The record-union., 1897-02-14
Which Soon After It Began Drifted
Into Politics.
The Relative Merits of the Mckinley
and Wilson Tariff Bills Attacked
and Defendcd-DemOCra CriticiSe
the Vast Appropriations of the
Present Congress, Estimated at
Over a Billion Dollars.

| SunUfy CIVIL appropriation OH was US-
fore that body for general debate. 1t
was used as basis for an attack by
the Democrats on the vast appropria-
tions made by the Congress, which Say
ers and Dockery estimated would ag-
gregate 81, ,045, 100000. The latter paid
high tribute to Speaker Reed, and ac-
quilted him of all responsibility for the
large appropriations.
Once the gate was opened the debate
naturally drifted into politics. The re-
| lative merits of the Mckinley and
| Wilson bills as revenue producers were
attacked and defended. the income tax
decision and Justice Shiras' change of
| position came in for a share OF atten-
ton, and Mr.. De Almond Of Missouri
concluded the day with a brilliant plea
for struggling Cuba which won from
the House shouts of approval.
An animation was made to pass the
sundry civil bill under the suspension
of rules on Monday, but Cannon, VINO
| has charge of the bill, denied this.
| There is evidence of movement on
! foot, however, to thus dispose OF the
bill, but at present it seems to lack
strength to carry it. Some or the IN
terests which are not taken care OF by
| the bill desire to make their hght TO
overrule the committee on the floor.
| The House to-day, without prelimin-
ary business, went into Committee OF
| the Whole and resumed the consldera-
| ton of the sundry civil bill.
| Cannon. in charge of the bill, asked
luminous consent that the bill be con-
sidered as having been ready the hrst
| time.
! Hepburn asked if the purpose OF
passing the bill next Monday under
1susnension of the rules had been aban-
doned. and this was a move TO procure
! the first reading of the bill, TO AVOID
criticism made when the river and mar
bor bill pas passed last year without
having been read.
The question evidently nettled can
non who replied that he was willing
that the House should use toward this
bill any course the majority desired he
called attention to the fact that put
two weeks of this session yet remained.
and there was still to pass, in addition
| to the sundry civil bill, the naval ap-
nropriation bill and the general de-
| ficency bill.
But YOU have not answered my ques-
ton, eXcldlIHtO A.
abandoned the purpose of passing TINS
bill under suspension OF the ruieS.
There never was any such purpose
said Cannon sharply.
A compromise was arranged, and the
reading of the bill was dispensed With
IF was agreed there should be hve
hours general debate, two ana nan
ON each side.
Cannon made the opening statement
regarding the measure. 1t carried 9'o'
G64 143. about SS,0O0,Ooo less thah the
estimates, and about S1I ,JOo,ooO more
than carried by the bill for the current
wear. The increase was extraordinary,
but. he said, easy of explanation. VI
the increase, SO, ,.j31 900 was for river
and harbor improvements authorized
TO be placed under contract by the river
and harbor bill of one year ago, ana 81
6oO. 12O for public buildings in course
of construction, and S7U33OO Tor the
exnenses of the United States courtS.'
He said the committee recommended no
annropriation for Wilmington, Del, be-
cause II had been found that the work
could not be done for the sum author
ized (S205 .0OO. The same reason ac-
counted for the failure to appropriate
i'm this bin for the Oakland, Cal, I'M
nrovement which would cost 100000
more than was authorized. The same
was true of the Kentucky River. The
river and harbor bill authorized an eX-
nense of S4OO 600 1t would require 81
600, 900 to complete the project. Dams
> and ) of the Ohio River and Yaquina
Bay. Or. were also omitted from the
bill for the same reason.
Mr.. Sayres (Dem) of Texas. taking
the sundry civil bill as a text, attacked
the record of this Congress in the mat
ter of extravaganza. The appropriations
for this Congress would reach the un-
precedented sum Of 81 ,045, 100000. He
asserted that it 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 expendi-
lures, unless the majority in the next
Congress reversed its policy and adopt
ed the old Democratic doctrine of eco
nomical expenditure of the peoples
money.
Did not the Fifty-second Congress,
when all branches were Democratic,
expend as much as the Republican
Congresses?' asked Mr.. Milliken.
Not within $4,000 900 of the amount
expended by the Fifty first Congress,
or TO be expended by the present Con-
gress,'' replied Mr.. Sayres.
He proceeded to draw contrast be-
tween the appropriate of 1897 and Of
1887. to show the increase in a decade.
Mr.. Dockery, who followed. said in
his opinion the expenditures of this
Congress would reach S1.030,oo0, 900.
But he said he desired to acquit the
Speaker of the House of any response
bility.
Speaking of the future. Mr. Dockery
said he did not know whether n tariff
bill could be framed which would raise
sufficient revenue to meet these vast
expenditures, but If anyone could frame
such a bill it would be the ''distin-
guished Chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee, Mr.. Dingley."
The merits of the Mckinley law as
revenue producer were brought into the
debate. Hopkins (R.) of Illinois con-
tended that 1t produced ample revenue,
while McMillin maintained that for the
four years Of its operation the def
>;ency was $4,000. 600 He defended
tbs Wilson law, which he declared
you q have produced sufficient revenue
had .sot the income tax been declared
He was severe in his
structures upon the United States Su-