The times., 1898-05-04
It WAS A VERY DULL DAY
Chairman Hull Left the Capitol
in Disgust.
DEFINITION OF A DEMO RAT
Amos Cummings Defends His Posi-
Clark Pays His Respects to Tint
Kind of Dcmocrats-Mr. Lewis to
The Fore.

Not for several weeks has there been
a more uneventful day in the House than
was yesterday.
A discussion on the bill increasing the
military forces of the United States had
been promised and was expected but the
document was not received from the Sen
ate until very late, and then Chairman
Hull had gone away in disgust at the de-
lay, which left no one present who cared
to assume the responsibility of calling
the bill up.
1t was pension day, too, and private
bills occupied the undivided attention of
members during the entire session.
Hardly Quorum Present.
There was hardly a quorum present
when the House convened at noon, but
before the morning hour had progressed
far the chamber began to fill up and a
bare majority was seated by 1870
Routine business occupied the attention
of the House until Representative Hill
born, of the Naval Affairs Committee,
called up House bill 1916, providing for
the organization of a naval battalion in
the District of Columbia. which had
been reported back from the Senate with
certain amendments. Mr.. Hilborn NOV
ed to non-concur in the Senate amend
ments and by unanimous vote it was
agreed to send the bill TO conference for
a compromise. Representatives Hilborn.
Foss and Butler were named by the
chair as House conferees.
Representative Babcock succeeded in
gaining the floor on District business, and
moved to reconsider the vote on the
House bill investing in the Commission
ers control of street parking. There was
no objection to reconsideration, and
then the House agreed to non-concur in
the Senate amendments and the bill was
sent 10 conference.
Pension Business to the Fore.
Pension business occupied the next
hour. All such routine business was
pushed through rapidly in the expecta-
ton that Chairman Hull would call up
his military BILL providing for in
rceasing the land forces of the country.
A contention arose over the bill to pay
the Richmond Locomotive Works, OF
Richmond, Va. the sum of $69, 80 for
work on the machinery of the battleship
Texas that caused the loss of considera-
BILE time. The bill had been favorably
considered in Committee of the Whole,
and was finally passed.
Pension business was resumed and con-
tinued without interruption until Repre-
sentative Lewis demanded the reading of
the report On an innocent-sounding bill,
removing the charge of desertion from
the name of an old soldier. There was
no report, which fact furnished Mr..
Lewis with an excuse for making an at
tack upon the iberaHty of Congress in
removing charges of desertlon and sub
sequently recognizing the pension claims
of such erstwhile deserters.
The Bond Issue Discussed.
A general debate followed, which even
tually got around to politics, and center
ed upon the recent bill authorizing
$500, 100000 bond issue. Representative
Cummings, of New York. defended the
bond issue He declared that he was
proud of having voted for it, and con-
cluded by saying:
AZ am an Anglo Saxon; I am an Ameri-
can: | am a Democrat"
This last declaration was challenged by
Champ Clark, OF Missouri, who said that
but for his high personal regard for Mr..
Cummings ne would demand the weed
ing out of all such alleged Democrats
from the party
After nearly three hours of breezy
discussion, which at times threatened
serious dissension, the House adjourned.
An evening session was held, devoted
exclusively to pension business.