The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-09

Washington, March SIN a spirit Of
patriotism, with eloquent words ring
ing in their ears. every member of the
house of representatives today respond
ed to the presidents first call to meet
the Spanish situation by casting his
vote for bill placing in President Nc
Kinley's hands fifty millions of dollars,
to be expended at his discretion, for the
national defense.
Party lines were swept away, and
with an almost unanimous voice. con-
gress voted its confidence in the ad-
ministration. Many members who
We're paired with absent colleagues
took the responsibility of breaking
their pairs, an unprecedented thing in
legislative annals, in order that they
might go on record in support of this
vast appropriation to maintain the dig
nifty and honor of their country. Speak
er Reed, who, as presiding officer, sell
dom votes, only in case of tie, had
his name called and voted in his capa
city as a representative.
The scene of enthusiasm which greet
ed the announcement of the Vote-ayeS,
81; nays. O-has seldom been paralleled
in the house. All day long the galleries
were damned with enthusiastic Specta-
tors, applauding to the echo the ster-
ling patriotism of the words of elo-
Quence which were uttered by the mem
bers on the floor. All the speeches were
brief. Although four hours We're al
lowed 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 contend them
selves with a beggarly fraction of a
minute. In all. 50 speeches were made.
BLUE AND GRAY.
With one acclaim, members from the
north and south. the east and west,
the states and the territories, battle
SCARED veterans of the union and the
confederate armies, all Joined in pro
claiming their support of the country's
chief magistrate in the face of a pros
pect of war.
There was only a slight discordant
note, caused by the speech of General
Bingham of Pennsylvania, gallant
soldier who served with distinction I'M
der Hancock. He spoke too conServa-
lively 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 members Kissed him. While al
most every member who spoke depre-
Gated the possibility of war, a wide di-
Vergence of opinion IS to how close
were hostilities manifested itself in the
debate. The general contention by the
majority among the leaders on both
sides was that this appropriation, by
preparing for war, would prove the
surest guaranty of peace. Others in
sisted that wars alarms would soon
be heard. and Mr.. Mann of Illinois de-
clared that war actually existed in all
save name.
PACKED TO THE DOORS.
Washington, March S.-The galleries
of the house were packed to the doors
today and long lines of people, unable
to gain admission. sUrged about the
corridors. Public interest in the debate
oil the bill appropriating $50,000,0O0 for
the national defense was reflected in
this large attendance in the galleries.
On the floor almost every member was
in his seat. On the faces of the leaders
on both sides sat an air OF stern rcso-
luton. indicating their deep apprecia-
ton Of the great business upon which
congress and the country were entering,
making this vast appropriation for pos
sible war. AS soon as the journal had
been read, the speaker raped for or
der and. amid a deep silence, Chair
man Cannon presented as a deficiency
bill che measure appropriadng S50,0O0,-
600 for the national defense. 1t in
eludes also several other items, among
which are 100000 for coal for naval YES
sells.
APPLAUSE ALL OVER.
When the reading of the bill was con-
cluGed with the item of $50, COO 900 for
the national defense, a spontaneous
outburst CT applause went up from
the members and the galleries. Mr.
Cannon and Mr.. Sayres, the minority
member of the appropriations commit /
tee. then mutually proposed the agree
ment 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 five minute 1
rule.
Mr. Barrett CRep. Nass.) asked If op- /
pOrtunity would be allowed for amend !
ment. aSld when Mr.. Cannon answered /
that he did not know, he objected. His |
objection was greeted with Kisses and I
loud cries of vote. Vote
Mr.. Barrett yielded to the urgent ap- /
pealS of the Republicans about him, /
his objection. The agreement /
as to the time was formally ratified.
ALL ABSORBING THEME.
After the confusion which followed /
this dramatic scene had subsidized, Mr..
Cannon took the floor to open the de-
bate on the bill. He spoke calmly and \
briefly, explaining that the items in the
bill, save the last. were strictly de-
items. Coming to the all alb
sorbing item he said that in the present
critical condition of affairs, the COM
Inittee had deemed it wise TO appropri-
ate this sum placing its expenditure in
the complete discretion Of the presi-
dent. He referred to the fact that the
committee had been unanimous in its
action and had only changed the word
ing of the bill he introduced yesterday :
by making the appropriation available
until Jan. l. 1899. instead of June 30
1899 This. he pointed out, would give
the administration over the time of the
probable adjournment of congress
NO BORROWING NECESSARY.
1--WE have got the money in the treas
ury TO meet this appropriation if il is
he continued, land. there
fore, there is not presented with this
one 10 borrow money or 20
increase taxation, TO which almost any
other nation on earth would be obliged
10 resort" tremendous applause
The appropriation he centesae1a, ~as