The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-13
Mr.. CANNON UNDER FIRE
WARM DEBATE IN THE HOUSE ON
THE URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL.
Chairman of Appropriations Commit
tee AssaiIed for FavOring "A Sol
diers' Home mt DnnyiIle, III.


ing further expenditure of $4,000 for the
soldiers home at Danville. H.. for which
Sl5o.Oco was appropriated In the last sundry
civil bill. was used by Mr.. DeArmond (Dem.
MOI as basis for bitter personal attack
on Chairman Cannon, whose home is at
Danville.
There was a lively debate over the provi-
sion in the bin requiring the owners of bull
lion hereafter to pay the cost of transports
ing bullion from assay offices to the minis.
Mr. Bell Pop. COLI argued that if the
| government OF the United States declined
to pay the cost of transportation the gold
would go to foreign minis. 1t was. he said.
another blow aimed at the Western miner.
, There was no reason why the government
had not the same interest in securing the
| gold production of the country now that IL
had in the past.
Mr.. Shafroth (Silver Rep, COLI argued
| against the proviso Not content with the
gold standard, he said. this was an attempt
| to discourage the production of gold and
| still further appreciate its power and value.
Mr.. Cannon pointed out that if the law
was continued until an assay office was es-
tablished on the Yukon the government
would have TO pay the mint price for gold
in the Klondke and then pay the cost Of
ing it to the San Francisco or Philadelphia
minis. This law was a bounty on gold
mining. Why should it exist? He protested
against trying to complicate 1t with the
| financial question.
Mr.. McRae (Dem., Ark) argued that the
gold discoveries in the Yukon furnished the
best reason why the existing law should not
be discontinued. The government should
offer every inducenent to miners to bring
| their gold to its minis.
| Mr.. Sayres (Dem., Tex) supported the
proposed change in the government policy.
| There was no more reason, he said, why the
government should give a bounty to the
| gold miners than to the cotton or wheat
growers. No other country. he said. paid
the freight on bullion.
Mr.. Livingston (Dem., Ga.) denied that
| this proposition in any way affected the
financial issue. He favored it.
Mr.. Kelley Pop., s. d., Mr.. Dockery
(Dem., Mo- and Mr.. Bland Dem., MOI OPP
posed the proviso. The latter in his re-
marks said the present law was a part of
the resumption act of 1879. 1t was intended
| to encourage and facilitate gold production,
and coupled with it was the law providing
for the sale of bonds to provide gold The
encouragement of gold production was the
| cheaper and better way to procure gold.
The new proviso was in the interest of bond
sales.
After some further remarks by Messrs.
simpson CPop., Kan:) and Underwood
| (Dem.. Ala.) against the proviso, Mr. Bells
| motion to strike out the proviso was defeat
| ed-125 to ITO.
Mr.. DeArmond Dem, MOI moved to
strike out the paragraph appropriatng $780,
O0q for the construction of barracks at the
soldiers home established at Danville, Ill.
| He called attention to the fact that when
the sundry civil bill was passed at the last
| session, carrying $150,0O0 for the establish
ment OF the Danville home. 1t was then
would be asked for. Mr. DeArmond was
exceedingly caustic in his criticism of Mr..
cannon, who. ne said, after using his power
on the appropriations committee to get that
soldiers home located at his home town. is
now, trying to take half million more out
of the treasury.
Mr.. Cannon in his reply was as sarcastic
as his adversary. 1t was easy TO scold, he
said. How praiseworthy that practice was
mon scolds, such as the gentleman from
Missouri. were ducked at the town pump.
MT Cannon called attention to the fact that
| this was the third time Mr.. De Almond
| had attacked him on the score of this SOL
| diers' home. He explained that in the last
| Congress the committee on military affairs
| had unanimously reported in favor of estab-
| fishing new nome at Danville. There was
great necessity for it, as eighteen thousand
soldiers were sleeping in corridors, cellars
and attics. The appropriation committee
after an exhaustive investigation on the
merits Of the question, had reported the APP
| preparation contained in the last sundry civil
bill. Mr.. Cannon asserted that there were
enough old soldiers inmates of poorhouseS
to fill the new home. During his twenty
mittee. in charge, as he had been, of ap-
| preparations covering millions in every part
| of the country, Mr.. Cannon said, this was
| the only time any intimation had ever been
made that he had personal interest in an
| appropriation.
| Mr.. Cannon could make no defense, as
serted Mr.. De Almond. He had abused his
/ position. which should have been used for
the public good to help the people of Dam
| Vile. who were interested in town lots.
| And when such things are not allowed to
go uncommented on" continued Mr.. De
Almond, ''he terms criticism scolding. He
| refers to his record. Does he regret his
| lost opportunities? Gaughter.) He appeals
| to his friends who know him to testify TO
his singleness of purpose and his patriotism
when, by methods he dare not and cannot
| defend, he gets a soldiers home located at
| his home and now asks for half MILAN
ann Icb T Him. to be seod dod 4 de-
Mr.. Cannon replied briefly with a good
! deal of feeling. but in good temper He as
serted that this appropriation was justified
| from every standpoint of the public service.
II thank Cod said he, that have not
| the heart to pose here and act the dema-
gogue. This whole attack is made because
perchance | happen TO live at Danville.
viii take my record in this and past Con-
crosses and l will stand or fall on it, I
| Will leave the question to the House. If 1t
were possible ] would leave 1t to that side
Of the House and should not fear the YER
Ndessrs. Henderson (Rep.. Iowa.. and w
A. Stone (Rep.. Pa.), spoke briefly of the
| testimony showing the necessity for new
! soldiers home in the Mississippi valley and
the propriety of locating it at Danville.
Mr.. De Almonds motion was then de-
| feated without division.
! On motion OF Mr.. Bell an amendment was
| adopted providing for the survey and estab-
lishment Of the eastern boundary line of
the Southern Ute reservation I'm Colorado.
Without further amendment the bill wss
passed.
Mr.. Hit. from the foreign affairs COM
mittee, reported the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill and, at 4:45 p. m, tf1G
House adjourned.