The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-26

Mr.. Dingley's Indignant Reply-Denisd
That He Asked the Appropriation of
Observation-Disclosures of Attempt
to Force River aud Harbor Bill.
Washington, February 25.-T6e blind
chaplain of the House prayed for peace at
the opening Of the session today.
The Senate amendments to the Army
appropriation bill were agreed to without
debate.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the committee
on military affairs, announced that his
committee had acted favorably upon the
Senate bill to provide two additional
regiments of artillery and he asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration of the
bill tomorrow after the sundry civil bill
was disposed of, but Mr.. Cox, Democrat
of Tennessee objected.
Mr.. Cannon then moved that the House
sumo consideration of the sundry civil
bill. This motion was antagonized by
the Southern Democrats, who wished to
tako up the private calendar, this being
private bill day under the rules.
Mr.. Cannon's motion prevailed, 1876 to
lie and the House resumed consideration
ofzzthe sundry civil bill. Mr.. Parrer, Re-
publican of New Jersey, moved to strike
out appropriation OF $4,000 for continu-
ing the improvements atiOakland, Cali
fornia saying these improvements had
net been begun and no contract had yet
Eeen made Tor the work.
Mr.. Bland, Democrat of Missouri,
wanted to know whether this was not an
attempt to slip into the sundry civil bill
| items that properly belonged to river
and harbor bill.
Mr.. Grosvenor, Republican of Ohio, al
so asked if an original appropriation was
not an innovation.
Mr.. Cannon replied that it was not an
innovation. Approp riations for works
under contract always had been made In
the sundry civil bill. In some cases
| where the contracts had not yet been let,
the Secretary of War had said that con-
tracts would be let and these appropria-
| lions were for money which would be alb
solutely necessary to meet contract
! liabilities.
| Mr.. Moody, Republican OF Massachu5
setts, referred to the prevailing belief
that no river and harbor bill was to be
passed at this session. He protested
against some Of the mem bers of the House
getting in out of the wet' in the sundry
civil BILL While others were to be ex-
posed to economy which would imposed
upon the country. He believed the sundry
civil bill should contain in it appropria-
tions to meet money due or to be que
under contracts. He objected to tayorites.
Only q few weeks ago, said he, the coast
of Massachusetts had been strewn with
thirty wrecks Many live had been lost.
| The improvement which should have
been provided for Boston harbor might
have prevented part of this loss. He re-
fused to stand on the floor, he said, aud
submit to the suppression OF the river
| and harbor bill.
| At this point Mr.. Moody created a sem
Esational by directing his batteries on the
appropriation of $3.50, 900 carried in the
bill for Rockland, Maine harbor AS
Rockland is in the district of Mr.. Dingley
! the members realized at once that Mr..
Moody was making an attack on the Ke-
publican floor leader. With great sarcasm
he called attention to this vast appropria-
ton for an insignificant harbor on the
| Maine coast the village and harbor, he
said could be buried in the harbor OF Bos-
ton, Until last year, he said, the maxi
mum appropriation for Rockland had
been $40, 600. Suddenly last year the
system and $500, 900 had been appropriated.
He read from the hearings before the
appropriations COMMITTEES to show that
only about 800, 1000 of the appropriation
made last year had been expended.
Mr.. Greene, Populist of Nebraska
ssWhose district is Rookland imp Mr..
Moody, waving his hand, II do not care
to t state. but we all know" (Great
laughter on the Democratic side. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Moody declared that II the
appropriation for harbors in proportion
| to their Importance were provided in this
| bill on the scale of this appropriation for
Rockland, there would not be dollar of
the revenue left. j
81 am ready to submit" declared Mr..
| Moody. with great vehemence to regime
of rigid economy if such is necessary and
| to submit to honest leadership, but for
one propose to be against such d1scrimi-
nation. In closing, Mr.. Moody gave notice
that he would ask the House to strike out
this appropriation.
| Mr.. Grosyenor, Republican of Ohio, ex-
pressedshis amusement at the amount
Of the appropriation for Rockland. Under
the circumstances it had not been, he
said the practice of the House to appro-
nriate for works for which the contracts
had not been actually let. and he de-
nounced the policy proposed in the bill as
ruinous, He declared that this and other
items in the sundry civil bill should be
stricken out that all members should be
on an equality. He warned the members
that if they permitted the sundry civil
bill to become river and harbor bill by
indirection, all hope of economy on river
and harbor bills would be lost.
Mr.. Cannon defended the bill. The
gentleman from Ohio had always been &
consistent advocate of riverEand harbol
hills and had been instrumental in pass
ing some of the largest bills ever passed.
"They were always fair" interrupted
Mr.. Grosvenor. some OF the most
vicious bills ever reported, replied Mr.
Cannon, "came from the river and harbol
committee while the gentleman WAS c
a a. n !,