The Portland daily press., 1898-01-25
LIN The HOUSE.

| lively Political Debate on Alleged Inter
view With President on Immigration
Bill.
| Washington, January 24.-The House
spent couple of hours today transacting
business relating to the District of
Columbia and the remainder of the day
ON the Indian appropriation bill. During
the consideration of the latter bill lively
political debate was precipitated by an
allusion made by Mr. Simpson, Populist
of Kansas, relative to an alleged inter
view with the President ON the subject of
immigration. Mr.. Grosvenor expressed
the opinion that the President had never
used some of the language imputed to
him and the debate drifted into general
discussion of our industrial conditions,
IN the course OF which the strike in New
England, the high prices for wheat In
Kansas and the defaulting Republican
officials in Nebraska necessarily played
their parts. Messrs. Dingley, Greene,
Mercer and Simpson participated.
Y Washington, January 24.-An amusing
incident occurred at the opening of the
session of the House today.
| Mr.. Kleberg, Democrat of Texas rails
! ing to question of personal privilege,
called attention to poll of the House on
the immigration bill printed in New
York paper this morning. He said he
had been made to favor the bill when ne
was unalterably opposed to it.
| Mr.. Dockery, Democrat of MISSOURI,
also said he had without his authority
| been made to favor the measure.
| ~ suggest that the roll be called, ex-
| claimed Mr. Cannon, Republican OF ILL
nois, "and the poll corrected.
| ''The Chair thinks the jurisdiction OF
the House does not go beyond the Con-
gressional Record, said the Speaker.
Mr.. Boutelle, Republican OF Maine.
chairman of the committee on naval
affairs, reported back the two resolutions
calling on the Secretary of the Navy for
information as to the suitability of sites
for an armor plate factory in the South
withLthe recommendation that they lie on
the table. The report called attention to
the fact that invitations had been issued
for sealed proposals for land, buildings
and machinery for a government armor
plate factory which would De opened
January 28, 1898, and that the Secretary
when these were opened would send a
special report to Congress containing all
| information. In view of the fact that
Secretary was proceeding to carry out the
law, Mr.. Boutelle said he thought it but
necessary to call on the Secretary for In
formation which he would furnish
l
table without division, but Mr.. Under
wood, Democrat of Alabama, insisted up
on division upon his resolution calling
upon the Secretary for the information
obtained by the armor plate board as to
the advantages of Southern places as loca-
lions for an armor plate plant, but by a
vote of 107 to 105, the resolution was
| tabled.
Mr.. Curtis, Republican Of Iowa. then
claimed the day for the District of
Columbia committee
| Two hours were consumed in the con-
sideration of the district business, after
which the House went into committee of
the whole and resumed consideration Of
| the Indian appropriation bill. speaking
to pro-forma amendment, Mr.. Simpson,
| Populist of Kansas commented on an in
terview with the President relative to the
strike in the cotton mills of New Eng
land, wherein the President was quoted
as deprecating the condition of labor and
as favoring restriction of immigration.
Mr.. Simpson spoke of the report Of the
agricultural department experts on the
conditions of the residents of the slums of
New York in which he said the experts
alleged that their poverty was due to ex-
| travagance. The experts he said stated
that these people sometimes bought beef
steak when they could get twice as much
nutriment out of bananas. The upshot
L..
should be economy In governmental
affairs.
Mr.. Dingiey of Maine, replied in some
good natured remarks in which he twitted
Mr.. Simpson on having ceased to treat
about the miseries of bleeding Kansas,
and was now looking for misery else
where.
eve have Populist rule in Kansas now
and there is no longer any misery out
there" said Mr.. Simpson.
Continuing Mr.. Dingley said he also
believed in economy, but he thought 1t
strange that on every proposition to in
crease expenditure Mr. Simpson had voted
in the affirmative.
"That is not true" interposed Mr..
Simpson.
II leave that to the members who have
seen him filing through the tellers,'' re-
sponded Mr.. Dingley, who concluded by
saying he hoped members would follow
the words. not the example of Mr.. Simp-
| son.
Mr. Curtis, Republican of Kansas. com.
menting on Mr.. Simpsons. statement
about the reappearance of prosperity in
Kansas owing to Populistic rule, said
4 that in one year of Republican rule in
this country the farmers of Kansas had
paid off $50, 900. 900 of mortgages while
under the Populistic rule in Kansas every
state institution was suffering for lack of
funds and for the first time in years state
warrants were being stamped "not good
for lack of funds The people of Kansas
he said were proud of the Republican
party.
Mr. Simpson said that when the Popu-
lists retired from power three years ago
they left $500, 900 in the state treasury
When they resumed last year the treasury
was bankrupt
The controversy attracted more and
more attention as 1t proceeded, gradually
| drawing othsrs into it.
Mr. Grosvener, Republican of Ohio,
took exception to Mr.. Simpsons quota
ton from the alleged interview with the
President ON the immigration question.
| The alleged interview. he said, purported
to be what Mr. Mckinley had said in
private conversation. While he did not
intend to speak by authority he did not
believe the President had given utterances
to some of the alleged expressions. Quot
| ing the sentence which made the Presi-
dent say he would use his personal in
| fiuence with members Of the House to
secure the passage of the immigration
bill and asked if there was member on
the floor who believed the President had
said any such thing.
"No, no." came in choruses from the
Republican side.
| Il Ftar eoronIotinp seven Dapes on the hill