Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-09
Daily kennebec Journal.
3il AYES.
Continued from page ~

ed 10 iiic uootS, To-Day ana long lines
of people. unable to gain admission.
surSing about the corridors Public
interest in the debate on the bill appro-
priating s50,o00,000 for the national de
fence was reflected in this large at
tendance in the galleries.
on the floor, almost every member
was in his seat On the faces of the
leaders on both sides was an air Of
stern resolution, indicating their deep
appreciation of the business upon
which Congress and the country were
entering in making this vast appropria-
ton for possible war.
rs soon as the journal had been read
the Speaker raped for order and
amid deep silence. Chairman Cannon
arose and presented as a deficiency bin.
the measure appropriating $50 600 900
for the nations defence. 1t included
also several other items. among which
were 100000 for coal for naval vessels.
Gen. Wheeler. Dem. Alabama, the
EN-Gonfederate leader started a wave
of applause when the bill was present
ed
When the reading of the bill was con-
Guided With the item of $50. 900 600 for
the national defence, spontaneous
members and the galleries.
Cannon and Savers. the minority
member of the appropriation commit
tee, then mutually proposed the agree
mcnt they had privately made before
the House met. for three hours general
debate on the bill to be followed by
one hours debate under the minute
rule.
To-
if opportunity would he allowed for
amendment, and when Cannon answer
ed that he did not know. he objecte l.
His objection was greeted with Kisses
and loud cries of vote vote.
Moody. Rep. Massachusetts,. appealed
to his colleague to withdraw his OBJ
lection. The cries for vote contin-
ued. Cannon stated that he would b.
glad to vote on the bill with 60 seconds
debate, but he felt bound by his agree
ment with Savers.
Barrett then yielded to the appeals
of the Republicans about him and
withdrew his objection. The agree
ment as 10 time was formally ratified.
After the confusion which followed this
dramatic scene had subsidized. Cannon
took the floor to open the debate on the
planning that the item in the bill, save
the last. was strictly deficiency items
Coming TO the all-absorbing item he said
that in the present critical condition of
affairs the committee had deemed it wise
to appropriate this sum. placing it's ex-
penditure in the complete discretion of
the President.
lie referred to the fact that the COM
mitttl had been unanimous n o,tia,,
ANA had only changed the wording of the
bill he introduced yesterday. by making
the appropriation available Jan. l. 1899 in
stead of June l. 1899 This he pointed out
woull give the administration funds over
the time of the probable adjournment of
Congress.
We have got the money in the treas
ury to meet this appropriation if it is cN-
pended" he continued. ''and therefore
there j. not presented with this PROPOSE
ton one to borrow money on to increase
taxation to which almost any other ma
ton on earth would have been obliged to
resort to- tremendous APPLAUSE.
This. he concluded was extraordinary.
It's object was to empower the President.
in AN orderly way. to prepare for contn-
:scnces. He insisted that this appropriate
ton must not bc construed into threat.
Nothing WAS further from the minds of
those who reported II. he said. This ap-
propriation was to be placed in the hanG-
of Il wise ana patriotic Executive To make
proper preparations to maintain the nat
tiomal honor, nothing more.
1t is not war appropriation" said he
"mphatically. 81 say that u my iudg-
ln"nt. measuring my words. that 1t Is Il
peace measure Great APPLAUSE. The
government Of the United States would
not. If it could, entrcnch upopn the rights
Of any nation ON earth" Renewed APP
plaus,l.
Saycrs Texas the ranking member of
IN" minority. followed cannon. Ills first
statement. to the effect that in the pres
cncc Of possible danger this appropriation
had met with the hearty endorsement of
the appropriation committee. without re-
gard Ia party. aroused the House to on
thusiasm. He. too. declared that ii
could not be construed as threat. 1t
wts simply Il wise and patriotic prccau-
tiou-lhc arming of the Executive with
power To maintain our dignity after Con-
SrcSs adjourned.
Savers expressed confidence that tn"
money voted would be wisely and econ"-
mically expended and closed amid great
applause. by saying that he for one would
be found giving honest and sincere sup
port to the President in his efforts to sup
port the honor and dignity of the Amcri-
can nation.
pockrry, Dem. Mo. began by saying
that the hour for action had arrived an
the American people must face an inn
portant cmergcnCy--an emergency IN
which no American citizen could falter or
hesitate 90 his duty. AT such a time he
said, party lines should fade away and
the country should act as one man. me
American people had inherited the price
less boom of freedom from their ance:;-
tors and there would be heard no dis
cordant vote in response to the present
demands.
Routelle Rep. Maine. chairman 90
the committee on naval AFFAIRS. sa 1
that while no argument was necessary
on this measure he desired to say that
he had been instructed by his commit