The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-21
DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE
Not Likely 10 Loose Prestige Under
Their New Leader,
BAILEY SHOWS UP WELL ON THE FLOOR
The sundry civil Bili which Has just
Passed the House Contains n Number
ofyirsinia Appropriations-Ihe
Norfolk Public Building.

WASHINGTON. -. c.. March 20
Spccial-Although the fight IN the House
yesterday over tho rule limiting debate
upon the tariff hin. was but "a preliminary
struCglc IL afforded an opportunity TO
Judge the relative strength Of the two
parties as 10 will bc demonstrated In the
discussion which begins on Monday.
The Democrats. although not so strong
rs ia the Fifty-third Congress. when VIII
liam l.. Wilson led the fight for tariff
reform and Bourko Cochran electrified
.he House and the galleries with the
force Of his wonderful eloquonce, still
they have no reason TO feel ashamed Of
the showing they made yesterday, or 10
lack confidence in the hrmncss or mo
ability OF their new leader on the floor.
Mr. Bailey has for several years been
q conspicuous member Of the Democra-
tic side. lie never appeared TO better ao-
Vantage than yesterday.
DIGNIFIED BEARING.
lie bore his new dignity with becoming
modcsty made no effort TO force NM
self 10 the front. but when he did speak
he showed himself more forcoiul as
speaker with broader view OF the
whole situation than those who had pre-
ccdcd him on either side Of the House.
The general impression IS that Mr. Bal
lev will prove very strong and effective.
and that with regard TO the tariff. there
g. no reason TO fear that the Democratic
record will strengthen the party before
the country.
VIRGINIA APPROPRIATIONS.
The sundrv civil bill. which passed the
House yesterday under a special rule,
carried the current Federal appropria-
tions for Virginia There was some in
crease IN the "rivcr and harbor' appro-
priations for our State. which were en-
Traced in this bill. Also several Senate
amendments. notably one approprlauhs
an additional one hundred thousand dol
lars for an increase in the fund for the
government building at Norfolk.
This bill passed both houses and was
approved by the Conference Committee
I'm the last Congress. but failed TO be
come a law for lack of the Executive
signature The President refusing 10
sign Il on account Of tho enormous
amount Of appropriations it carried;
many Of which he considered eXtraVa-
giant and needless at this time This
latter fact was demonstrated by the
Democratic minority while the bill was
under discussion in the House. but not
wiihstanding they were assisted in their
opposition by several Republicans. not
ably Representative Pearson. of North
Carolina, the dominant party. guided by
the iron hand Of Speaker Reed. rode
down all opposition. and loaded the bill
with items amounting to the unprece-
dcnted amount Of over fifty millions or
dollars.
The special rule which proposed TO rail
road through this Congress. q bill au-
thorizing expenditures of such magni-
tude. which was prepared in the last
Congress. and had never been seen by
Laos Of
stoutIv opposed by the Democrats. but
Sneaker Reed who has declared that
everything should make way for the tarin
bill. was innexible and the bill passed by
"a strict party vote with the exception OF
Mr.. Pearson, Of North Carolina, who
voted with the Democrats
GOES TO THE SENATE.
The measure now goes TO the Senate
where IL will be probably received rs
entirely new legislation. and as such
may be again considered I'm committee
and amended If for no other purpose 10
show the autocrat OF the House That
he cannot run both branches Of con-
gress
The general deficiency bill, which pass
ed the House under the same rule. fall
cd I'm the last Congress. after being par
TALLY considered by the Conference COM
mittee Only the items agreed upon in
conference were included. This eliminated
the claims of the Richmond Locomotive
Works The Richmond College war
claims under the Bowman act and sew
oral others Senate amendments Of impor-
lance TO Virginia and other Southern
States. IL carried. however the sum or
s5.7n.15. TO enable the Secretary OF the
Treasury 20 restore compensation or en-
poyoos at the port Of Newport News
whose salaries were reduced by him IN
order to avoid a deficiency.
Also 5000. for rebuilding steam
launch. 20 be used on the Potomac river
at the shad-hatching stations.