The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-15

the house had no right to question treaty
made or to repudiate treaty obligations.
| Mr.. McRae (Dem., Ark.) gave notice
that he would offer an amendment TO the
appropriation OF s20,000.000 declaring 1t TO
be the policy OF the government not to an
mex the Philippines
| Mr.. Corliss (Rep., Mlch.) offered as an
amendment his bill for the construction of
| n Pacific cable by the government He
called attention to the extreme urgency
| for direct cable communication with Ha-
wall and the Philippines and to the presl-
| dents special message the other day urging
| immediate legislation for this purpose A
point of order was made against the
amendment, which the chair sustained. and
| the amendment was ruled out.
Upon reaching the page containing the
caption deep waterways commissions.
-epburn (Rep., Iowa., chairman OF
the interstate commerce committee, Of
fered as an amendment the Nicaragua
canal bill reported by his committee.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman OF the appropria-
tons committee, Immediately raised four
distinct points OF order against it-nrst
that u was not germane second, that j.
was directly obnoxious to rule Fl; third,
that II violated the rule requiring that APP
preparations in general appropriation bulls
should be authorized by law, and fourth.
that il was not y continuation of work
authorized by law This opened UP long
parliamentary debate upon the point of
order
Mr.. Hepburn argued that the amendment
was germane and that II violated no rule
He contended that the two surveys made
under the direction OF congress constrlc-
lively 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. The
rule, he said, invoked against this amend
ment was obsolete SO far ms the appropra-
ticns committee was concerned. There
We're thirteen distinct violations of it In
the pending bill II was only invoked when
the appropriations committee desired 10
stand on some fancied raid upon the treas
ury. applause.
Mr.. Cannon, In reply, said that he would
not consider the wisdom of the canal. II
was the law which should be considered
and there was not a microscope big enough
to find shred OF law upon which to base
this appropriation. He announced himself
in favor OF the construction OF the canal
under proper safeguards.
Mr.. Bailey suggested that II therc'was
question as TO whether the amendment was
In order upon the bill that the house agree
by unanimous consent 10 make the canal
bill a special order Immediately after
the disposal of the sundry civil bill
Mr.. Cannon pointed out in response how
q majority of the house. II so disposed
could tomorrow go into committee OF the
whole and consider the canal bill on It's
merits.
The attempt TO get a rider upon supply
bill that must pass, he declared. led TO
bad and sometimes fraudulent legislation,
often both.
Mr., Cannon was exceedingly earnest and
vigorous In his appeal to members not to
be carried OFF their feet. ImprcsBivrly he
recalled The scandals In connection with
The building OF the Pacific railroads and
pleaded with the house not 10 dshonor H.
self by crushing down a rule thst had stood |
There We're some things tina, could net b |
done With impunity.
Without concluding the debate upon The |
point 81 order the committee rose The |
army appropriation bill was discussed by |
Mr.. HUI, who gave notice that he would |
rail- IL M NJ tho earliest opportunity
AZ 5il5 the house adjourned.