The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-15
LAST STAND FOR
THE CANAL BILL
Closing Struggle in the
House.
WARM DEBATE PRECIPITATED
FATE OF THE MEASURE NOT
DECIDED.
WARM DEBATE PRECIPITATED
offered by Hepburn as an
Amendment to the Sundry
Civil Appropriation
Bill.
Special Dispatch 20 The Call.

|
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE Mica
[ragua canal bill was offered in the
House this afternoon as an amendment
Ito the sundry civil appropriation bill
Eby Hepburn, chairman of the committee
that reported it, and the leaders on the
| respective sides are engaged in des-
Eperate struggle which involves the fate
tof the measure at this. session of Con-
T gress After Cannon, chairman OF the
I Committee on Appropriations, served
notice last week that there was no time
for the consideration of the canal bill
at this session the supporters of the
measure decided to force it on the
sundry civil bill as rider if possible.
/ Upon reaching the page of the sundry
civil bill containing the caption deep
waterways commissions Hepburn Of
l.fered as an amendment the Nicaragua
canal bill reported by his committee.
Cannon, chairman Of the Appropria-
t.tions Committee, Immediately raised
I four distinct points of order against it;
first, that it was not gernane; second
that it was directly obnoxious TO rule
81; third, that it violated the rule re-
curing that appropriations in general
appropriation bills should be authorized
by law, and fourth, that it was not in
continuation of work authorized by law.
This opened a long parliamentary de-
bate upon the points Of order. Hepburn
took the floor, arguing that the amend
ment was germane and that it violated
no rule. He commended that the two
| surveys made Under the direction OF
| Congress construCtiYely. 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 (R.) of Michigan de-
clared that the Dickinson treaty of 1867
warranted an appropriation for the
| construction of the canal as much as
the treaty Ct Paris warranted the ap-
preparation of S20,OOOiO00 carried IN this
+ bill.
In concluding his argument Hepburn
declared that the rule invoked against
his bill was obsolete so far as the Ap-
propriatfons Committee was concerned.
There were thirteen distinct violations
of it in the pending bill. It was In
voked only when the Appropriations
Committee desired to stand of some
fancied raid upon the treasury. There
was a round. of applause when Hepburn
took his seat.
Cannon, in reply, said that he would
not consider the wisdom of building the
canal 1t was the law which should be
considered; and there was not micro
scope in the universe big enough TO md
a shred of law upon which to base this
appropriation Personally, he an
nounced himself in favor Of the con- =
struction of the canal. .-..:-.ss +
Bailey suggested that If there We're a
question as to whether the amendment
were in order upon the bill the House +
should agree by unanimous consent to
make the canal bill a special order i'm
mediately after the disposal of the sum
dry civil bill.
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 a
rider upon a supply bill that must pass,
he declared, led to bad and sometimes
fraudulent legislation-often both. Can
non was exceedingly earnest and vigor-
Gus in his appeal to members not to be
carried off their feet. Impressively he
recalled the scandals in connection with
the building of the Pacific railroads
and pleaded with the House not to dis
honor itself by crushing down a rule
guard to legislation. There were some
things that could not be done with inn
punity.
There were several interesting coll
loquies between Cannon and Hepburn
as they fenced for advantage. With
out concluding the debate upon the
point of order the committee arose.
The army appropriation bill was re-
ported by Hull, who gave notice that
he would call it UP at the earliest OPP
portunity..
At 515 p. m. the House adjourned