Evening star., 1897-04-07
An Appropriation Made For the
Flood Sufferers.
QUICKLY PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES
Mr.. Morgan Continues His Speech
on Cuba.
MIR. SIMPSONS ATTACK

Sippi valley, and said, Touch our hearts
that our hands may be opened to their
necessities"
Mr.. Catchings (Miss) at once brought
forward joint resolution authorizing the
Secretary of War to distribute rations
among the sufferers. 1t appropriated $780,
coo for the purpose, and authorized the
Secretary to employ the government steam-
ers and other boats on the Mississippi in
transporting and distributing the supplies,
and also such other means he might
deem necessary for the purpose of dis
tributing supplies contributed by the gov
ernment or individuals Mr.. Catchings
spoke briefly on the subject, saying that
the President had been in communication
with the governors Of the flooded states
and was in sympathy with legislation for
their relief. He referred to the precedents
for congressional relief in 1882 and 1883.
Then he was about to yield the floor to
Mr.. Sayers (Tex.) when Mr.. Walker (Mass)
interposed an objection unless there could
be twenty minutes on side for debate.
Mr.. Walkers Remarks.
Il do object" he asserted, ito having
resolution brought in and having some one
take possession of the House. There should
be time In this House at some time or other
when man can speak as the representa-
tive of 100000 people, and we don't have it
at all. No man is allowed to speak in this
House in his own right.
At this point the Presidents message was
presented, and other business was sus-
pended while 1t was read to the House.
The message was listened to with interest
and then Nh. Catchings offered to yield
twenty minutes to Mr.. Walker but the lat
ter declared that he wanted to speak in his
own right By consent twenty minutes de-
bate to side was given. and Mr. Walker
was permitted to control the time of the
opposition. Mr.. Walker said that Mr.. Catch
lrgs should present some reason why the
states affected by the floods should not
pear the expense of caring for their own
people, to which Mr.. Catchings replied that
there was no authority under their consti-
tutfons for the legislatures to disburse mon
ey 1or such purposes Moreover the legis-
iatures were not in session and the COVER
nors had no such authority.
reply. 40
- Mr.. Mr. catchings declared that the stricken
more overwhelmed by taxation than anv
olher section of the Union. His own con-
sressional district had spent a quarter of
mutton dollars of private means to avert
the mood. 1t was time for the government
to harness this great river. and in the next
Congress logical scheme for this pur-
pose would be presented.
Mr. Cannon 1ll) declared that he did not
approve of the line of argument Mr. Catch
ings had adopted. 1t was a sad thing,
indeed, for the constitution of any state to
be so framed that it gave no power to re-
neVe the suffering, the stricken, the desti-
tute. The legislatures of Kentucky and
tennessee were in session, but he did not
know whether they had such power 1t
was evident that there was great suffering
in the Mississippi valley, and there were
precedents for action by Congress- In
the presence of wholesale suffering he had
not stopped to inquire whether the consti-
tutions of states permitted them to care
for the floor sufferers. but he hoped that
the time would soon come when the states
cal IN lIch CIIff fnrin in, thoir
derS.
Mr. Mudd (Md) spoke briefly, saying that
it was no argument that Boston had been
able to get along in the past without such
relief. If Congress-. under the general
welfare clause of the Constitution. had
power to make tariffs and to restore pros
perity 1t had power to do this. 1t was
no time to argue about state rights; Con-
gresS should act on the broad ground OF
humanity.
Mr. Gaines CTenn.) read telegram from
the governor of Tennessee In reply to a
request for information as to the condi-
tions in that state.
Governor wired: I'm a deplorable condi-
ton. Bill now pending for 5000 appro-
priation by the legislature"
M. Walker sarcastically asked If Mr..
Gaines did not think the amount of the
Tennessee appropriation should not be re-
duced to 500.
l. was explained by Mr.. Carmack CTenn.)
that the people in that state who needed
was no more debate. and the resolution
was adopted without dissent.
Mr.. Simpson on the Committees.
The Mississippi sufferers having been dis
posed of. Mr.. Simpson Ran) furnished the
House with entertainment. Mr.. Simpson
had endeavored to secure the floor imme-
diately after the routine business, announc-
ing that he desired to speak on a question
of the highest privilege II have read an
article in the Forum. by Senator Hoar,
which reflects on the House Of Represen-
tatives, and as member of the House
desire to enter my protest." he had said
at that time but he was induced to waive
his speech until the flood resolution was
dealt with. Now he sent to the clerk to
be read an editorial from a Washington
newspaper. This article declared that the
members Of the House had been robbed of
their right to legislate by the Speaker to
whom it referred "a political cannibal
autocrat.' When the clerk had read a ref
erence to what the Speaker ''in his own
noWery language calls retrospective legis-
lation." Mr.. Dingley interposed an objec-
ton that Mr.. Simpson had not stated any
question OF privilege, but the Speaker de-
cided that the member from Kansas might
continue.
The newspaper article was exceedingly
merry IN language. and when it had been
read Mr.. Steele Qnd) jumped to his feet.
shouting: This is no question of privilege.
and move that the House now adjourn
The republicans were not ready to ad-
1ourn. and they cried mo. no.
Speaker Reed very calmly ruled: 1.-The
motion cannot be entertained at present"
hen 1t was stated in a newspaper dur
ing the Fifty-first Congress that members
were seen drunk on the floor" Mr.. Simp-
| son said. that was considered a question
of privilege"
The point which he now raised he de.
clared. was one of higher privilege There
upon he waved aloft a copy of the Forum
| ana proceeded to read rapidly from an ar.
| ticle by Senator Hoar. entitled Has the
| Senate Degenerated?
There was a profound silence wher
Speaker Reed began to explain his policy. :
| He said: rS'''
Speaker Reeds Speech.
| The House will perceive that the gen
tieman from Kansas (Mr. Simpson, ha,
made no proposition whatever upon tn,
subject. He has simply stated his OWL
views. and the chair has thought perhaps 4
! was best that the matter should be statet
| and that the House should consider 1t. 81
| far as the power Of the Speaker is con
cerned. every one who has made the sub
ject matter Of consideration understand.
that his power is solely the power of tn,
| House, and the House can at any mo
I