The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-04
VOTES ON THE
BOND ISSUE
Caused a Spirited Debate in the House
Yesterday.

Washington, May 3.-What promised to be
an uneventful and uninteresting session of
the house was thrown suddenly after three
hours consideration of private bills, into
a session of spirited speech making among
democratic members that Savored at times
much of acrimony.
The storm was precipitated by Mr.. Lewis
ldem., of Wash.), who referred in the course
of a speech to the recent vote of Mr.. Cum
mings, of New York, in support of the war
revenue bill with its incorporated bond
feature. He made reference to Mr.. Cum
mings' assertion that this period was
iihle for Placing country above party,
intlmating that the New York member had
served the republican party and perhaps
contributed to the satisfaction Of unpatri-
otto monopolists and capitalists.
Gave 10. a.. cory
In his prayer the chaplain gave thanks
Tor the victory won by the American fleet
and prayed that it might be the means of
leading to an early end of the war.
Inc house voted to insist upon Its amend
ments to the bill providing for the organiza-
ton OF naval battalion in the District of
Columbia and agree to a conference. The
speaker named Messrs. Hilborn, Foss and
Meyer as house conferees.
The house, then under previous order,
began consideration of private bills.
"a, at Cummings
During his speech, Mr.. Lewis referred TO
statement from Mr.. Cummings (dem) of
New York, in speaking of his vote on the
revenue measure, that now was time to
place the country above party, and he in
timated that Mr.. Cummings was ready to
put the country above the democ attic party
but not above the republican party
Mr.. Cummings, replying, declared with
much force that he was in time of the
NV c ~ oil
can and a democrat. 81 admire" added the
New York member, good humoredly, 1.-THE
gentleman from Washington. His raiment
is spotless, his hirsute adornments are ex-
quisite and even his spats are effulgent-
all in delightful accord with the finish and
brilliancy of his intellect.
Proceeding, he declared 1T was the duty
of MEMBERS intent upon asserting that
their governments agents were corrupt in
administration, first, to produce their evil
dence, lay 1t before the house and not rush
to a bald assertion without substance or
basis. Standing by the government either
by direct assertion or inSinuation, was too
serious an occupation to be entered upon
lightly. Speaking of his support of the
revenue measures emboGying the bond pro-
vision, Mr.. Cummings said it were better
to authorize the president to issue the
bonds in the nature of a popular loan than
to deny the express authority of the coun-
try in a war emergency with bond issue
probably unavoidable and subject to the
absolute dictation of a syndicate later on
1t Was Merely Incidental
Mr.. Lewis disavowed any purpose to re-
fleet seriously upon the patriotic motives
of the New York member, that his refer
ence to him was merely incidental, and his
chief criticism had been directed at those
coal operators and other monopolies whom
the press had declared had used already
and expected to use the war emergency as
a source of unholy profit.
Mr.. Clark dem. MOI, made quite a
vicious attack upon ex-PreSident Cleveland
and denied that he was democrat. Speak
ing of Mr.. Cummings speech, Mr.. Clark
said 1t was the most outra geous that had
been made on the floor of the house
Mr.. Cummings responded to Mr.. Clark.
He said he reciprocated fully all the kind
things said concerning him by the gentle
man from Missouri. Continuing he briefly
pointed out in an anecdote that the Missou-
rian was himself responsible for Missouri
having advocated the last nomination of
Mr. Cleveland.
BaileY snooths Things Over
When Mr. Cochran concluded, Mr.. Bailey
(dem., of Texas was recognized. He
regretted, he said, the speeches of the af-
ternoon, as likely to be misconstrued. There
had been a tendency if not an effort to
magnify the differences in the democratic
ranks. The record showed that upon all
votes up to the last upon the revenue bill
all democrats had voted together and when
the final came but five or six democrats
accustomed stand together had regret
fully but conscientiously voted for the bill
and against other democrats.
At D. m. the house took a recess until
s o'clock.
The night session was devoted to passing
pension bills.
Fresh Roasted Coffee, regu-