The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-14
And IL Was Used by Democratic Men,
bers as N Basis for Charging Re
publicans with Extravaganza.
GENERAL POLITICAL DEBATE
IN WHICH THE M'kINLEY AND WILL
son TARIFF BILLS FIGURED.
shouts for "Cuba Libre" After a
position to the Sundry Civil Bill.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 1S.-This has been
a field day in the House. The sundry civil
appropriation bill was before that body to-
day for general debate. 1t was used a
basis for an attack by the Democrats on
the vast appropriations made by this Con-
gress which Mr.. Sayers and Mr.. Dockery
estimated would aggregate S1.0i5, 00O, 900. The
latter paid high tribute to Speaker Reed,
and acquitted him of all responsibility for
the large appropriations. Once the gate
was opened the debate naturally drifted
into politics. The relative merits of the
Mckinley and Wilson bills revenue pro-
ducers were attacked and defended, the in
come-tax decision and Justice Shiras's
change of position came in for share of
attention, and Mr.. De Almond. of Missouri.
concluded the lay with brilliant plea for
struggling Cuba, which won from the
House shouts of approval. An intimatfon
was made that there was TO be an attempt
to pass the sundry civil bill under the sus-
pension of the rules on Monday. but Mr.
Cannon. who has charge of the bill, denied
this. There is evidently movement on
foot. however. to thus dispose of the bill,
but at present IL seems TO lack the strength
to carry it. Some of the interests which
were not taken care of by the bill desire
tee the floor.
When the session opened, Mr.. Cannon, in
charge of the sund-y civil bill. asked unan-
imous consent that the bill be considered
as having been read the first time. Mr.
Hepburn (Rep. Ia asked If the purpose
OF passing the bill next Monday under sus-
pension of the rules had been abandoned
and this was a move to procure the first
reading OF of the bill TO avoid the criticism
made when the river and harbor bill was
passed last year without having been read
The question evidently nettled Mr.. Cannon
who replied that he was willing that the
House should pursue towards the bill any
course the majority desired He called at
tention TO the fact that but two weeks of
still TO pass. in addition 10 the sundry civil
bill, the naval appropriation bill and the
general deficiency bill.
but you have not answered my uues-
ton" exclaimed Mr.. Hepburn. Have you
abandoned the purpose of passing this bill
under suspension of the rules?
There never was any such purpose re-
sponded Mr.. Cannon. sharply.
CANYON EXPLAINS THE BILL.
A compromise was arranged and the
reading of the bill dispensed with. II was
agreed that there should be five hours gen.
eral debate, two hours and a half on side.
Mr.. Cannon made the opening statement
regarding the measure. 1t carried S5O,66I.-
and about $17500.O00 more than carried by
the bill for the current year The increase
was extraordinary. but, he said. easy or
explanation. OF the increase. SIS. 531, 600 was
for river and harbor improvements author
tied to be placed under contract by the
river and harbor bill of one year ago. and
81, go 120 for public buildings in the course
OF construction and sos, 800 for the expenses
of United States courts. He said the com
mittee recommended an appropriation for
Wilmington, Del, because IL had been
found that the work could not be done for
the sum authorized by the river and harbor
bill-$205, 900. The same reason accounted
Tor the failure 10 appropriate IN this bill for
the Oakland. Cal, Improvement, which
lied. The same was true OF the Kentucky
river The river and harbor bill authorized
N.0OO000 TO complete the project Dams
and of the Ohio river and YOuquinna va
kima bay. Oregon. were also omitted from
Mr.. Sayers (Dem., Tex. taking the sun
dry civil bill as a text. attacked the record
OF this Congress in the matter of extrava-
giant expenditures. The appropriations for
this Congress, he declared would reach the
unprecedented sum of 81 O45. 900 COO Heassert-
ed that IL would not be in the power of the
Republicans of the next Congress TO pass a
tariff bill that would raise revenue enough
to meet the expenditures unless the major
ity in the next Congress reversed its policy
and adopted the old Democratic doctrine OF
money
Did not the Fifty-second Congress. when
all branches OF the government were Demo-
cratic, expend as much as the Republican
Congress-? asked Mr.. Milliken (RepD, of
Maine.
Not within $3sOOO.OOO of the amount ex
pended by the Fifty-first Congress, or to be
expended by the present Congress-" replied
Mr. Sayers- He proceeded draw a con-
trast between the appropriations of 1897 and
1SS1 TO show their increase in decade The
appropriations made by the various bills in
ten years had increased (round fsures):
Postoffice 81. 200 coo; sundry civil S24 600 Ws,
District OF Columbia. &,lI4OOO; Military
Academy. Sl5lOO0; diplomatic and consular
eOC, legislative. executive and judicial
Ss54. Go: Indian. $S44.2i3: naval. $14Os2. O00
river and harbOr, S.l75.0O0. besides SO O,O 600
authorized. and fOrtitcatiOns 81 81 coo The
$3Si. 35O.91. against $5lS,S ISL. an increase
of $li592i.0C0. In the face of this showing
of the vast and rapid increase of appro-
priations, Mr. Sayers appealed to members
irrespective Of party. 10 take home the ne
cessity of retrenchment.
DEMOCRATIC PRAISE FOR REED.
Mr.. Dockery, who followed Mr.. Savers
said. in his opinion, the expenditures of
the Congress would reach $1050. &C., 600 But
he said he desired 10 acquit the speaker of
the house of any responsibility. He COM
mended Speaker Reed for his heroic atti-
tude' against this 'riotous assault on the
treasury" While his party was response
bic. Speaker Reed. ne said. was not entitled
10 share in the odium. Speaking of the
future. Mr. Dockery said he did not know
whether a tarin bill could be framed which
would raise sufficient revenue 10 meet these
vase expenditures but IL anyone could
frame such a bill he said il would be the
distinguished chairman of the ways and
means committee. Mr.. Dingley." on his
side OF the House. however. they did not