Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-01-12
CONGRESS
The Funding Bill Defeated
The House Sets Down on the Gi-
gsntic Swindle.

. the BdcinC railways va. utitabcu ~
the lower house Of congress by a vote
OF 1O2 to le6.
Powers, the author OF the bill, moved
to have the bill committed to the com
lmlttee for revision, but point OF or
der was made that the motion was out
OF order. 1t was then decided to allow
the question as to whether or not
Powers motion shall be granted, go
over to allow the speaker time TO ex-
anime precedents.
Great interest was manifested in
the out.ome Of the battle royal over
the Pacific funding bill. Before the
house convened the floor was crowded
with members standing about arguing
the merits Of the bill. The galleries
also were filed. II required some time
to straighten out the parliamentary
situation.
Speaker Reed stated that there were
no pending amendments to the bill.
There were. however, two substitutes,
that OF Harrison, OF Alabama, to pro-
vide for a commission Of three cabinet
officers to negotiate a settlement Of
the debt with the two roads, aud the
Bell substitute, providing that il the
roads would clear of the first mort
gage 50 as To advance the govern
ment's lien TO the position OF a first
mortage the government would agree
to an extension OF the period for pay
meut OF the debt at 3 per cent interest.
To the former substitute there was
pending amendment, proposed by
Northway, OF Ohio. providing that
the commission created should be ap-
pointed by the secretary Of the treas
ury. the secretary Of the interior and
the encouragement, instead Of con-
sisting Of these three cabinet Officers
The Northway amendment, he said,
was TO be voted on first, then the sub
stitutes in their order.
After some wrangling the speakers
statement OF the situation was ac-
cepted by the house. The NOrthway
amendment to the Harrison substitute
was defeated on "a viva yoce vote,
after which the Bell substitute was
submitted. Bell demanded a record
making vote. The demand was sus-
tained by seventy Of the members,
mostly Democrats, and the roll was
called. As the voting proceeded it
was evident the substitute would fail,
and friends OF the bill were cores
pondingly jubilant.
Senator White, Of California, Sen
ator Daniels and other senators
watched the struggle with deep inter
est. When the speaker announced
defeat OF the Bell substitute by vote
OF 10 to l56, the opposition appeared
somewhat staggered, but it was
pointed out that California members
and Others known 10 be opposed to the
measure voted against the substitute
The Harrison substitute was then
submitted. OR viva vOce vote the
volume OF sound was against the sub
stitute, aud the speaker was about 10
declare II defeated when Harrison de-
manded ayes and noes.
There were cries Of NO, " no, - bat
Harrison succeeded in securing forty
seven members 20 back his demand.
This was not a ffth Of the preceding
vote, hut the other side was unable To
muster more than 10, 50 the speaker
ordered the roll called. The substi-
tute VAS overwhelmingly defeated
IS to pa.
The opposition then decided 10 test
their strength by securing Foll-cAll
on the usual formal motion 10 engruss
and read the bill. According Mcguire
OF California. demanded The ayes and
noes, aud half the house seemed 70 re-
spond 10 his demand. AS the roll-call
began eYeTyone realized that The eriti- I
cal moment had come. The buzz Of
excited conversation suhsided and
hush fell GA the hoUse. Powers and
his clerk kept tailies- Cummings q
New York. Mcguire Of California ahd
several members also checked TIE
Vute.
When Il was quietly whisp-red
abOu, al The end q the hrsi rl cali