Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-21
55th CONGRESS-.
Lively Tilt in House Between
Grosyenor and Lewis.
Payne Of New York Made Chairman Of
Ways ard Means.
Senator Nelson Delivers Eloquent Speech
Fayoring Retention Of Philippines.

Noy, W a why OQNl pNt"tNsI 4hi.
Grosvenor of Ohio, and Mr.. Lewis. the
picturesque member from Washington.
During the debate on private bill to
refer to the court of claims the claim
of Cramp & Sons. the Philadelphia
ship builders for damages, from the
government for delays incident to the
building of the warsilips New York,
Massachusetts. indiana and Columbia,
due to the failure OF the government
to deliver armor plate and other mate
rails for these ships on time, Mr.. Lewis
got the floor.
The claims aggregated about $1,000
900 and the bill had encountered good
deal of opposition.S.Mr. Lewis made il
the text for "A general attack on army
and navy contractors whom he charg-
ed with being traitors for taking ad-
vantage of the necessities of the gov
ernmcnt in the time of stress.
Mr.. Simpson. the Kansas Populst,
followed along the same lines and Mr..
GroSvenor undertook To rcbuse them
both. Mr.. Lewis. in reply. made a very
witty speech, ridiculing the Ohioan for
his alleged pretcnsions. Mr.. Grosve-
nor did not make an extensive rejoin-
der though he displayed a lot of docu-
ments and intimated that he had plen-
ty of reserve ammunition in store for
Mr.. Lewis. The Cramps bill was edged
out of the way after the How of ora
tory ceased.
Earlier in the day. the post office APP
preparation bill was finally passed and
just before recess in the afternoon,
Speaker Reed put an end to the specu-
lation regarding the craftsmanship of
the ways and means committee by ap-
pointing Mr.. Payne. Rep. n. ". To the
vacancy caused by the death of Mr..
Dingley This carried with it the floor
leadership of the majority. AT
the same time he filled the vacancies
in the minority representation on ways
and means and rules caused by the re-
tirement OF Mr.. McMillin. by appoint
ing Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee. TO
both places. Mr.. Crumpackcr of Ind
iapa. was appointed on the census.
An agreement was made for the con-
sidcration Of the army bill. beginning
next Tuesday. Fifteen hours are to be
allowed for general debate exclusive Of
night sessions. Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday nights.
4 night session was held. tonight for
pension legislation and the House then
adjourned until Monday.
When the House met. Friday. the
pending question was on the motion of
Swanson to reccmmit the post office
appropriation bill with instructions to
strike from the paragraph appropria-
ton 100000 for mail facilities in cuba.
Porto Rico and the Philippine islands
the words, newly acquired territory
The Democrats opposed this Ian
Cuage. To avoid roll call which had
been ordered, Loud in charge of the
bill. asked unanimous consent that the
words be stricken OUT. as they were
unnecessary. There was no objection.
The order for a roll call was vacated
and the bill was passed.
Cannon. chairman of the appropria-
ton committee. presented small cur
rent deficiency bill carrying S3i. 900 and
it was passed without objection.
Hull. chairman of the military af
fairs committee. asked unanimous con-
sent that the army reorganization bill
be taken up next Tuesday with a pro-
vision for Is hours general debate.
Bailey said he realized that this bill
was to be considered, and he was will
ing to agree if some additional time
were allowed for general debate by
holding might sessions.
Hull modified his request to include
provision for night sessions Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday, and as
modified it was agreed to.
Marsh, Rep, ILL.,, reported the mill
tary academy appropriation bill
A bill to grant an honorable dis
charge for Owen Prentice, lieutenant
of the seth New York Vol, who was
dismissed from the army for playing
cards with enlisted men, drew from
Bailey some caustic comment on the
army regulations, whieh made it u
crime for officers to play cards with en-
listed men, and a pastine with brother
officers. The bill was passed.
The House then proceeded to the
consideration Of the private calandar.
The first bill considered was for the
relief of William Cramp & Sons of
Philadelphia. 1t refers to the court OF
claims, the claims of this company for
damages and losses alleged to De due
for delays caused by the government
terial.
The claims aggregate $6ll,0lS in the
case of the cruiser New York, $i3222335
in the case of the Columbia, s4S3, 7N in
the case of the battleship Massachu |
sets, and $4SO,231 in the case of the
Indiana.
The history of the claim was thor
oughly exhausted during the debate,
which Lewis, DEM. Wash, enlivened |
by making the bill the text for an at
tack on the general methods of govern
ment contractors. During the war !
with Spain. traitors. he said threatened |
it from within. These contractors |
should have upheld the government in !
the hour of it's peril. he declared, de-
clined to bid against each other in |
some cases they had furnished. he said, !
rotten and decayed food which had I
been prepared for the Chinese-Japan-
csc war. 1t was messed and blue, I
putrid and corrupt, but was sent to our
soldiers at the front and they perish /
tI1a II