Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-03-08
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, Mar. S
SENATE.

The Senate's chaplain at the opening
of to-day's session thanked God for the
wisdom and dignity of the President
and his advisers in the momentous time
that has come upon the nation and tor
the warm and united support given to
him and to his measures by the mem
bers Of the two houses OF Congress and
by the sentiment of the whole nation.
A resolution was adopted calling
upon the attorney general to inform
the Senate how many writs OF injunc-
ton were granted during 1S97-'9S by
the U. S. courts against labor leaders
and labor organizations, with certified
copies of such writs, affidavits and other
papers.
The District of Columbia appropria-
ton bill was then taken up.
HOUSE
The galleries of the House were
packed to the doors to-day and long
lines of people, unable to gain admis.
sion, surged about the corridors. Pub.
lie interest in the debate on the bill ap-
propriating $4,000, 900 for the national
defense was reflected in this large at
tendance in the galleries. On the floor
almost every member was in his seat.
AS soon as the journal had been read
Chairman Cannon, ofthe appropriations
committee, presented as q deficiency
bill the measure appropriating $50,
100000 for the national defense. 1t in
cludes also several other items, among
which are 100000 for coal for naval
vessels.
Gen. Wheeler (dem. Ala.), the ex-
Confederate cavalry leader, started a
wave of applause when the bill was
presented.
When the reading of the bill was
concluded with the item of $5O,OOO,O 0O
for the national defense an outburst OF
applause went up from the member :
and 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 asked if opportunity
would be allowed for amendment, and
when Mr.. Cannon answered that he
did not know, he objected. His OF
lection was greeted with Kisses and
loud cries of "Vote !" Vote"
Mr.. Moody appealed to his colleague
to withdraw his objection. The cries
for a vote continued. Mr.. Cannon
stated that he would be glad to vote
on the bill with 60 seconds debate, but
he felt bound by his agreement with
Mr.. Ssyers.
MIR. Barrett then yielding to the ap-
peals of the republicans about him,
withdrew his objection. The agree
ment as to time was formally ratified
and Mr. Cannon took the floor TO open
the debate on the bill.
He said that in the present critical
condition of affairs the committee had
deemed it wise to appropriate this sum
placing its expenditure in the CON-
plete discretion of the President. He
referred to the fact that the committee
had been unanimous in its action and
had only changed the wording OF the
bill he introduced yesterday by making
the appropriation available until Janu
airy l, 1899, instead of June 80, 1899.
at is not war appropriation" said
Mr.. Cannon emphatically. II say that
III my judgment, measuring my words,
that it is peace measure. Great sp-
plause.) The government of the United
States would not, if it could, trench up
on the right of any nation on earth"
(Renewed applause.)
Mr.. Sayers, the ranking member OF
the minority, followed Mr., Cannon,
saying that in the presence OF possible
danger this appropriation bad met with
the hearty and unanimous endorse
ment of the appropriation committee,
without regard to party. Mr.. Sayers,
too, declared that it could not be
construed as threat. 1t was simply
wise and patriotict precaution--the
arming of the executive with power to
maintain our dignity after Congress ad-
journed.
Mr.. Dockery said the hour for action
had arrived and the American people
must face an important emergency, an
emergency in which no American citi
zen could falter or hesitate as to his
duty. At such time, he said, party
lines should fade away and the couI-
try should act as one man.
Mr.. Livingston supported the meas
ure, declaring that the democrats would
vote fifty or five hundred millions if
necessary, only asking that the Presi-
dent should moYe promptly and steadily
in his efforts to protect American honor
and dignity.
Mr.. Allen was next recognized amid
general expectancy. He began by say
log that "on account of his we'll known
military fame it was natural that the
House should expect to hear him at
this time of emergency" He did not
make humorous speech, however.
II desire 10 say for the people | repre-
sent and for the southern section of the
country, for the entire country, that
there was never time when all were
so ready to give an administration all
the money it may need to preserve the
honor, the dignity and the general well
fare of the country, ID say nothing OF
fair play and justice
Mr., McRae followed in similar strain.
Mr.. Bell spoke earnestly for the bill.
There were, he said, now no populists,
no republicans and no democrats, but
all were American citizens.
Mr.. Boutelle, chairman OF the COM
mittee on naval affairs, said he had
personally assumed the responsibility
of conveying to the President from day
to day the assurance that in his judg