The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-10

construction. OF the Nicaragua canal.
He favored the regeneration of the
merchant marine (republican applause)
and the construction of the Nicaragua
canal Republican applause).
But" he added, with great empha
sis, Il am not willing to enter upon
either of these great enterprises until
we have given them full and proper
consideration, and we have provided the
revenue to meet these expenditures. /
insist that these shall go hand in hand
with legislation for these projects the
legislation necessary to provide the
revenues to meet their cost"
Does the gentleman mean" inter-
rupted Mr.. Carmack, dem, Tenn, that
owing to the responsibility we have
assumed abroad, we must spend less
money at home?'
Mr.. Cannon replied that nothing he
had said could be distorted into such
a statement. But he gave it as his
opinion that the United States would
never again spend less than was spent
in the year prior to the war with Spain.
He did not stand in his place seeking
to cripple an efficient public service
for great and growing population. but
he was opposed to entering upon new
lines of expenditure until there had
been full consideration and real debate
and not then unless there was already
on the statute books revenue legisla-
tion to meet the expenditures.
Mr.. Cannon proceeded to point that
all the time for the three remaining
weeks of the session would be occu-
pied and there would be no time to
give these measures the intelligent and
proper consideration they should have.
The whole house was aroused by the
sta atement.
Mr.. Grosvenor, rep. O., wanted to
know whether Mr.. Cannon assumed
that one of the great committee of the
house the interstate and foreign COM
merce committee) had been idle or de-
relict in it's duty. 1t was prepared to
enlighten the house on the subject of
the canal.
Mr.. Cannon insisted that nothing he
had said reflected upon the committee
But it was simply an organization of
the house He was not charging it
with derelction, but if it could multi
ply itself tenfold in strength and wis
dom there was no time in the next
three weeks to place itself in touch
with the measure so that the house
could intelligently determine the legis-
lation necessary for the inauguration
of that great work.
Mr.. Hepburn, chairman of the COM
mittee on interstate and foreign COM
merce, asked Mr.. Cannon to be more
explicit. Coming from him, a state
ment meant a great deal He demand
ed to know whether Mr.. Cannon was
to be understood as saying that no op-
portunity was to be given for the con-
sideration of the Nicaragua canal
bill.
Mr.. Cannon disclaimed any purpose
of speaking fer any but himself
Il am one member said he, Il speak
only for myself. I voice only my own
opinion ! do not reflect the sentiment
of others, but / do say candidly upon
my own responsibility, that ii is abso-
Jtn1H tt,,na no
for us to intelligently consider either of
these bills.'' 81
At the same time Mr. Cannon pro-
fessed his friendship for the canal pro-
ject and aroused enthusiasm as he
spoke of the future time when the
United States would construct the
canal upon a zone of territory owned
by the United States from the center
of the earth to the sky above.
William Alden Smith, rep, Mich,
with some display of heat insisted that
the canal should be constructed even if
posterity had to be mortgaged to do so.
But Mr. Cannon renlied that he could
not be swept off his feet. Immature,
ill-considered legislation now, he de-
clared, might embarrass the great work
in the future. rather than advance it.
Mr. Smith protested against fore
closure of opportunity to act upon the
bill, but Mr.. Cannon reiterated his
statement DIS 10 lHe lHlpOSSlDlllty OIL
doing it justice in the time remain
ing.
Il favor the construction of the ca
nal" said Mr. Smith, "even if we have
to issue bonds and mortgage the fu-
ture."
1T is we'll enough to talk glittering
generalites in an after dinner speech
retorted Mr. Cannon, but when we en-
ter upon practical legislation we must
dot our is and cross our t's. The canal
bill cannot properly be considered dur
ing the next three weeks. When you
or anybody else can tell me what the
cost of this enterprise will be- said
he. turning angrily to Mr. Smith. land
tell ME when we can get title to the
territory and arrange the means to pay
for the canal, I will join hands with
you"
an view if the deficiencies in the
revenue which the gentleman has
pointed OUT interposed Mr.. Lewis,
dem, Wash, docs he anticipate an
early issue of bonds?"
1--WE can support the navy, army and
perform our duties here and in our out
lying possessions of the present reve
nues this year and next" replied Mr..
Cannon frankly; but if we are to ac-
complish that we must see to it that no
great appropriations go through in the
immediate future. If you take on great
bonds" ,---
"Can there be reduction in the war
taxes?" asked Mr.. Sims, DEM, Tenn.
mot during the next two years"
I'm your estimate. have you included
any revenue from Porto Rico or the
Philippines" asked Mr.. Docl1ery.
II have not
You insist only that there shall be
full and complete consideration before
there shall be legislation on either the
project or the merchant marine?"
Precisely"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Cannon's re-
marks, Mr.. McRae. DEM, Ark, and Mr..
Miers. DEM, Ind. spoke earnestly in ia
vor of the immediate necessity for re-
trenchment, and Mr.. Talbert dem, S.
G.. in opposition to the ship subsidy
bill Then at o'clock the committee
rose and the house adjourned.
IN THE SENATE.
s1s.