The record-union., 1898-05-04

WASHINGTON, May 3.-What prom
fsed to be an uneventful and uninter-
esting session of the House was thrown
suddenly, after three hours of consid-
Grafton of private bills, into a session of
spirited speechmaking among Demo-
cratic members that savored at times
much of acrimony.
The storm was precipitated by Lewis
CD of Washington, who referred in
the course of speech to the recent
vote of Cummings of New York in
support of the war revenue bill, with its
Incorporated bond feature He made
reference to Cummings assertion that
this period was a time for placing
country above party, intimating that
the New York member had served the
Republican party, and perhaps con-
tributed to the satisfaction of unpatri-
otic monopolists and capitalists.
This brought an impassiOned speech
in reply from Cummings, interspersed
with some sarcastic comments that in
tensified the interest and called an out
pouring of members from the cloak
rooms
Clark CD of Missouri entered the
lists, and proceeded to criticise unre-
servedly the six Democrats who had
voted for the revenue bill on its pas
sage and questioned their Democracy.
Messrs Fitzgerald of Massachusetts
and McAleer of Pennsylvania, two other
Democrats who voted for the bill, were
heard in defense of their votes and in
refutation of the imputations of the
Missouri member.
Just before the recess until the night
session was taken the leader of the
Democrats, Bailey of Texas, spoke
briefly in depreciation of the speeches
of the Democratic members as being
subject to misconstruction, Indicative
of more serious differences within the
party than really existed. He reviewed
the record to show that no apppreciapIe
ground for such construction existed.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In his prayer to-day the Chaplain of
the House gave thanks for the victory
won by the fleet, and prayed that it
might be the means of leading to an
early end of the war; that peace might
bring prevalence of a broader and more
Christian civilization.
The House passed the Senate BILL
with an amendment, for the sale of
public lands in Missouri.
The House voted to insist upon its
amendments to the bill providing for
the organization of a naval station in
the District of Columbia, and agree to
conference.
The Speaker named Messrs. Hilborn,
Foss and Meyer as House conferrees.
The House then. under a previous or
der. began the consideration of private
bills.
Lewis CD of Washington. recog-
nized during the consideration of u
private pension, addressed the House'
cautioning it against freely removing
disabilities from those who participated
in the civil war. and. proceeding, spoke
generally in denunciation of men and
CORPORATIONS who would seize upon the
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
Welding too readily to the cry of pa
triotism as justification for the passage
of so-called emergency measures. He
declared patriotism was being used
where reason did not exist to force un-
meritorious propositions through the
House. He referred to members who
"speak magnificently and voted unhap-
pilv." and begged the House not TO for
get to look always to the fundamental
principles and justice underlying every
proposition.
During his speech Lewis referred to
statement from Cummings CD of New
York in speaking Of his vote on the
revenue measure that now was time
to place the country above party, and,
continuing, intimated that Cummings
was ready to put country above the
Democratic party, but not above the
Republican party.
Cummings, replying, declared with
much force that he was, in time of the
country's need, and at all times. an
American and a Democrat. Il admire, +"
said the New York member. good hui
moredly, the gentleman from Wash
ington. His raiment is spotless. his
hirsute adornments are exquisite, and
even his spats are effulgent, all in de-
lightful accord with the finish and bril-
lance of his intellect"
Proceeding. he declared it was the
duty of members Intent upon assert
ing that their Governments agents
We're corrupt in administration. first TO
produce their evidence. lay it before
the House, and not rush to an indul-
gence in bold association without sub
stance or basis. Slander of the Gov
ernment. either by direct assertion or
insinuation. was too serious an occu-
patton to be entered upon lightly.
Speaking of his support of the reve-
nue. measure embodying the bond pro-
vision, Cummings said it was to au-
thorize the President to issue the
bonds in the nature Of popular loan
rather than to deny the express au-
thority and the country in q war
emergency with a bond issue probably
unavoidable, and subject to the alb
solute dictation of a syndicate later
on.
Lewis disavowed any purpose to re-
fleet seriously upon the patriotic mo-
tives of the New York member, that
his reference to him were only Incl
dental. and his criticism had been di-
rected at the monopolies whom the
press had declared already used and
expected to use the war emergency as
q source of unholy profit.
Clark ODD of Missouri made quite
vicious attack upon ex-P President Cleve-
land, and denied that he was a Demo-
crat. Speaking. of Cummings speech,
Clark said it was the most outrageous
that had been made on the floor of the
House. He characterized the votes of
Cummings and other Democrats who
voted for the bond bill as unpardona-