The record-union., 1898-02-26
A Long and Somewhat Exciting De-
bate Over the Question.
During the Consideration Of the Sundry
Civil Bill in the House.
Representative Moody Of Massa-
chusetts Attacks the Contract
Items, DenOuncing What He
Termed as Favoritism Some of
Those Reported by the Appro-
priations Committee - Senate
Proceedings Devoted to COnsid-
Grafton of the Oregon Senator
ship Case.


Grafton Of the Oregon Senator
ship Case.
WASHINGTON, Feb. pa long and
somewhat exciting debate over the
question Of river and harbor approp.ia-
tions was precipitated in the House
during the consideration of the sundry
civil appropriation bill. 1t was practlc-
ally agreed by all those who partici-
pated that there would be no river and
harbor bill at this session of Congress,
and this led Moody (R.) of Massachu-
setts 10 attack the contract items car
ried in the sundry civil bill. He select
ed an appropriation of S3oO, 900 tor
Rockland Me, which is in Dingley' S
distric-, and his remarks in denuncia-
ton of what he termed favoritisn ap-
preached the sensational. Dingley &C.
MED that he had ever suggested the
appropria ton to the Committee on APP
preparations or to any individual MEM
bers of the committee. 1t was intmat-
ed that there was a plan to defeat all
the items in the bill, so as to force con-
sideration of a general river and har-
borne out by the vote upon the amend
ment, upon which the debate rested
Only four pages of the bill were dis
posed of to-day. The Senate amend
ments 10 the army appropriation bill
were agreed to without debate.
The blind Chaplain of the House
prayed for peace at the opening of
the session to-day.
ON, Almighty he prayed, strong
10 deliver and ever Wise in Thy coun-
sells, hear our prayer. Keep us, we be-
seech Thee, in the midst of all excite
ment, calm and deliberate, and .4spe-
cially deliver us from unnecessary anx-
iety and care and from vain boastings:
that If the time should come, and we
pray that II may not We may be strong
to maintain our rights and uphold the
dignity of this nation. Bless we be-
seecn TEee, the President of the United
states and all of his counselors, the
Congress and all others in authority. so
that righteousness and peace and honor
be ours"
The House resumed consideration of
the sundry civil bill. Quite a deba te
developed on motion to strike out he
appropriation of S133, 600 for work at
Oakland. Cal, its opponents alleging
that no contract has yet been made for
the work, and asserting that a river
and harbor bill was to be suppressed.
and favored few given appropriations
in the sundry civil BILL
Representative Moody made a sensa-
tlohal attack upon an appropriation in
the sundry civil bill for $3.50 900 for
md
Dingley's district. He said he was will
ing 10 submit to economy ard honest
leadership, but for one he proposed TO
rebel against the leadership that gave
an appropriation to Rockland. Me. an
insignificant port that could be buried
in Boston harbor.
GrosVenor R) of Ohio attacked The
appropriation, and declared that if the
House allowed these river and harhor
items to go into the sundry civil bul
there would be no river and harhor
DILL he was amazed, he said. at the
action Of the Appropriations Commit
tee, an1 insisted that all the members
should be on an equality.
cannon replied TO the attack. declar-
ing that some of the most vicious river
and harbor items ever paid came from
the committee when he 0irosyen,r)
was member of it, He said thar
from % to -. per cent. of the money
appropriated by a bill he helped to r.
port nad been worse than thrown avav
Dlngiey answered the personal attack
made upon him. The Rockland i'm
provement, he said, was not simply an
improvement. it included provision for
breakWater and a harbor of refuge
just such another as was being b,1ilt
at Sandy Bay, in Moody's district. and
on which $4,000 had been spent. He
Indignantly repudiated the intimation
that he had ever suggested or intimat-
ed that this appropriation should be
made in this bill. He presumed it
mad been made upon the recommenda-
tions of the corps of engineers in the
public interest.
Catchings CD Of Mississippi defended
the actions of the Appropriation Com
mittee.
The Oakland harbor appropriation
remained in the bill, by a vote of lis
to ii.
When the item appropriating $4O0. 900
for San Pedro. California, was reported.
there was some debate, in the course
of which Cooper (R) of Wisconsin re-
viewed the whole history of the pro-
tracted contest between San Pedro and
Santa Monica by characterizing it as
the most astounding chapter in our leg
islative history. If there was any,
thing in the bill that ought to pass. he
said. 1t was this
The item passed without amendment.
An unsuccessful effort was made to
secure consideration of the bill passed
by the Senate for two additional reg
iments of artillery, but on objection
from Cox Cd of Tennessee, il went
over
An amendment appropriating $780,
600 for Yaquina Bay, Or, was pending
when the House, at ; O'Clock, recessed
until 8 O'Clock, the evening session to
be devoted to private pension bills
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 2a-Hon. Hen
ry w. Corbett's right to seat in the
Senate from oregon was under consid-
GRAFTON by the Senate for five hours
| to-day.
Spooner of Wisconsin. in few words
! concluded the sptech which began yes