The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-15
He Raises -Four Points Of Order and
Starts a Parliamentary Debate.
WILL OPPOSE PAYING SPAIN.
Mr.. Wheeler Gives Notice That lie
VIII Vote Against the Appropria-
tion-Spain Eepudiatcd Her
Treaty Obligations With
England-Treaty Does
Not Bind House.

/ W +AoAllsNI AO-Nr IhN. III ne NlcAfa'
qua Canal bin was offered In the House
this afternoon. as an amendment to the
sundry civil bill, by ar. Hepburn, OF
Iowa, and the leaders on the respective
sides are involved in a desperate struggle
which involves the fate of the bill at
this session.
Mr.. Cannon served notice last week
that there was no time for the consider
ation Of the canal bill this session, and
the supporters OK the measure determined
to force il on the sundry civil bill as a
rider III possible. AS soon as it was Of
fered this afternoon Mr. Cannon made
four points oil order against f., and one
OF The most interesting parliamentary
contests OF the session was on.
The House leaders are supposed 10 be
able 10 hold the members IN line, but
strong arguments were made on the per-
tinency OF the amendment, and the bill.
has friends on both sides OF the cham
ber who are seemingly ready TO adopt
ans eXpeOicnt 10 provide Tor the cOnstruc-
ton of the canal The debate on the
points of order lasted two hours to-day
and was not concluded. IL promises 20 con-
sumo several hours tomorrow. 10 seems
20 he "a fOregOne conclusion that the
chairman OF the Committee OF the Whole.
Mr. Hopkins, Of Illinois, will sustain the
points 0i order. So that the real test will
come up on the question OF over-ruiing
the Chair Should the Chair be over
ruled, there is no doubt that the amend
meHt viii command a majority OF votes.
About twenty pages of the bin were dis
posed OF to-day. 40 important amend
ments were adopted.
BILLS PASSED.
Al the opening of the session bills were
passed:
10 construct a bridge across the Corpus
Christi channel
T 20 sHthDrize the Musce Shoals Power
Company 20 construct and operate canals
at Muscle Shoals Alabama.
To authorize the Pensacola and North
western railway TO construct a road
across the public lands Of Florida, Ala
bama Mississippi and Tennessee.
10 appoint clerks and validate the acts
OF certain clerks i'm the Eastern District
Of Virginia.
To authorize the Georgia Pine Railroad
Company 10 construct a bridge across
Flint river.
40 o'clock the House went into Com
mittee OF the Whole and resumed the
consideration Of the sundry civil appro-
priation bill
AGAINST SPANS PAY.
Mr. Wheeler. Dem. Of Kentucky In
the course Of some remarks. served no
tice that he proposed 20 vote against the
S00oo000 appropriation TO be paid TO
Spain.
". Bailey DemocrlO. Of Texas. re-
minded Mr.. Wheeler that the President
and tho Senate constituted the treaty
making power. and the House must ac-
quiesce in their action.
Mr. Wheeler replied that the treaty
did not bind the House. He said the
judgment Of history would reproach US
for slaughtering the Fiipinos.
Mr.. Wilson Of Arkansas argued that
the House had NJ right 10 repudiate
treaty-making obligations.
SPAIN A REPUDTATOR
Mr.. Lewis Democrat. Of Washington.
furnished an interesting contribution TO
the historical phase OF tho subject by
recalling the fact that Spain agreed 10
pay England Si000.J0 after the Philip
pines ha0 been taken by the English I'm
1862 bur Spain had never paid, and Lord
Waitham had denounced her course IN
The Commons Spain was the only coun-
try on the globe which had regulated
her treaty obligations
Mr. McRae CDemocraD, OF Arkansas.
savo notice that ho would offer an amend |
mcnt to the appropriation OF $50 900 900 |
declaring 10 10 be the policy OF the gov |
-nmelt not 10 annex the Philippines.
Afr CorIiss Republican,. Of Michigan. |
,nerod ass an amendment his bill for the |
construction of a Pacific canal by the |
government
a point of order was made against the ]
amendment, which the Chair sustained I
md iho amendment was ruled out
Upon reaching the page containing the |
apt0n. Deep Waterways Commissions"
f- Hepburn Rc1ublicau). of Iowa |
hairman OF the Interstate Commerce |
'omm.ttee. offered as an amendment the |
Nicaragua canal bill reported 10y his
committee.
FOUR POINTS OF ORDER.
Mr. Cannon. chairman OF tho Appro-
lriati0n Committee Immediately raised
cur distinct points Of order against it,
rst. that it was not germane; second.
tat 90 was directly obnoxious 10 rule
I third that +; violated the rule re-
uiirg thai appropriations in general
bills should be authorized
81 law. and fourth. that IL was not In
OF work authorized by law
This opened W a long parliamentary
bate upon the point Of order.
Mr. Hepburn took the floor. arguing
hat the amendment was germane. and
hat it violated no rule. He contended
hat the two surveys made under the
irection of Congress constructively, au-
lorized the work Of building the danal
self RE Insisted that the work Of con-
ructlng the canal was IN progress with
the contemplation Of the rule In con-
uding his argument Mr. Hepburn de-
AIRED thar the rule invoked against his
was obsolete. so far as the |
Committee was concerned !
here were thirteen distinct violations OF
In the pending bll. IL was only Invoked |
hen the Appropriation Committee de-
red To stand OF some fancied raid upon
le Treasury
no LAW FOR IT
There was round Of applause when
r Hepburn took his seat.
Mr.. Cannon, in reply said he would
n consider the wisdom OF the canal.
was the law which should be consid-
cd and there was not miscroscopc in
10 United states strong enough To see
basis Of law upon which to base this