The record-union., 1898-01-30
Seems No Prospect of an Ahate-
mant OF Political Debates
Yesterdays Session Almost Entirely Con-
Suned in Their Discussion.
The Question as 70 Whether Pros
perity Has Arrived Attracted
Most Attention-Thc Debate as
a Rule Good Natured, Both
Sides Recognizing That 1t Was
Merely a Struggle to Score Po-
htical Advantages.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-There
seems 10 be no prospect of an abate-
ment OF the political debate which has
; been IN progress in the House during the
consideration OF the appropriation bills.
Again to-day almost the entire session
was consumed in the discussion on poll
tlcal topics. The controVerted question
as 10 whether prosperity had arrived at
t"acted the most attention and interest,
and testimony pro ana cor was offered
/ throughout the House. At times con-
siderable acrimCny was displayed, but
as a rule the debate was good natured.
| both sides seeming to recognize that it
was merely struggle 10 score political
advantages.
At the opening of the session a bin to
permit the building of a bridge across
the Mississippi River at Coon Rapids,
at the northern limits of the city of Min
neapolis, was passed.
Immediately afterward the Clerk of
the Senate appeared and transmitted the
Teller resolution. which passed the Sem
ate last night. The announcement was
greeted with a terrific outburst of ap-
ilause from the Democratic side of the
/ time, and the resolution remained on the
table.
The fortification appropriation bill was
referred, on motion of Grout (RD. and
the House went into Committee of the
Whole and resumed the consideration OF
the District of Columbia bill.
The general debate was not confined
te the subjects dealt with by the bill.
1t covered a wide range. The Teller
resolution, the Cuban question. the Ha-
waiian annexation. the tariff and other
political topics were discussed.
AT the conclusion of general debate the
bill was taken up for amendment under
the five minute rule.
King Cd Of Utah raised laugh by
Offering an amendment to appropriate
| $4,000 for the Improvement of the
White House. ito make it a suitable
abode for Hon. Mark Hanna"
The amendment was ruled out of
order on point of order.
Simpson P) OF Kansas commented
upon President Mckinley S speech at the
Manufacturers dinner at New York
saying that the attempt to make all the
| obligations of the United States payable
in the dearest money in the world was
dress coat anarchy" He said it was
now the fashion for Republicans to
sneer at "backwoods statesmen" and
he reminded the majority that all the
Republican heroes Of the past had
come from the rural districts. The Re-
publican party. he declared, had at last
become the open defender OF plutoc-
| racy.
Tongue Q) of Oregon. in a spirited
reply, denounced the Pnpulists and Dem
ocrats for being responsible. through the
passage OF the Wilson tariff bill, for the
depression and poverty of the farming
classes.
The discussion became very animated
when the topic of prosperity was
reached. Richardson D.) of Tennessee
precipitated it. and Grosvenor tR) of
Ohio. Cochran Cd of Missouri. Hopkins
(R.) OF Illinois. Mahany Q2.1 of New
York and Fitzgerald (D.) of Massachu-
sets took Dart.
The latter again brought UP the New
England cotton strikes. which have
played considerable part in the debate
on previous days
Simpkins (R) of Massachusetts, in the
course of his reply, drew round of
| applause from the Democratic side. by
stating that he frankly confessed that
in his opinion there were likely to be
more strikes under a protective than
under free trade system. The applause
ceased, however. and arose on the other
side when he added that this was be-
cause under a free trade system men
would have no work. and when they did
il would be for what they could get
For some time the debate was con
fined to the business situation in Massa-
oil
publicans of that State contesting the
position advanced by Fitzgerald that
prosperity had not come to the common
wealth under the Dingley law.
Hepburn (R) OF Iowa created some en-
thusasn on the Republican side when
he read the Dun trade review as an
answer to the Democratic critics as to
;he effects of the Dingley law. Members
OF the House. he said, no matter what
their politics. have no right in attempt
ing to score 4 little cheap political cap
! ital to become the libeleTs and SANDER
ers of their country.
Allen Cd of Mississippi enlivened the
proceedings with one of his witty
speeches He said he was tired of hay
ing Dingley get up every day and eX-
plain why his bill had not met the ex-
pectations of the country. 1t was very
absurd, he said. but it was with the
same serious, solemn mien with which
the Jewish clothier explained to him how
he was able to sell goods below cost.
In the course of some remarks in a
more serious vein, Allen aroused the
Democrats to applause by quoting the
following from a speech delivered by
President Mckinley in the House in
1890. when the Mckinley bill was under
considerations:
when merchandise is cheapest men
are poorest and the most distressing ex-
periences in the history of our country
yea, in all human history-have been
when everything was the lowest and
cheapest measured by gold, for every
thing was higher and dearest measured
by labor
After some further remarks by Dins-
more CD of Arkansas. Pitney (R.) of
New Jersey. Todd Cd of Michigan and
Hawley (R) of Texas. the House al :.
o. M. after completing seventeen pages
OF the bill. adjourned.