The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-04-08
100000 APPROPRIATED.
The House Acts Promptly After a Pro-
test from MIR. walker.

message and adopted joint resolution au-
thorizing the secretary of war TO expend
500. 600 for the relief of the flood sufferers
of the Mississippi valley. The most inter-
esting feature of the session was passage
between Representative Simpson, the KAN
sas Populist. and Speaker Reed. reported
elsewhere. After the Presidents message
had been read Mr.. Catchings Dem., Miss.)
asked consent for the immediate consid-
Grafton of a joint resolution authorizing
the secretary of war to distribute rations
among the sufferers. 1t appropriated $780,
900 for the purpose and authorized the Sec
retary to employ the government steam
ers and other boats on the Mississippi in
transporting and distributing the supplies,
and also such other means as he might
deem necessary for the purpose of distrib-
uting supplies contributed by the govern
ment or individuals Mr.. Catchings spoke
briefly on the subject. saying that the Pres
dent had been in communication with the
governors of the flooded States and was
in sympathy with legislation for their re-
lief He referred to the precedents for con-
gressional relief in 1852 and 1888
Mr.. Walker (Rep, MassD was inclined
to object. MIR. Walker said that Mr.. Catch
ings should present some reason why the
States affected by the floods should not
bear the expense of caring for their own
people, to which Mr.. Catchings replied
that there was no authority under their
constitutions for the legislatures to dis
burse money for such purposes. Moreover
the legislatures were not in session and
the governors had no such authority.
Mr.. Walker made a vigorous speech In
reply. II yield TO no man.. he said. In
my willingness to relieve suffering in every
legitimate way, but there Is nothing more
abused. nothing more dangerous in its use
than charity. When the great fire swept
the city of Chicago the inhabitants of va
rious cities came TO the relief of Chicago,
but were that same disaster to reach chi
cago to-day, or any other one or twenty
cities, any one OF these cities, or the states
in which they are located, would decline
assistance. feeling that IT was trenching
on their own self-respect and and assuming
citizens of that State When the fire
swept Boston and assistance was offered
by sister cities Boston, thanking them for
claiming the right as belonging to her own
people, which they would not forego Of
taxing care OF Their own f,s eitizens zen ons,tu
tions of those States give no right to those
States to assist their own people In circum-
These are no new circumstances. and that
If amendments were necessary TO the con-
stitutions of those States they should have
attended to the amendment of their con-
stitutions, or in some manner place ample
power in the hands of the executives of
these States. Will he point me to line
that permits 1t? Is the Presidents mes
sage to be substituted-is any President S
message under any circumstances to be
substituted-for constitutional laws? While
/ have not objected to the consideration of
this matter. and while / shall not vote
against it. this is the last time that shall
ever abate my judgment and my con-
science in violating what / believe is the
Constitution. in violating the manliness of
injury and in doing a wrong to the States
themselves by needlessly and in humiliat-
ing manner, going to the rescue of States
that are more abundantly able to take
care of their own poor. / believe there is
nothing could come to the citizens of those
States that would have so good a moral
and economic effect as to call upon them
leave them to do it,
MIR. Simpson-Why did not the gentle
man prevent It on Saturday when he voted
of India?
Mr.. Walker--That was a national affair.
tions from all the States, and did not then
approve of that act. / believe that when
any 9d our peoH nontribs,,io Sopid
cover the delivery of that charity. / am
opposed to charity everywhere and under
m cratic side' exaept Where If t is .n au abso-
lutte necessity. and where the poor and the
suffering cannot be aileviated i'm any other
DldflfltT anu III a proper way. III IL fOt iOl
us to take the money by taxation out
of the pockets of the people and distrib-
ute ii i'm charity where we ought to be per-
sonally responsible for 1t.
Mr. Simpson-That is what is done for
the benefit of the manufacturers.
Mr. Catchings declared that the stricken
more overwhelmed by taxation than any
other section of the Union. His own con-
gressional district had spent a quarter of
a million dollars of private means TO avert
the flood. Ii was time for the government
to harness this great river and in the next
Congress logical scheme for this purpose
would be presented
Mr.. Cannon tRep., lll.) declared that he
did not approve of the line of argument
Mr.. Catchings had adopted II was a sad
thing. indeed for the Constitution of any
State to be so framed that IL gave no pow
er to relieve the suffering. the stricken
the destitute. The legislatures of Ken
tucky 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
suffering he had not stopped to inquire
whether the constitutions of States per.
mitted them 70 care for the flood sufferers
but he hoped that the time would soor
come when the States could care for such
suffering in their borders.
Mr.. Gaines Dem.. Tenn.) read a telegram
| from the Governor OF Tennessee in reply
| TO a request for information as to the con
| ditions in that State. The Governor wired
| 'In a deplorable condition. Bill now pend
| ing for 5000 appropriation by the Legisla
Mr.. Walker sarcastically asked if Mr.
| Gaines did not think the amount OF tn,
| Tennessee appropriation should not be re
II was explained by Mr.. Carmack dem.
Tenn) that the people in that State wht
needed relief were refugees from Arkansas
| There was no more debate and the resolu
| ton was adopted without dissent.
|