The times., 1898-02-26
THEY WRANsLE ALL DAY
Republicans Fall 0at Over San
dry Civil Bill LIENS.
LIKFNED TO one ANANIAs
Mcssrs. Cannon and Grosyenor Ac-
cuse Each ether of IGmuIating the
Man of Biblical Fame The Scheme
TO Prevent a ltfver and Rarbor
Appropriation Measure.

Appropriation Measure.
Republicans in the House yesterday
wasted the entire day in bitter squab-
bling among themselves over the patron
age TO be distributed through the sundry
civil bin. So heated was the discussion
at one time that Mr.. Cannon of Illinois
and Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio, in language
as polite as circumstances permitted, ac-
cused each other of initiating Ananias,
whose total disregard for the truth is re-
corded in the Bible
The trouble was brought about by the
items incorporated in the sundry civil bill.
which should properly be in the river and
harbor appropriation bill. and which. as
everyone knows. We're put in the sundry
civil bill for tho sole purpose of pre-
venting any bin from the River and Har-
Dor Committee being acted upon during
the present session. 1t was a clever
dodge TO save the Treasury from Sl2.
600 600 TO S20 GOO 600 by an expenditure Of
81, ,00G, 000 which. under the continuous
contract system. must be provided for
The plan completely eliminates any possi-
bility of appropriations for new river and
harbor improvements. Ii was the knowl-
edge of this condition that made the
members wrathful who had promised
their constituents unlimited sums for
deepening unheard-of creeks, bays, and
rivers.
On Thursday before the House ad-
journed IL had appropriated money for
several harbors where work was being
conducted under the contract system,
one of the appropriations being $500 GOO
for Rocl1land. Ne. Mr.. Dingley's
State. No objection was made Thursday
10 this disposition of the public money
but when the debate was resumed yes
terday over an item providing s133, 000 for
the Improvement OF the harbor at Oak
land. Cal, Mr.. Parker of New Jersey Of
fered an amendment to strike out the ap-
preparation, alleging as a reason that
no continuous contract was in operation
there.
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio sided with Mr.
Parker. and he attacked Mr.. Cannon of
Illinois with characteristic energy de-
claring that the object of the Appropria-
uons Committee was to prevent any riv-
er and harbOr bill from being reported.
He denounced the assumption of the APP
propriations Committee TO legislate for
the River and Harbor Committee, and
when frequently interrupted by MIR. Can
non. he informed that gentleman that he
was mistaken" Gen Grosvenor insist
ed that the appropriation should not
pass, because no contract had been
made.
In reply 10 this Mr.. Cannon, chair
man OF the Appropriations Committee,
said:
Now the gentleman SAYS we should
strike this out because no contract was
made. This contract will be made. and
this amount of money is needed to make
IL. Now. gentlemen. 1 want YOU to un-
derstand what you are doing, because if
you strike out one you must strike out
all.
Il fancy now that I see a disposition
to do this, and that You have got some
other object i'm view. / should not won
der IL there were some gentlemen in this
Committee OF the Whole who would be
very glad TO see all of these items strick-
pn off this bill, and tomorrow they will
force the fact upon us that we must
have a river and harbor bill. I can Just
see it in the eyes of some OF our good
friends and Mr.. Cannon bowed TO Gen
Grosyenor.
81 am not on that committee. but ]
will say to my friends that l believe
there Will be no river and harbor bin in
The present condition of our finances. and
II there is j will talk and vote against
t."
Mr.. Grosvenor: You have asked the
House to strike out these items. Do you
favor or believe that there will be any
amount of appropriation in
this Congress for the construction of
public buildings in the United States?
Have YOU not thrown out an inducement
that you yourself know is without foun-
iation in fact?''
Not at ALL retorted Mr. Cannon. If
the gentleman knew as much about APP
rs he does about everyt hing
Else, and he is an exceedingly well in
formed gentleman, he would be better
informed than he is now Now, what 1
say is this: That there are some public
where contracts are authorized,
and others where contracts will he made,
and that a certain sum of money is
needed
Then you would couple the improve
nent of the rivers and harbors of the
with the construction of the pub
ic buildings OF the country" inquired
Mr.. Grosvenor.
mo, not at ALL" replied Mr. Cannon.
why is II, then. that YOU make this
,ppeal?' insisted Gen. Grosvenor.
II have made no appeal. The gentle
nan. in his zeal, inagines that. ] fancy
here is something else in his mind. /
'ather think he wants a river and har-
Dor BILL and again Mr.. Cannon bowed
With expressive politeness to the gentle
nan from Ohio.
During the colloquy Speaker Reed oc-
'upied a seat on the floor of the House, |
md ne listened to it with an expression |
# disgust that ought to be a warning 10 |
zen. Grosvenor and Mr.. Parker not 10 |
n the future interfere with the pass |
ige of appropriation bills as presented |
~ the Speakers pet committee
Mr.. Parker of New Jersey, unmindful |
# this. i'm three minutes speech urged /
hat the appropriation should not he /
'assed, and then q vote was taken. and /
he item was sustained as reported.
Following this came an item apprepri- /
ting 100000 for the improvement of San /
'edro harbor. This brought up the old /
quabble that was in the House during /
he last Congress. Gen. Grosvenor oppos-
d the appropriation, alleging that Santa /
ionica should receive the Improvement.