The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-15
PROTEST AGAINST THE PLAN
DENOUNCED AS FRAUDULENT BY THE
''TREASURY WATCHDOG"
Amendment Providing for COnstruc-
Order by the Chairman.

ported ii, and the leaders on the respective
sides are engaged in a desperate struggle
which involves the fate of the measure at
this session of Congress. After Mr. cannon,
chairman of the committee on appropria-
items, served notice last week that there was
not time for the consideration of the canal
bill at this session, the supporters OF the
measure determined to force it on to the
sundry civil as rider if possible. AS soon
as it was offered this afternoon Mr.. Can
non made four points of order against 1t and
one of the most interesting parliamentary
contests of the session was on. AS rule
the appeals of the House leaders are able TO
hold the members in line, but strong argu-
ments are adduced in support of the peril
nency of the amendment and besides, the
bill has strong friends on both sides or the
chamber who are, seemingly, ready 10
adopt any eXpedient to provide for the con-
struction of the canal. The debate on the
points of order lasted two hours to-day and
was not concluded. 1t promises to occupy
several hours tomorrow. 1t seems to be a
foregone conclusion that the chairman Of
the committee of the whole (Mr. Hopkins
of Illinois, will sustain the points OF ORDER
so that the real test will come on the queS-
ton of overruling the chair. Should the
chair be oVerrued there is no doubt that
votes. About twenty pages OF the Dill We're
disposed of to-day. No important amend
ments were adopted.
About one hundred members We're present
when Speaker Reed called for order Bills
We're passed to re-enact a bill to authorize
the Arkansas Harbor Terminal Railroad
Company to construct a bridge across the
Corpus Christi channel: TO authorize the
Muscle Shoals Power Company to construct
and operate canals at Mussel Shoals, Ala :;
10 authorize the Pensacola ~ Northwestern
Railway to construct road across the pup
,ic lands of Florida. Alabama. Mississippi
and Tennessee: to grant Wisconsin certain
lands as part of the present military reser-
walton; to authorize the Georgia Pine Rail
road Company to construct a bridge across
Flint river.
THE DEBT OF SPAIN.
At 1 o'clock the House went into committee
of the whole and resumed consideration of
the sundry civil appropriation bill. Mr..
Wheeler Dem, KY in the course of some
remarks in opposition to expansion, served
notice that he proposed to vote against the
800 100000 appropriation 10 be paid to Spain.
Mr.. Bailey Dem. Tex reminded Mr..
Wheeler that the President and Senate con-
stituted the treaty-making power and the
House must acquiesce in their action.
Mr.. Wheeler declared that the treaty max
ing power had no right to bind the House
He declared that the judgment OF history
would reproach us for Strengthening the Fill
ipino9.
Mr. Williams Dem, Miss) argued that the
House had no right to question q treaty made
or to repudiate treaty obligations.
Mr.. Lewis (Dem., WaSh.) furnished an in
teresting contribution to the historical phase
OF the subject by recalling the fact that
Spain agreed to pay England $l0,000O00 after
the Philippines had been taken by the En-
glish in 1862. But Spain had never paid and
Lord Waltham had denounced her course
in the Commons. Spain was the only coun-
try on the globe which had repudiated her
treaty obligations
Mr. McRae Dem. Ark.) gave notice that
1.r r1ffA Il flan
preparation OF $20,0G0.000 declaring it to be
the policy of the government to annex the
Philippines.
Mr.. Corliss (Rep.. Mich1 offered as an
amendment his bill for the construction of "a
Pacific cable by the government. Mr.. Cor
for direct cable communication with Hawaii
and the Philippines. and to the Presidents
special message the other day urging i'm
mediate legislation for this purpose. A point
of order was made against the amendment
which the chair sustained and the amend
ment was ruled out.
HEPBURN'S RIDER
Upon reaching the page containing the
caption Deep waterways commission" Mr.
Hepburn (Rep, Ia.), chairman of the inter
state-commerce committee offered as an
amendment the Nicaragua canal till re-
ported by his committee.
Mr. Cannon. chairman Of the appropria-
tions committee Immediately raised four
distinct points of order against il. First,
that it was not germane; second that it
was directly obnoxious to Rule u; tknG
that it violated the rule requiring 1nat APP
propriations in general appropratiuI bills
should be authorized ny law, and fourth,
that it was not in continuation of work au-
thoriZed by law. This opened up log par
liamentary debate upon the point of order
Mr. Hepburn took the floor, arguing that
the amendment was germane and mat it
violated no rule He cOntended that the two
surveys made under the direcUi IN OF en-
gress constructively authorized the work of
building the canal itself. He insisted that
the work of constructing the canal WAS in
progress within the contemplation of the
rule.
w. A Smith (Rep., Mich.) declared that
the Dickinson treaty of 1867 warranted an
appropriation for the construction OF the
canal as much as the treaty of Paris war
ranted the appropriation of $2O,00OOOO car
ried in this bill.
In concluding his argument Mr.. Hepburn
declared that the rule invoked against his
amendment was obsolete so far as the APP
preparations committee was concerned.
There were thirteen distinct violations of
1t in the pending bill. 1t was only invoked
When the appropriations committee desired
to stand off some fancied raid upon the
treasury. There was . round of applause
when Mr.. Hepburn took his seat.
Mr.. Cannon in reply said that he would
not consider the wisdom of the canal. 1t
was the law which should be considered.
and there was not microscope in the uni
verse big enough to find a shred of law upon
which to base this appropriation. Person
ally he announced himself in favor of the
construction of the canal under proper safe
guards and conditions
Mr.. Bailey suggested that if there was a
question as TO whether the amendment was
in order upon the bill that the House agree
by unanimous consent to make the canal
bill a special order Immediately after the
disposal of the sundry civil bill.
Mr. Cannon pointed out in response how A
majority Of the House If so disposed could
tomorrow go into committee of the whole
and consider the canal bill on its merits
The attempt to get rider upon a supply
bill that must pass. he declared led To had
and sometimes fraudulent legislation often
both. Mr.. Cannon was exceedingly earnest
and vigorous in his appeal to members not
70 be carried off their feet. Impressivelv
he recalled the scandals in connection with
the building Of the Pacific railroads. and
pleaded with the House not to dishonor
itself by crushing down a rule that had stood
for ITO years a safeguard to legislation
There were some things that could not he
done with impunity.
There were several interesting colloouies
between Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Hepburn AS
they fenced for advantage. Without CON
GLIDING the debate upon the point of ar
der the committe rose.
The army appropriation bill was reDorted
by Mr. Hull. who gave notice that he would
call II up at the earliest opportunity Al
a:lo p m. the House adjourned
Descendant Of Nelson Married.
BATTLE CREEK. Mich. Feb. l4-John