New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-09
THE FIFTY MILLIONS VOTED
PARTY LINES SWEPT AWAY
THE HOUSE A UNIT IN SUPPORT OF THE
PRESIDENT.
NOT VOTE CAST OR A VOICE RAISED AoA1NsS
THE s5ooOoooo EMERGENCY APPRoPRIA-
TIoN-oNE OF THE MOST IMPREs
sTvE DEMONSTRATIONS EVER
GBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE rRrBUNE.1

WITNESSED IN CONGRESS-
IBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBUNE
Washington March S.-What might be calleo
without exaggeration a tidal wave 81 patriot
ism surged over and through the House or Revs
resentatives to-day, bearing on its crest an ap-
propriation Of sJO0O0ODO to be expended. X
necessary. for purposes OF National defence.
Not a voice was raised in opposition and not .
vote was cast against the appropriation. There
was cheering when. after the roll mad been
called Speaker Reed said. The Chair desires
to vote, and votes in the Affirmative" There
was more cheering not only on the floor. but n
the galleries, which had been packed through
out the day. when the Speaker announced the
result OF the vote az follows: Ayes 311 noes.
! none.
But this did not happen until after there had
been four hours of oratory. for OF debate there
was none Chairman Cannon who mad brought
In the bill with the unanimous and hearty In
dorsement Of the Appropria lions Committee
would have been glad 10 dispense with the
speechmaking and so would Mr. Sayers the
ranking Democratic member Of the committees
but the latter was constrained by the members
OF his party to insist that four hours should bs
consumed in speechmaking a bill which al
OF them favored and for which they all voted In
! the end
I
1t was natural that many Of them should de-
sire an opportunity to place themselves on REQ
ord, by speech well as by vote. in behalf Of
a measure to defend the honor and dignity and
safety Of the Nation and the flag against which
some Of them had fought in years gone by, and
! they had the sympathy Of the men who had
always stood by the Union and the flag. Some
| impatient and cynical persons said that this
stream Of oratory was tiresome and monotonous
and altogether unnecessary. OF course, II was
unnecessary in sense. The bill would have
been unanimously passed without it. but in an.
other sense it was highly useful. II not abso-
! lutely necessary.
There was not a false note in any Of the many
! short. crisp speeches delivered to-day by men
who as regards domestic politics and policies
are arrayed against the Administration. All Of
these speeches. well the votes y hich fol.
| lowed showed to the world that the representa-
tives Of the American people in Congress are
all Administration men," when the issue pre-
sented is one affecting concerning the honor,
safety or integrity Of the Nation.
And so the time consumed in speech making to-
day not by any means wasted or unprohtably
used. II worth a good deal 10 show 10 tho
rest Of the world, by speech we'll as by vote,
| that when such issue is raised the represent
tatives Of the people OF the United States, Re
publicans Democrats. Populists silver men, gold
men, and all the rest unit. II also
worth a good deal to be able to say. as Chair
man Cannon and others did say in the course OF
the debate, that the United States is able to
spend S50000,t 10. If necessary. for the purposes
Of National defence without borrowing the
money from other countries or laying additional
burdens Of taxation on It's own citizens.
AN IMPRESSIVE SPECTACLE
What was worth much NOR, was the willing.
ness. not 10 say. eagerness. exhibited by mem.
bers irrespective II party, 70 clothe the Ad-
ministration with plenary powers to expend this
vast sum Of money as IN its discretion seems
wisest and best OF course questions may and
probably will hereafter arise TO the wisdom
Of this or that item OF expenditure but these
cannot detract from the patriotic spirit which
! prompted the unanimous action OF the House
/ OF Representatives to-day.
With perhaps TWO or three exceptions the
speeches we're excellent They were brief and
pointed, AID if they were marked by sameness 1t
was due to the fac; that the speakers were all
actuated by like spirit and thought. There
was scant time or opportunity for polished
rhetoric or ornate eloquence when TWO or three
hundred men were trying TO give voice TO the
/ same sentiments all within the spa OF four
hours
! It ought 10 be added that while great many
/ OF the members cf the House probably ma
Iority of them. believed that the prompt pas
sage Of the bill would be the best assurance Of
reace they also appeared fully 10 realize the
/ gravity of the situation and the burden OF re-
sponsibility which rested on them well on
3 the Administration.
THE DEBATE ON THE DEFENCE BILL.
A REMARKABLE EXHIBITION OF CONFIDENCE
IN THE PRESIDENT.
Washington March S-The galleries OF the House
were packed to the doors to-day. and long lines Of
people unable gain admission surged about the
corridors Public interest IN the debate on the bill
anpropriating $50 on 900 for the National defence
was reflected In this large attendance IN the gal
leries on the floor am)s every member was In
his seat As soon as the Journal had been read
the Speaker raped for order. and. amid deep
silence. Chairman Cannon arose and presented as
| deficiency bill the measure appropratng 100000
for the National defence II includes also several
other items. among which is 10000 FOR coal for
naval vessels.
Mr. Whee er Dem. Ala. the former Confed-
crate cavalry leader. started a wave Of applause
when the bill was presented When the reading
OF the concluded with the item or &0.o'o0o0
for the National defence spontaneous outburst
OF applause went UP from the members and tho
galleries
Chairman Cannon ard Mr.. sayers ihe ranking
minority member OF the Appropriations Commits
tee. then mutually proposed the agreement they
had privately made before the House met. for
three hours general debate on the bill 10 be fol-
lowed by hours debate under the 1ve-ninuts
rule
Mr. Barrett Rep. Nass) asked ~ opportunity
would be- allowed for amendment. and when Mr..
! Cannon answered that he did no, know. he OBJ
jected His objection greeted with Kisses and
loud cries OF Vote "Notei'
! Mr. Moody CRep. Mass appealed 10 his col.
league to withdraw his objection The cries for .
vote continued Mr.. Cannon said that ne would bs