Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-10
A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
House Passed the Bill Appropriate
ing 100000 for Defense.
ALL PARTY Lines WERE SWEPT AWAY
The Measure Sent to the Senate and 1t Once
Referred to the Committee on APP
preparations OF Co.
lumbia Bill Passed.

OF patriotism. with eloquent words
ringing in their ears, every member OF
the house OF representatives yesterday
responded to the presidents first call
to meet the Spanish situation by cast
ing his vote for bill placing in Presi-
dent Mckinley's hands $50, 1000, 900, to
be expended at his discretion for the
national defense Party lines were
swept away, and, with unanimous
voice, congress voted its confidence in
the administration. Many members
who were paired with absent COL
leagues took the responsibility Of
breaking their pairs, an unprecedent-
ed thing in Legislative annals, in order
that they might get on record in sup
port Of this vast appropriation to main
tain the dignity and honor Of their
country. Speaker Reed, who, as the
presiding officer, seldom votes except
in case of . tie, had his name called
and voted in his capacity as repre-.
sentative.
The scene Of enthusiasm which
greeted the announcement OF the vote
ayes, 3ll; nays, none has seldom
been paralleled in the house. All day
long the galleries were jammed with
enthusiastic spectators, applauding to
the echo the sterling patriotism Of the
words OF eloquence which we're ut
tered by the members on the floor. All
the speeches were brief. Although
four hours were allowed for debate. so
great was the pressure for time that
no one member was given more than
five minutes, and most Of them had to
content themselves with q beggarly
fraction OF minute. In all, 80 speeches
were made.
In the whole debate, there was only
slight discordant note caused by the
speech Of Gen. Bingham, Of Pennsyl.
vanis, a gallant soldier who served
with distinction under Hancock. He
spoke too conservatively for the
aroused temper Of the house, and
when he insisted that our relations
with Spain were as friendly as they
had been for years, many Of the mem.
bers Missed him. The speeches which
attracted most attention were those OF
Messrs. Cannon, Henderson and Dolli.
yer on the republican side, and Messrs.
Bailey and Savers on the democratic
side.
As soon as the journal had been
read, the speaker raped for order
and, amid deep silence, Chairman
Cannon arose and presented, as de.
ticiency bill, the measure appropriate
ing s5O.O00,0OO for the national de.
tense. 1t includes also several other
items, among which are 100000 for
coal for naval vessels. When the read
ing of the bill was concluded with the
item of $50, OOO,O 900 for the national de.
Tense spontaneous outburst of ap.
plause went up from the members and
the galleries.
Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Savers, the
minority members Of the appropria-
tions committee, then mutually pro-
posed an agreement 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 fve-minute rule. The debate
closed at 4:2O p. m. When the question
was put on the passage Of the bill, the
whole house rose en- masse In Its favor,
but Mr.. Cannon asked for the ayes and
noes He did so, he said, at the re-
quest Of many members who desired
that every member should 60 on record
At the conclusion of the roll call, the
speaker had his name called, an
unusual proceeding, and, amid great
applause, voted for the bill. When
he announced the votes, "3l1 ayes,
noes, none," an enthusiastic demon.
stration occurred. The house then, at
4:55 p. m, adjourned.
As soon as the bill had been passed
by the house 1t was sent to the senate,
where 1t was referred to the appropri-
alton committee. 1t will be reported
back to the senate to-day and unques'
tionably passed-probably with the
same unanimity with which 1t passed
the house.
THE SENATE.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-Yesterday's
session OF the senate was largely de.
voted to the consideration OF the Dis-
trict Of Columbia appropriation bill.
After an extended discussion, the bill,
containing provision for the reduc-
ton Of about one-half Of the present
rates Of telephone charges in the dis
trict, was passed. The bill for the re-
lief Of the Methodist Episcopal church,
south, Of Tennessee, appropriating
s2ss,OOo, was then passed after brief
debate.
At 4:50, during the discussion OF the
bill, message was received from the
house conveying to the senate the bill
appropriating $50, 1888, 900 for national
defense just passed by the house. The
bill was laid before the senate and, on
motion Of Senator Allison, Of Iowa,
referred TO the committee on appro-
priations.
Senator Allen, Of Nebraska, present.
ed and secured the adoption Of reso-
luton calling upon the attorney gen.
eral to inform the senate how many
writs Of injunction were granted dur
ing 1s97.os by the United States courts
against labor leaders and labor organi-