The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-01-31
IN THE HOUSE.
Some Lively Passages of An Animated
Debate.


Debate.
Washington, January 29.-There seems
to be no prospect of an abatement of tie
political debate which has been in pro
gress in the House during the considera-
ton of the appropriation bills. Again
today almost the entire session was con-
su1ned in the discussion of political
topics. The controverted question as to
whether prosperity had arrived attracted
the most attention and interest and test
imony pro and con was offered through
out the day At times considerable
acrimony was displayed but as rule the
debate was good natured. both sides
seeming to recognize that 1t was strug-
gle to score political advantage. Only
a few pages of the district appropriation
bill were disposed of.
At the opening of the session the clerk
OF the Senate appeared and transmitted
the Teller resolution, which passed the
Senate last night. The announcement
was greeted with a terrific outburst of
applause from the Democratic side OF the
House. No motion was made at the time
and the resolution remained on the table.
The fertilization bill WAS reported and
then on motion of Mr.. circuit, Republi-
Can of Pennsylvania, the House went
into committee OF the whole and resumed
consideration of the District of Columbia
appropriation bill The general debate
was not confined to the subjects dealt
with by the bill. 1t covered wide range.
At the conclusion of the general debate
the bill was taken for amendment under
the five minute rule
Mr.. King of Utah raised a howl, by
Offering an amendment to appropriate
500, 900 for the Improvement OF the White
House to make it a suitable abode for
Hon. Mark A. Hanna. The amendment
was ruled out on point of order.
The discussion became very animated
when the topic of prosperity was reached
Mr. Richardson, Democrat of Tennessee,
precipitated it and Messrs. Grosvenor
Republican of Ohio, Cochran, Democrat
of Missouri, Hopkins, Republican of
Illinois. Mahany, Republican of New
York. and Fitzgerald, Democrat of Mas
brought up the New England cotton
strikes which have played considerable
part in the debate on previous days.
Mr.. Simpkins, Republican of Massa-
chusetts, in the course of his reply, drew
round of applause from the Democratic
| side by stating that he frankly confessed
that, kin his opinion, there were likely to
be more strikes under protective than
| under o free trade system. Tho applause
| ceased, however, and arose on the other
| side when he added that this was because
under q free trade system men would
| have no work and when they did il
would be for what they could not get.
elbow can men strike when they get
no wagesp''. asked Mr.. Richardson.
| "Men strike,' replied MIR. Simkins.
"when they do not get ell the wages they
think the operators can afford to pay
For some time the debate was confined
to the business situation in Massachusetts
Messrs Knox, Mccall and other Republi,,
cans of that state oontesting the propo-
sition advanced by Mr.. Fitzgerald that
prosperity had not come to the common
wealth under the Dingley law. Mr.. Hen.
burn, Republican of Iowa, created some
enthusiasm on the Republican side when
he read the Dun trade review as an
answer to the Democratic criticism of the
effects of the Dingley law Members of
the House, said he, no matter what thei,
politics had no right in attempting to
score a little cheap political capital to be
come the libelers and slanderers Of their
country.