Evening star., 1898-03-25
ON THE NAVAL BILL
Representative Foss Pays Tribute to
Our Sailors.
DEBATE UNDER PIVE-MINUrE RULE
Prospects of War a Text for
Discussion.
GALLERIES WERE FILLED

The public and reserved galleries of the
House of Representatives were thronged
today, in anticipation of discussion of the
Spanish crisis during the consideration OF
the naval appropriation bill. Under the
order made yesterday the general debate
closed at l o'clock today. Mr.. Foss Qli.),
"a member Of the naval committee, took the
floor.
The eyes of the American people, he said
were fixed upon the American navy, the
defender of the living and the guardian Of
the honor Of the dead. II an emergency
was upon US, the American navy was
ready to meet it. With glowing words he
paid an eloquent tribute to the brilliant
achievements of our navy in the revolu-
tionary war, the war of 1872 and the war
of the rebellion, euiogizing the deeds of
John Paul Jones, Decatur, Perry, Porter,
Farragut and Dupont. He then described
the decay of the navy after the war, and
the rebuilding of the new navy, which be-
gan under Secretaries Chandler and Whit
ney.
He made a strong plea for the policy of
strengthening and maintaining a powerful
navy, arguing that 1t was necessary for the
protection of our commerce, and would al
ways be the surest guarantee of peace.
At O'clock the clerk began the reading
of the bill for amendments under the five
minute rule.
Mr.. Stewart On. J) paid high tribute
to the crew of the Maine He said that
before and since that great disaster in
Havana the people of the United States
had suffered Spanish humiliation. Some
thing needed to arouse the nation
the result of bloody acts of Weyler and
Spanish cruelty and deceit. No matter
what should be the judgment of the court
of inquiry, it was the duty of this Congress
to declare Cuba free ard independent.
Mr.. Barhodt (Mo) said that some Eu-
ropean papers and their echoes in this
untry said that the foreign-born citizens
of this country would be a menace to the
United States in case of war with for
eign country. He resented this in the
strongest possible manner. The flag of
the United States was the flag of its adopt
ed citizens.
Criticised the Republicans.
Mr.. Hartman (Mont.) created diversion
by delivering a five-minute speech critics.
ing the republican party. and when. under
a cover of second pro forma amendment
he attempted to proceed Mr.. Boutelle call
ed him to order He made the point that
Mr. Hartman's remarks were not peril
nent to the amendment.
A lively parliamentary wrangle followed
when the chair sustained the point OF Or
der.
Mr.. Bailey insisted that there could be
no limitation upon the latitude of debate
in committee of the whole on the state or
the Union.
Mr.. Boutelle pointed out distinction be-
tween general debate in committee of the
whole and debate under the fve-minute
rule.
the chair, and in doing SO warned the re-
publican members that such ruling. II
not reversed, would come back to plague
them. From time immemorial it had been
ha nflSf fn lxa
ments. 1t was impossible to make remarks
to pro forma amendment pertinent.
Mr. Sherman IN. W, who was in the
chair. cited several precedents in support
of his ruling.
Mr. Boutelle and Mr. Bailey had several
lively exchanges, at the conclusion of one
Of which Mr.. Bailey said he had noticed
ever since the disaster to the gallant ship
which bore the name of the state from
which he hailed that the gentleman from
Maine had been laboring under great ex-
citement.
Il have fearcd,' said he that similar
occurrence would happen to the gentleman
himself. If it should have occurred there
is no doubt that the explosion would have
been from the inside daughter and ap
plause.)
Il hope it would not be as disastrous to
me as it seems to have been to the gentle
man from Texas retorted Mr.. Boutelle.
Mr. McMillin CTenn.) said while the men,
Eers of the majority seemed willing to
AXE almost any concession to cut OF
free speech in the House he hardly thought
they would be willing to make the sur
render involved in the ruling of the chair.
The old beaten path of allowing freedom
of speech in the House should be adhered
to.
Party Feeling Ran High.
Mr.. Payne On. Y.) defended the ruling of
the chair. arguing that the House should
enforce it's rules and get down to business.
The rule, he said, was plain that he
had not believed that there could be airy
controversy upon the subject.
After the debate on the appeal had run
on for an hour. Mr.. Boutelle moved to
close the debate on the appeal.
Instantly a point Of order was made
against Mr. Boutelle's motion, which was
Cverruled. Party feeling ran high.
The vote was taken Mr.. Boutelle's
motion to close debate on the appeal and
carried-111 to 95.
The vote then came upon the appeal
from the decision of the chair and the
chair was sustained-12O to 90.