 want
1t understood that don't object to legitimate
appropriations for the great waterways of the
country. What want to rebuke are methods
adopted to secure the passage Of this bill. In
most cases in this bill there is a fragrant be-
stowal of the largesses Of the government"
Proceeding, he said that in the last ten years
there had been expended through the Missis
sippi river commission s29, 100000. Most of 1t
was money thrown away. The scheme of the
Mississippi river commission, he declared had
been fraud from its inception. It's real pur-
pose was to reclaim swamp lands given to the
states on condition of their reclamation. Since
the scheme had been devised two-thirds Of the
appropriations had been applied to this pur-
pcsa and but ope-third te the work of deep
ening the channel. He cited the reports Of the
war department in substantiation Of this state
ment The net result of this vast expenditure,
he said, had been an average deepening of the
channel of only eighteen inches. 1t had cost
the government S400, 900 to secure an additional
depth Of one inch for forty miles Of the river.
For the Hennepin canal, he continued, great
project to connect the Mississippi river with
the Eastern waterways, this bill contained the
magnificent sum Of s25, 900, and the possibility
of contract for its completion extending over
ten years. He favored this important work,
but he wanted to demonstrate the viciousness
Of the system on which the bill was framed.
At this time Mr.. Hepburn's time expired, and
he concluded with a loud protest against the
passage of bill carrying $50, 900 with so
short debate and no opportunity to amend q
single line or an item of 1t.
Mr.. Catchings (Dem., Miss.), who was chair
man of the river and harbor committee in
the last congress, replied to Mr. Hepburn's
speech, which he denominated "a most ex-
traordinary harangue." Mr., Hooker, chair
man of the committee, in closing the de-
bate, briefly referred to the fact that the pas
sage of the bill under suspension of the rules |
was not unprecedented. He concluded by de-
manding a vote. In response to the speakers |
request for the ayes the house seemed to rise |
en- masse. Only here and there member re-
tanned his seat. On the rising vote 206 voted |
IN the affirmative and but 40 IN the negative !
Mr.. Talbert Dem, s. c. called for the ayes |
and nays. Let US put them on record" he |
shouted waving his arms. but only twenty six |!
members rose to second HIS demand, and when |
the speaker announced mot sufficient num- |
ber'' the great mass Of the members cheered |
The speaker declared the bill passed.
1.-The extent CT the vote" called out Mr.. |
Hepburn rising dramatically in his place. |
Shows the evenness with which the pork !
las been distributed"
P0sToFFICE APPROPRIATION.
WASHINGTON. April 6.--The senate spent |
l..