Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-09
House Passes the Bill Providing for
National Defense.
NOT A VOTE CAST AGAINST THE MEASURE
Party Lines Are Forgotten in Face of
Possible War.
NORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST UNITE
Spirit Of Intense Patriotism Prevails en-
All Sides.
IORTH, SOUTH, EAST AND WEST UNITE
MEMBERS EAGER TO Be PLACED ON RECORD
I'm mn edinteIy Upon the Passage of the
Bill IL In Hurried over to the
Senate and Referred to
Proper Committee,

WASHINGTON, March SIN q spirit Of
patriotism, with eloquent words ringing In
their ears, every member OF the house OF
representatives today responded to the pres
idents first call to meet the Spanish situa-
tion by casting his vote for bill placing
in President McKiney's hand $5O,O0O,O0O to
be expended at his discretion for the national
defense Party lines were swept away and
with a unanimous voice congress voted its
confidence In the administration. Many
members who were paired with absent col
leagues took the responsibility OF breaking
their pairs, an unprecedented thing in leg
islative annals, in order that they might go
on record in support Of this vast appropria-
tion to maintain the dignity and honor of
their country. Speaker Reed. who as the
presiding officer seldom votes, only in case
Of tie, had his name called and voted in
his capacity as a representative. The scene
Of enthusiasm which greeted the announce
ment Of the vote-ayes, 81; nays none-has
seldom been paralleled in the house.
All day long the galleries were jammed
with enthusiastic spectators applauding to
the echo the sterling patriotism Of the words
OF eoquence which were uttered by the men,
bers on the floor. All the speeches were
brief. Although four hours were allowed for
debate. so great was the pressure for time
that no one member was given more than
five minutes and most Of them had to con-
tent themselves with beggardly fraction Of
Q minute.
In all ffty-nine speeches were made. With
one acclaim members from the north and the
south, tho east and the west, the states and
the territories. battle Scared veterans of
the union and the confederate armies, all
joined in proclaming their support of the
country'y chief magistrate in the face OF
possible war. General Grcsvenor said that
II war did not come the $50 900 900 appropri-
ated by this bill would be wisely expended
II it only served to show the world that when
threatened from without the hearts Of the
American people beat as one.
In the whole debate there was only
slight discordant note, caused by the speech
OF General Bingham Penn.), u gallant SOL
dier who served with distinction under Han
cock. He spoke too conservatively for the
aroused temper OF the house, and when he
insisted that our relations with Spain were
as friendly as they had been for years many
OF the members Kissed him.
DIFFER AS TO WAR.
While almost every member who spoke
deprecated the possibility of war, wide
divergence OF opinion to how close We
were to hostilities manifested itself In the
debate. The general contention by the ma
jorlty, among them the leaders on both
sides, was that this appropriation, by pre-
pairing for war, would prove the surest guar
anty of peace. Others insisted that war
alarms would soon be heard and Mr.. Mann
Qll) declared that war actually existed in
all save name.
The speeches which attracted most at
tention were those of Messrs. Cannon, Hen
derson and Dolliver on the republican side
and Messrs Bailey and Sayers on the demo-
cratic side.
On the floor almost every member was
In his seat. On the faces Of the lead
ers on both sides was an air Of stern
resolution, indicating their deep appreciation
OF the grim business upon which congress
and the country were entering, making this
vast appropriation for possible war. As soon
as the journal had been read the speaker
raped for order. and amid deep silence
Chairman Cannon arose and presented as
deficiency bill the measure appropriating
$50, ,0O0, 900 for the national defense. 1t in
cludes also several other items, among which
When the reading of the bill was concluded
with the item of $50, 900, 900 for the national
defense a spontaneous outburst Of applause
went up from the members and the galleries.
Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Sayers, the majority and
minority leaders of the appropriations COM
mittee, then mutually proposed the agree
ment they had privately made before the
house met for three hours general debate on
the bill, to be followed by one hours debate
under the five minute rule.
Mr. Barrett (Mass) asked II opportunity
would be allowed for amendment ard when
Mr.. Cannon answered that he did not know,
he objected. His objection was greeted with
Kisses and loud cries OF ''vote: vote" Mr..
Barrett, yielding to the urgent appeals OF
republicans about him, withdrew his objec-
tion. The agreement as 10 the time was
formally ratified.
CANNON OPENS DEBATE.
After the confusion that had followed this
dramatic incident had suhsided. Mr.. Cannon
took the floor to open debate on the bill.
He spoke calmly and briefly, explaining that
the items In the bill, save the last. were
strictly deficiency items, Coming to the all
absorbing item, he said that in the present
critical condition of affairs the committee
had ueeheu IL Wise 10 appiopriais this sum-
placing its expenditures in the complete dis
cretion OF the president, He referred to tho
fact that the committee had been unani-
nous en- Its action and had only changed
the wording OF the bill he introduced yes
terday by making the appropriation ayaila-
BILE until January !, 1899, instead of June
80. 1899.
This. he pointed out, would give the ad-
ministration funds over the time OF the prob
able adjournment Of congress. I'VE have got
the money In the treasury 20 NEE, this ap.
propriation II 1t Is expended" he aided. 'and
therefore there Is not presented with this
proposition one 20 borrow money or to in
crease taxation. to which almost any nation
on earth would have been obliged to resort
tremendous applause)
The appropriation. he conceded, was ex-
HraordinAry. Its object was to empower tbs