The herald., 1897-02-21
IN THE HOUSE
Warm Debate by Which No Conclusion Was
Reached

WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The house
spent the day in discussing the general
deficiency bill, which was not finished.
There was warm debate over an
amendment by Hopkins. Republican, of
Illinois, to take out the item of $4,000
to pay members of the Fifty-third con-
gress for amounts withheld from their
salaries for absence, in accordance with
rule adopted by that congress. Mr..
Hopkins said that Speaker Crisp had
enforced that rule to hold quorum, and
Democrats should not apply to a Re-
publican house for reimbursement. Mr..
Hopkins carried his point, 113 to 55. Just
before adjournment, Mcmillan, Demo-
crat, OF Tennessee, renewed an attack
by him upon Justice Shiras OF the su-
preme court for his part in the income
tax decision. and incidentally said he
was glad it had at last got through the
thick hide" of the justice.
The house RESUMED the discussion of
the general deficiency bill. a spirited
debate occurred on pending motion of
Hopkins, Republican, OF Illinois, to
strike out the item of $l2 900 to pay mem
bers of the Fifty-third congress the
amount withheld or account of absence
Hopkins declared this was a plan to
have a Republican congress wash the
dirty linen of the Democratic congress.
| The Democratic speaker Crisp, sup
ported by a Democratic majority. made
reductions in order to hold quorum,
and if the Democrats desired to reverse
their policy they should not apply to
[ Republican house at a time when they
! We're complaining of a billion dollar
appropriation" In the courseAf a long
discussion, Crisp, Democrat, of Georgia
son ard successor in congress TO Speak
er Crisp. explained the course Of his
! father as being in accordance with the
Interpretation of the law given by the
judiciary committee.
I Hopkins amendment was finally
| agreed to--113 to So.
An amendment offered by w A. Stone.
Republican, of Pennsylvania, to give
members whose terms expire with tne
close of this session $l00 for clerk hir"
for one month after their retirement.
was ruled out on point of order, as was
also an amendment by Richardson,
Democrat, of Tennessee, for the pay
ment of southern war claims under the
Bowman act amounting to $500. geo
| The item TO pay the Southern Pacific
/ Railroad company a judgment OF the
court of claims amounting to 81, 800 coo
being reached, Mr.. Sayers gave notice
of an amendment to strike all claims
/ Of the bond-aided Pacific railroads and
/ their branches from the Dill.
Thereupon Mr.. Bartlett, Democrat, of
I New York, announced that he would
/ defend the supreme court and Justice
/ Shiras against attacks recently made
| by Megsrs. Dearmond and Mcmillan.
Incidentally he served notice on the
I Democracy of the south and west that
! they could never expect to win so long
as they insisted on advocating an in
come tax that fell upon the east and
north, and in attacking the federal ju-
/ dietary.
McMillin made a reply to Bartlett
which created something of sensation
Referring to his previous remarks or
Justice Shiras, he said Il intended il
as an attack. and if it was not sufficient
| stand ready to renew ii at any time.
Continuing, he said: II hold that there
/ is nothing in the American government
so sacred that ], as representative oi
/ the American people, am not at liberty
/ to attack it when it goes wrong"
, Turning to Bartlett, he said: ut Ii
becomes the gentleman from New Yor.
/ who has taken his bag and baggage out
! of the Democratic party, to dictate e
me what policies l should pursue. ! an
/ at the old camping ground. fighting II,
I old battle" Democratic applause)
He referred to Justice Shiras as dis
! tinguished individual and said: IN.
! man ever attacked the federal judiciary
more strongly than did Thomas Jelfer
son, and the American people made hin
| president. When a president sends
! veto message to congress, he necessar
| lily criticises a coordinate branch of tn
government. What l said of Justic
Shiras was that he was the man VIII;
tore down the federal constitution ain,
who took away from the American peo
pie the right of 100 years to tax tn
wealth of the country. / repeat it to
day, and l am glad that 1 have go
| through his thick hide at last
He understood that Dalzell of Penn
sylvania. Republican, intended at a fll
ture time to make a defense of Justc
Shiras, and at that time Mcmillan sal,
he would present some facts regardin;