The record-union., 1898-03-08
Introduces a Bill Settling Apart Monejs for
National Defense.
The Measure Carries an Appro-
priation of Fifty Million Dol
lars, and is Said to be the Out
come of Conference Between
President Mckinley and Repub-
Iican Leaders in Both Houses
of Congress.

WASHINGTON, March chairman
Cannon of the Appropriations Commit
tee to-day introduced bill entitled
Making appropriations for the nation
al defense" Ii is as follows:
That there is hereby appropriated
out of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated for the national
defense, and for each and every pur
pose connected herewith, to be eX-
pended a the discretion of the Presi-
dent and to remain available until
June 80, 1899. $50, coo, coo"
1t was referred to the Committee on
Appropriations.
The Cannon bill, it was learned later,
was the outcome of a conference held
al the White House this morning. at
which Mr.. Cannon, Secretary Long,
Mr.. Dingley. Senator Allison and Cen
eral Grosyenor We're present. The sit
uation was considered SO grave that
it was deemed imperative that an inn
mense appropriation of this character
should be at once made to prepare for
the national defense.
After the conference Mr.. Cannon
went to the Capitol and called a spe-
cial meetingof the Appropriations Com
mittee. After this meeting Mr. Cannon
introduced the national defense bin in
the House. The Appropriations Com
mittee will meet tomorrow.
The Cannon bill appropriating so,
0J9,0O0 for the national defense viii
probably be presented to the House to-
morrow.
Cannon SAYS he has simply intro
duced the bill in his Individual capacity
as Representative. This is. of
course, true, but il can be stated posi-
lively that the bin was introduced as
the result Of the conference With the
President and the Republican leaders
of both houses, and that the iNll has
the Presidents approval The bill will
be considered a the postponed meeting
of the Appropriations Committee to-
morrow, and probably be reported fer
immediate action Several Democra =.
members Of the committee, say they
VIII vote for it if the President deems
it necessary. and so far as known there
viii be no vote against it,
There is little doubt expressed among
Senators that the Cannon bill appropri-
ating $10G00,00 Will promptly be con-
sidered and speedily passed when il
reaches the Senate. Many Senators ex-
press the opinion that the most effect
i've method Of dealing with the ques-
ton would be to take up and pass the
bill Immediately upon its receipt in the
Senate, without reference TO commit
tee. Some of the members of the Com
mittee on Appropriations expressed
themselves as satisfied to have the
measure to take its course but others
are of the opinion that none of the af-
fects Of the measure will be lost to have
the bill referred and reported in the
regular way
Senator Allison, Chairman Of the
committee, expressed the opinion that
the bill should be referred. saying that
the committee would probably be able
TO report it within twenty-four hours.
few Senators said that they did not
consider that the time had come for the
actual appropriation of money for the
preparation for war but they did not
indicate any intention to antasonize
the passage of the bill or to seek to de-
lay it,
Senators who favor the bill say il is
a peace and not war measure. and
some expressed the opinion that i
would be more effective if It carried
S100,0O0O00 instead of $50.G000O0.