Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-04

In his prayer, today, the chaplain of
the House gave thanks for the victory
won by the American fleet.
The House passed the Senate bin
With an amendment for the sale of
public lands in Missouri.
The House voted to insist upon its
amendment to the bill providing for
the organization of a naval battalion
in the District of Columbia and agree
to a conference. The Speaker named
lIilborn, Foss and Meyer as House con-
ferees. The House then under Il pre-
Vious order. began the consideration
of private bills.
Proceeding with private bills, the
House disposed of a number Of pension
measures and then took up an act to
pay the Richmond Locomotive and
Machine Works a claim for 500 $50 dam
ages for losses incurred by the claim
ant by reason of governmental delay
in preparing the battleship Texas for
reception of machinery furnished by
the claimants. After a brief debate
the bill was passed.
The House was notified of the Sen
ates action in passing a bill providing
for a volunteer brigade of engineers
and the enlistment of 10000 volunteers,
especially accustomed to tropical eli
mates.
Lewis. Dem, Wash, during the con
sideration of a private bill, addressed
the House cautioning it against freely
removing disabilities from those who
participated i'll the Civil War. He also
spoke in denunciaion of men and cor
T..
existence of war as an opportunity to
form. trusts and use the extremity of
the government to secure improper
profits.
Lewis cautioned. the House against
yielding too readily TO the cry OF pat
/ rotism as justification for the passage
of SO called emergency measures. He
declared patriotism was being used
where reason did not exist to force I'M
meritoriOus propositions through the
House He referred TO members who
spoke magnificently and voted UNI
happily" and begged the House not TO
forget to look always to the funda-
mental principles and justice under!y-
ing every proposition.
Lewis referred to a statement froir
Cummings, Dem. N. Y, III speaking
of his vote on the revenue measure,
that now was Il time to place country
above party and intmated that Cum
mings was ready to put country above
the Democratic party, but not above
the Republican party. This, with the
insnuatiOn that the emergency meas
ures had proved less patriotic in nature
than beneficial to trusts, corporations
and monopoliSts. brought a reply from
the New York member
Cummings declared With much force
that he was in the time of the coun-
try's need and all times an American
and Democrat. He said that it was
the duty of members intent upon as
sorting that their government agents
We're corrupt in administration. first
to produce their evidence. lay ii before
the House and not rush to an indul
gence in bold assertion without sub
stance or basis.
The stand of the government was too
serious an occupation TO be entered up
on lightly. Speaking of his support of
the revenue measure embodying the
bond provision,
Cummings said it were better to
authorize the President to issue the
ponds in the nature of a popular loan
IMAM to deny the express authority
when the country was in war emer-
Sehcy with q bond issue probably una
workable and subject to the absolute
dlctatlon OF syndicate later on. If