Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-08
Regarded As A MEASURE OF PEACE
Chairman Cannon Tells of Its
Necessity.
ENTHUSIASTIC OUTBURSTS

unanimously agreed to report favorably the
| bill TO appropriate SJ0,Ooo,000 for the ma
tional defense. iris was done later ana
debate followed.
There was practically no discussion in
the committee. The members had in
| formally discussed the bill yesterday after
| noon, and it met with the approval of all.
AS the bill was 10 be called up Immediately
| after the House met today Mr.. Saycrs Of
Texas, the ranking minority member of the
committee. was more solcitous abou: maxi
ing satisfactory arrangement for the con-
duct of the debate than any thing else. He
protested against the introduction OF a
special rule as liable to place the democrats
in false attitude and asked. he said. only
for reasonable time to allow the demo-
Gratis to define their position. He submitted
a proposition which included provision for
a general debate of three hours-one and a
half hours on a side-and one hour foT de-
bate under the five-minute rule.
Chairman Cannon of the appropriations
committee conferred with the Speaker
after the committee adjourned. relative to
the proposition submitted 10y Mr.. Sayers.
At the conference with the Speaker the
proposition submitted by Mr.. Sayers was
agreed to.
The committee on rules arranged rule
In accordance with the agree inent Tor the
consideration of the bill.
Intense Interest i'm the House.
The galleries of the House Of Representa-
tives were packed TO the doors today and
long lines of people, unable to gain admis-
sion. surged about the corridors. Public
interest in the debate on the s50.0o0000
defense bill was reflected in this large at
tendance in the galleries. On the floor al
l..a- in hic Gaaf I'm
the faces of the leaders on both sides sat
an air of stern resolution, indicating their
deep appreciation of the grim business
upon which Congress and the country were
entering in making this vast appropriation
for possible war. AS soon as the journal
had been read the Speaker raped for or
der and amid a deep silence Chairman
Cannon arose and presented as deficiency
bill the measure appropriating S50,oo0.ooo
for the national defense. 1t includes also
several other items. among which are $780,
900 for coal for naval vessels.
Gen. Wheeler (Ala-), the eX-confederate
cavalry leader, started wave of applause
when the bill was presented.
When the reading Of the bill was con-
cluded with the item of $50 600 900 for the
national defense a spontaneous outburst OF
applause went up from the members ana
the galleries. Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Sayers,
the minority members of the appropriations
committee, then mutually proposed the
agreement 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 CMassD asked If opportunity
would be allowed for amendment. and when
Mr.. Cannon answered that he did not know
ba Cd
with Kisses and loud cries of "Vote!"
Voter
Mr.. Moody Mass.) appealed TO his coll
league to withdraw his objection.
The cries for vote continued.
Mr.. Cannon stated that he would be glad
to vote on the bill with sixty seconds de-
bate, but he felt bound by his agreement
with Mr.. Sayers.
Mr.. Barrett then, yielding to the appeals
of the republicans about him, withdrew his
objection. The agreement as to time was
formally ratified.
Chairman Cannon Takes the Floor.
After the confusion which followed this
dramatic scene had subsided Mr.. Cannon
took the floor to open the debate on tho
bill.
He spoke calmly and briefly explaining
that the items In the bill, save the last,
were strictly deficiency items. Coming to
the all-abgor5ing item he said that in the
present critical condition Of affairs the
committee had deemed it wise to appro-
pirate this sum. placing its expenditure in
the complete discretion of the President.
He referred to the fact that the committee
had been unanimous in its action and
changed only the wording of the bill he
introduced yesterday by making the ap-
preparation available until January 1, 1889.
instead of June 30. 1899.
This, he pointed out, would give the admins
istration funds over the time of the prob
able adjournment Of Congress.
I'VE have got the money in the treasury
to meet this appropriation If it is expend-
ed,' he continued. "and, therefore, there
is net presented with this proposition one
to borrow money or to increase taxation,
to which almost any other nation on earth
would have been obliged to resort" Trs-
mendous applausep
The appropriation, he conceded. was ex-
traordinary. Its object was to empower the
President In an orderly way to prepare for
contingencies. He insisted that this APP
Lropriation must not be construed into q
threat. Nothing was further from the
minds Of those who reported IT, he said.
This appropriation was to be placed In
the hands Of wise and patriotic execpr