Evening journal., 1898-03-09
House Agrees Unanimously
on the Cannon Bill
For Defense.
$5O,OOO,OOO TO M'KINLEY
Fifty-nine Speeches Made Amid Great
Enthusiasm.
Kisses GREET BINGHAMS SPEECH.
he said Tint our Relations with Spain
Were rs Friendly as They Had Been
For Years-An Important Cabi-
net Meeting Held.

AoH AtNih M Ahtloit1hh NHuA-
net Meeting Held.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-In a spirit
Of patriotism, with eloquent words ring
ing in their ears, every member of tie
house Of representatives yesterday re-
aponded to the presidents first call to
meet the Spanish situation by casting
hid vote for bill placing in President
MtKmley's hands $50,000000 to be ex-
pended at his discretion for the nation
al defense. Party lines We're swept
away, and with a unanimous voice con-
gress voted its confidence in the adj
minlstrauon.
Many members who were paired with
absent colleagues took the responsible
ty of breaking their pairs, an unprece-
dented thing In legislative annals, IN
order that they might so on record In
support Of this vast appropriation to
maintain the dignity and honor of their
country Speaker Reed, who. as tho
presiding officer. seldom votes only in
case Of a tie. had his name called and
voted IN his capacity as a representa-
tive.
The scene OF enthusiasm which greet
ed the announcement OF the vote-ayes
81. nays none-has seldom been paral-
leled In the house All day long the
galleries were damned with enthusiast
tic spectators applauding to the echo
the sterling patriotism of the words Of
eloquence which were uttered by the
members on the floor. All the speeches
were brief. Altogether four hours were
allowed for debate. SO great was the
pressure for time that no one member
was given more than five minutes, and
most OF them had to content themselves
with a beggarly fraction of a minute.
In all 50 speeches were made.
With one acclaim members from the
north and the south, the east and the
west, the states and the territories,
battle SCARED veterans Of the Union
and the Confederate armies, all join
ed in proclaiming their support of the
country's chief magistrate in the face
OF a possible foreign war. General
Grosvenor Of Ohio said that II war did
not come the 5000OOO0 appropriated by
this bill would be wisely expended IL II
only served to show the world that
when threatened from without the
hearts OF the American people beat as
one.
On the whole, there was only n slight
discordant note caused by the speech OF
gallant soldier who served with dis
tinction under Hancock. He spoke too
conservatively for the aroused temper
OF the house and when he insisted that
our relations with Spain were as friend
~ as they had been for years many OF
the members Missed him. While almost
every member who spoke deprecated
the possibility Of war, a wide divergence
Of opinion as to how close were hostili-
ties manifested itself I'm the debate
The general contention by the ma
jority, among them the leaders on both
sides, was that this appropriation bill
preparing for war would prove the
sure guarantee OF peace. Others in
sisted that wars alarms would soon be
heard, and Mr.. Mann Of Illinois declar-
ed that war actually existed in all save
name. The speeches which attracted
most attention were those OF Messrs
Cannon. Henderson and Dolliver on the
Republican side and Messrs. Bailey and
sayers on the Democratic side.
Mr. Cannon opened the debate, ex-
planning that IL was the intention OF
the committee to give the president
enough money to meet any emergency
that might arise before the beginning
Of the next session OF congress in the
I n WAR
measure but a peace measure.
Mr.. Sayers, who followed, sounded the
keynote Of the debate. There was no
difference between the representatives
of the people of the United States. Men
OF all parties stood ready to give sound
hearty and sincere support to the presl-
dent in order that the honor Of the
country and people should be main
tanned.
General Henderson closed the discus
sion on the Republican side. He said
the lesson taught by the proceedings
was n beautiful one, that reflected the
highest honor on the American people
through their representatives. with q
voice trembling with emotion he de.
clared
Mr.. Speaker, II does our hearts goot
20 see our people united and STANDING
shoulder TO shoulder in the face Of dan.
ger. This measure Is a wise and pru
dent one but there VIII be no war
That is my judgment"
Mr.. Dolliver said:
LET as this day. laying aside all III,
differences of party politics. give TO tn,
president of the United States not in ,
bare and meager but In the spirit o.
the broadcast patriotism this earnest O
the national confidence. IT cannot en-
danger the cause OF peace to have tn
world understand that our solemn pur
pose Of avoiding as far as possible tn
Internal horrors OF war does not In
clude any inclination TO spare eithe
blood or treasure in the protection O
the national rights or in the dscharg
Of national duties"
Mr.. Bailey closed the debate for tn
Democratic side in a five minute speech
breathing the highest patriotism an
loyalty to the flag. He expressed IN
fear that It was too late 70 look 10
peace, and, while he would hate to Sc
the country plunged into war. he Wa
afraid the crisis was at hand.
The bill was Immediately taken [
the senate and referred to the commit
tee on appropriations.
The cabinet was in session for tw