The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-17
ABSOlUIENP PURE

sets, made a technical argument in
support Of the point OF order, citing
numerous precedents. He, too, favored
the construction OF the canal. but he
protested against being forced into a
corner and compelled in violation OF the
rules TO accept proposition in the clos
ing hours of this congress, the effect OF
which no man could foretell.
Mr.. Grosvenor, republican. OF Ohio,
vigorously contended that the point OF
order was not we'll taken. He could
not understand. he said, why members
should get excited because the repre-
sentatives Of the people were making
an honest effort to do that which all
political parties had sworn they would
do for the last five years. He said that
this bill would not have been offered
as an amendment TO this bill had not
the chairman of the appropriations
committee announced that neither the
canal bill nor the ship subsidy bill
would receive consideration at this ses-
sion. He contended that the work OF
constructing the canal was now in pro-
gress, within the meaning of the rule.
If this amendment was not placed upon
the pending bill, he declared that the
grand child of no member present
would live long enough TO see the canal
built.
Mr.. Cannon denied emphatically that
the failure to break down this rule
meant abandonment of the construc-
ton of the canal by the United States.
Mr.. Grosvenor reiterated il and said
if this effort failed he favored the pas
sage of a joint resolution TO inform the
nations of the earth that we had given
up the project and would welcome the
building of the canal upon the terms
upon which the SueZ canal was built.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Grosvenor's
speech the chairman of the committee
of the whole, Mr.. Hopkins, announced
der had been procured he made a care
full and elaborate ruling, in which he
pointed out that the question present
ed was purely a parliamentary one. He
reviewed the arguments adduced on
both sides, cited precedents and con-
cluded by sustaining the point of order
against the amendment.
Mr.. Hepburn Immediately arose and
entered AN appeal from the decision of
the chair.
Mr.. Hepburn said he was willing to
allow the appeal to be decided without
further debate, but Mr. Fleming, dem
ocrat, of Georgia, insisted upon being
heard in favor Of sustaining the decis-
! ion of the chair. The rule in question,
he argued, was the shield and protection
of the minority.
On a rising vote the chair was sus-
tained 152 to 11S, and Mr.. Hepburn
loudly demanded tellers. The vote by
tellers confirmed the rising vote. The
chalr was SuStained-127 to 109 and the
amendment was ruled out.
No record is made of the vote in COM
mittee Of the whole. Party lines were
! not adhered to, the division in favor
! and in opposition to sustaining the
; chairs decision being about equal on
| both sides of the political aisle.
The reading of the sundry civil bill
was then continued.
The appropriation for the deep water
ways commission was increased from
$780, 900 to $4,000 on motion of the appro-
priation committee.
| After completing ten additional pages
| of the bill, the committee rose.
| The conference report on the New
| port News, Wa-) public building bill,
which increased the appropriation from
| $4,000 to 100000, was adopted
At $40 o'clock, p. m, the house ad-
| journed.
After the defeat of the amendment
adding the Hepburn Nicaragua canal
| bill to the sundry civil bill, General
| Grosvenor, of Ohio, presented a resolu-
! ton fixing February Goth and 21st for
| the consideration of the Hepburn bill,
| with a vote February Dist at o'clock