The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-26
A DAY OF F|L|BU5TER|NG
Republican Action on Naval Ap-
preparation Bill Resented.
REED THR0TTLES DEMOCRATS
Mr.. BOutcIIc's Determination to Cut
on and Confinc Debate Causes In
Vent Through MIR. McHiIIin. Mr.
Hartman and Others.

Hartman and Others.
After two days of discussion on the
naval appropriation bill, and with no
members in the House opposed to it. that
body has made practically no progress
looking TO its passage.
The reason for this delay is due largely
to the too Jealous desire on the part of
the Chairman of the Naval Committee
10 cut off and confine the debate strictly
to the bill. This was resented yesterday
by the Democratic members of the
House, and the day was spent in flibus-
tering
1t is customary TO allow the largest lat
itude in debating these appropriation
bills. and the evident intention of Mr..
Boutele to inaugurate a new order OF
things aroused intense party feeling.
pecially in view of the fact that he had
allowed members Of his own party to talk
on other subjects than the bill without
Directing.
Mr.. Foss Of Illinois, a member of the
Naval Committee, was granted one hour
at the beginning OF the session yester-
day
Mr.. Hartman of Montana asked per-
mission to speak for thirty minutes. He
was asked by Mr.. Boutele if he intended
to confine his speech to the bill, to which
he replied that he did not. Objection was
made by Mr. Boutelle. and Mr.. Hart
man proceeded to take the five minutes
hoe I'D hp
His speech was bitter arraignment of
the Republican party. AT the end of his
/ first five minutes he proceeded to make
another amendment TO the naval bill and
TO continue his speech for five minutes
more Mr.. Bouteile. however, raised
point of order which was sustained by
! the chair
( Mr.. Bailey insisted that there could be
no limitation Of the latitude OF debate in
The Committee of the Whole, and APP
/ pealed from the ruling of the chair A
vote was taken, and the chair sustained,
the vote being on strictly party lines.
Mr.. Sherman of New York, who was in
The chair, cited a precedent where the
same ruling had been made in the last
! Congress. This brought Mr.. McMiliin
of Tennessee to his feet, who exclaimed:
We are asked 10 adopt a new system
for the government of speech in this
I House. The only precedent the chair can
! cite is less than fifteen months old out
of the hundred years of American his
tory. and that had no more TO do with
! this case than the man who struck Billy
I Patterson
Mr. Hartman was very persistent in
! his endeavors TO get in his speech, ana
amended each paragraph as it was read
! by the clerk so as to gain ilVe minutes
/ talk AS soon as he would begin Mr.
/ Boutelle would raise point of order,
/ which would be sustained by the chair,
| and a vote would he demanded by Mr.
/ Bailey. the result of which would be the
| sustaining of the chair by the Republic
! ans. In this way the House proceeded
to do business up TO > o'clock. when 1t
/ adjourned
MIR. Foss said it should be matter Of
common concern of the nation to provide
an ADEQUATE defense. He declared that his
/ district located in the interior Of the
country. as well as all other interior
I Congressional districts. was as much IN
terested in building up and maintaining
the Navy as the more exposed districts
IF an emergency be upon us, the
| American Navy is ready to meet it. In
every great crisis in the history of this
| country the American sailor has never
I failed 10 gloriously perform his duty.
Mr.. Foss gave a review of the achieve
ments of our Navy in the past, giving II
! special credit in the last war. But the
most powerful navy in the world. said
he. has dropped in the last sixteen
years to almost the lowest.
THE first step towards building up a
new navy was taken in 1881, and since
the first few years after 1881 our con-
struction has been exclusively domestic.
Quoting the words of Secretary Ira
cy. American mechanics have proved
l their superiority by again placing this
country where ii was seventy years ago,
| when American construction was the
best While our navy today is not as
! large as some other navies Of the world
il presents points of superiority. Gun
ships rank among the finest OF any navy
and Will give good account Of them
selves.
Thus we have demonstrated that with
in fifteen years American mechanics can
build ships that inspire a just pride in ey-
1 cry American heart.
IF war should come and we were
Obliged 10 rely on our Navy to protect
the nations honor, the American people
! would soon discover that our seamen to-
J day are fully as brave and daring as our
| soldiers OF the past. The GOODNESS Of the
| officers and men of the Maine when she
was blown uD bears testimony to this.
Mr.. Foss declared that the building ur
of the Navy would stimulate the build
ing OF merchant vessels.
The day Of European colonies is pass
ed at least on this hemisphere where
the rights Of man were first proclaimed
and self-government first organized.
Mr. Foss was heartily applauded and
warmly congratulated, and al the close o
his speech the bill was read by the clerk
and the fiye-minute debate rule prevailed
Mr. Stewart Of New Jersey paid a
glowing tribute TO the murdered Maine
sailors
mo matter what the judgment of the
| Court Of Inquiry may be" said Mr.
Stewart lit is the duty of this country
and this Congress TO declare the freedom
of Cuba and drive the Spanish soldier:
from that island
Mr. Bartholdt said that aspersions haC
been cast by European papers on oul
naturalized citizens. They claim that il
case of war this would he a weak spo
in our country. Mr.. Bartholdt said tina
he had been surprised that this insult
had not been resented.
II know | voice the sentiment Of ev
cry adopted citizen in this country wheI
say America against England. Ameri
ca against Spain America against Ger
many America against the worlS
America right or wrong, but always