The record-union., 1898-03-27

WASHINGTON. March 26.-During
the debate on the naval appropriation
bin to-day in the House every utter
ance in favor Of aggressive action
against Spain was applauded to the
echo by the crowded galleries. A
strong effort was made to increase the
appropriation for the naval reserve
but it failed. Another effort to have
the Government uniform the naval MI
litia also failed. The main contest OF
the day was over a proposition TO de-
crease the number of timber dry docks
authorized by the bill from four 10
three. Cannon. Chairman Of the APP
preparation Committee, made the mo-
ton to discuss the question OF war
preparations, and to inveigh against
undue extravaganza. He was voted
down-7S to 10S.
No point of order was made against
the proposed timber docks, but can
non gave notice that he would raise
a point of order against the proposed
steel dock at Algiers, La, on the
ground that q dock necessarily in
volved in the future the establishment
of a navy yard There was some fur
ther discussion of the relative merits
of large battleships and smaller craft,
in which the temper of the House
seemed about equally divided but the
paragraph relating to the ships had
not been reached when the House ad-
journed.
A special notice was sent to all the
Republican members of the House this
morning to be in their seats at noon
to-day. The leaders had decided to
bring in a special rule to bring the ma
val appropriation bill to a vote if the
flibustering of yesterday was to be
resumed, but as the Democrats gave
assurances that the obstructive tactics
would not be continued the plan of
bringing in rule was abandoned.
Before the journal was approved Bal
ley CD of Texas called attention to
what he thought was an abuse Of privi-
lege to print a personal explanation
given to Pearson OF North Carolina.
Pearson had, he said. been accused of
abusing the franking privilege of the
House, and under leave to print had
made the very matter frankable which
he had been accused 'of improperly
franldng.
Pearson maintained that he had not
abused the privilege granted him. He
called attention to the fact that some
Of the matter printed was from a paper
in %6hich w. J. Bryan was interested.
DO you object to what William Jen-
nings Bryan says?" he asked, smiling
".
II am inclined to indorse anything
Mr.. Bryan says at this time" said
Bailey. Democratic applause) He
then moved to strike the publication
to which he objected from the record.
Henry Cd of Delaware denounced
Pearson's action as a fragrant viola
tion of the privilege of the House.
Bailey said he would not have pressed
this matter except TO emphasize the
rigid manner in which the majority
in times past had held the Democrats
to words literally spoken in debate.
Pearson then took the floor and made
his explanation. 1T involved" he
said, questions of propriety and deli
cacy." In conclusion, Pearson said that
he would rather sit in the House with
a Democratic gentleman than a Pop
ulist traitor
At his request. Bailey then withdrew
his motion, and by unanimous consent
the article to which objection was
made was stricken from the record.
The consideration of the naval bill
was then resumed under the fve-min-
ute rule.
Elliott CD of South Carolina moved
an amendment to provide the naval
militia with clothing He pointed out
that the National Guard were provided
with uniforms If war came the naval
militia would be called on before the
National Guard IN fact, the naval
militia of three States had already
been called out The Navy Depart
ment indorsed this proposition.
Boutelle pointed out that the Gov
eminent had never been called upon to
supply clothing to the naval militia,
and he did not believe the scope of the
Government appropriations had been
broadened.
The amendment was lost.
Another amendment was offered by
Foote (R) of New York to increase
the appropriations for arms, accoutre-
ments. etc, of naval reserves from
100000 to $100.0o0
Boutelle (R) of Illinois. in supporting
the amendment. argued that it was the
duty of the United States to intervene
in Cuba. His remarks aroused several
outbursts of applause. but he was re-
peatedly called to order under the rul-
ing of yesterday. limiting the debate to
the question under consideration.
Lewis CD of washington also ar
gued in favor of intervention War. he
said, was already upon us we were
fools TO disguise it. It was not patri-
otic to delude ourselves further. The
Spanish torpedo flotilla was sailing to-
ward our shores. He asserted that it
was the duty of the Government 10
intercept that fleet and blow It from
the seas. When he quoted John Ran
doiphs utterances, delivered in the
House in 1922. 'As we would not be
bullied by the British lion. so we re-
fuse to be frightened by Athe Spanish
Jacl1al" the House broke into cheers
The amendment was defeated-46 to
Al
An amendment was adopted to per-
nit the Secretary of the Navy to use
any portion of Michigan's naval mill
tia fund to repair the damage to the
Yantic.
paragraph to transfer the hydro
graphic fund from the Bureau OF Nav
igation to the Bureau Of Equipment,
which had been recommended by the
Navy Department, went out on q point
of order
Elliott CD of South Carolina made q
point Of order against the provision that
none of the money appropriated for the
naval station at Port Royal. S. c.,