The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-24
SEVERAL TILTS IN THE HOUSE
APPROPRIATIONS FOR INFORMERS
DENOUNCED By sOUTHERNERS,
Who Are Opposed to Worrying Illicit
istiIIers-Statements of Miers
and Lewis Denied by Quigg.

whom, he said, held high revel while the
Nation was bowed down with grief over the
loss of life resulting from the Maine ex-
plosion. The Southern members who have
for years been fighting the appropriation
for "informers" on illicit distileries sue
ceeded III killing the appropriation in COM
mttee of the whole, but Chairman Cannon
gave notice that he would demand a yea
and nay vote in the House Early liz the
session a resolution was adopted inquiring
OF the Treasury Department what has been
done by the United States to prevent the
conveyance to the Cubans of articles pro-
duced in the United States, also to the
prevention of filibustering
General debate having closed yesterday,
to-day the reading of the sundry civil bill
for amendment under the five-minute rule
was begun. Mr.. Qugg (Rep., N. Y) in
terrupted the reading to call attention to a
statement made by Mr. Miers Dem., Ind.)
yesterday to the effect that he had re-
port of the New York Legislature showing
the contributions of trusts to the Repub-
lican campaign fund in 1896. He denied
that there was such a report, and asked
Mr. Miers to produce it, The latter said
he had reference to it which he deemed
authoritative and that he would produce it
reference was a fraud and the statement
all wrong. There was no such report.
The appropriation of SO 600 for the detec-
ton of violations of the internal revenue
laws caused some debate. Mr.. Kitchen
(Dem.) and Mr.. Lnney Rep). of North
Carolina, were bitter in their denunciation
of the injustice of the system of paying
for information. The former moved to
strike out the item. 1t placed a premium,
they contended, on false prosecutions.
Mr.. Graft (Rep., ILL., warmly defended the
appropriation. Over $4O.OOOO0O in taxes was
paid in his district he said, by legitimate
distilleries. But immense frauds were prac-
ticed on the revenue
Mr.. Kitchen denounced the dirty scoun-
drels'' who informed for pay, and declared
that frivolous prosecutions would not cease
as long as the government paid for testi-
mony.
Chairman Cannon explained that the in
crease in the appropriation for this fund
from $50 600 to $75, coo was due to the increase
of the tax on whisky to $l.10 gallon. A
gallon of whisky cost less than 20 cents.
The evasion Of the tax gave profit of 80
cents a gallon. The mere statement of the
case showed the necessity for using other
than ordinary means for securing informa-
ton. .,,fgf..
MIR. Evans (Rep, Ky), who is an ex-
commissioner of internal revenue, favored
the appropriation and said the opposition
to this item proceeded upon the theory that
the moonshine industry must and shall be
preserved. He was opposed TO that doc
trine.
Mr. Swanson Dem, Va in advocacy Of
the amendment said the cases trumped up
by the informers crowded the United States
courts and their prosecution cost the United
States annually from 100000 to Sl,0O0,OOO
more than the property seized.
After some further debate by Messrs.
Tate Dem, Ga.) Swanson (Dem., Va.)
and Pearson (Rep., N. Co in favor of the
amendment, and by Mr.. Sayers Dem.,
Tex) in opposition to 1t, the vote was
taken and the amendment to strike out the
appropriation was adopted. Mr.. Cannon
gave notice that he would ask for yea
and nay vote when the bill was reported to
the House.
MIR. MAHANY'S SPEECH.
At this juncture Mr.. Mahany (Rep N.
W created something of furry by deliv-
ering a fve-minute speech in denunciation
of what he termed the revels of the So
called 400" Of New York while the Nation
of the Maine He said he felt it to be his
duty to rebuke circumstance in connec-
ton with the disaster to the Maine. While
the mangled remains of the brave sailors
who persisted in that awful explosion were
being carried to their graves the so-called
and Self-dOminated 400 of New York held
social revel which was termed a vegetable
party" How different the feeling mani
tested by these so-called social leaders in
the metropolitan city or the United States
and the condition in London when the Cam
perdown sank the Victoria. In London on
that occasion there was everywhere the
black badge of mourning. Every social
function was abandoned, while in New
at their revels. Yet in the last
campaign these same people prated of ma
tlcnal honor when financial question was
before the country. Then II was national
honor. A few days ago when the Nations
head was bowed and the dlsmembered frag
ments of her dead were going to their
graves, they seemed utterly oDlvious to
her grief. He had no desire, he said, to re-
fleet upon the rich There was q distinc-
ton between those who employed capital
were drones and users of wealth, who toiled
not or spun, who dared to disturb the hours
OF the Nations mourning with this insult
hesitate, he said so far as he was con-
cerned, to endeavor to free the skirts of the
these mere possessors and spenders of
riches who assumed to represent national
honor when they thought their bonds We're
threatened, but who had not a tear for
those who went to their graves in its de-
Tense. (Applause) Mr.. Mahany referred
to the vegetable party" given by Abram s.
Hewitt. of New York, on the evening of
Feb. IL.
A clash between Mr. Lewis Dem, Wash.)
and Mr.. Qugg (Rep., n. W over some
statements made in a speech Of the former
some days ago, followed. Mr.. Quigg took
the Washington member to task for pre-
senting a list of trusts which, Mr. Lewis
alleged had contributed to the Republican
campaign fund in 1886. He denied as he did
in the case of Mr.. Miers of Indiana that
any legislative committee in New York had
made a report containing any such infor-
nation.
When the item appropriating $4,000 for
power for the pneumatic tube system for
the transmission of the mails in Boston,
reached, Mr. Loud chairman of the post
office committee, argued that this was a
prospective appropriation for services not
yet inaugurated. Besides. if the system
was to be inaugurated. he thought the cost
should be included in a single BILL
Mr., Mahany defended the new system 1t
had been Endorsed. he said. by the Post
Mr. King, of Utah. Mr. Mahany said that
the charges against the company conduct
ing the pneumatic tube service were made
by New York paper hostile to John Il.
Mlholland. The paper was governed. he
declared, by politics in making the charges
Ike charges, he said, We're false and a
Islander. The opposition OF the paper. he