The record-union., 1899-01-21
Payne Of New York Appointed Sue
esssor to Dingley.
Named BY Speaker Reed for Chairman Of
Ways and Means Committee.

Ohio and Lewis Of Washington
During Discussion of the Bill to
Reimburse Cramp & Sons for
Damages for Failure to Deliver
Armor Plate ON Time.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2O-The pro-
ceedings in the House were ennveneo
to-day in a wordy debate between
Grosvenor of Ohio and Lewis, the pic
turesoue member from Washington.
During the discussion on private Dill
to refer to the Court of Claims the
claim of Cramp & Sons, the Philaoei-
phia shipbuilders, for damages from
the Government for delays incident 10
the building of the warships New YORK.
Massachusetts, Indiana and Columbia
due to the failure of the Government 10
deliver armor plate and other materials
for these ships on time, Lewis got the
floor. Lewis made the bill the text Tor
q general attack on army and navy
contractors. whom he charged with pc
ing traitors for taking advantage OF the
necessities of the Government in time
of stress.
Simpson. the Kansas Populist, fol-
lowed along the same lines, and Gros-
venor undertook to rebuke them both
Lewis. In his reply, made one of the
wittiest speeches, ridiculing the Ohioan
for his alleged pretensions, that mas
been heard in the House for months.
Grosvenor did not deign to make an ex-
tensive reply, though he displayed a lot
of documents and intimated that ne
had plenty of reserve ammunition IN
store for Lewis.
The Cramp bill was edged out OF the
way after the flow of oratory ceased
Earlier in the day the Postoffice ap-
preparation bill was passed, and just
before the recess in the afternoon
Speaker Reed put an end to the spec
ulation regarding the Chairmanshlp or
the Ways and Means Committee by ap-
pointing Payne (R) of New York 10
the vacancy caused by the death OF
Dineley. This carries with it the floor
leadership of the majority. At the
same time he filled the vacancies in the
minority representation on Ways and
Means and Rules caused by the retire.
ment of Mcmillan, by appointing Rich
afdson OF Tennessee to both places.
Crumpacker Of Indiana was appointed
on Census
An arrangement was made for the
consideration of the army reorganlza-
ton bill, beginning next Tuesday. Fiji
teen hours are to be allowed for general
debate. exclusive of night sessions
Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday.
A night session was held tonight for
pension legislation, and the House then
adjourned over until Monday.
When the House met to-day the
pending question was on the motion
of Swanson to recommit the Postofhce
appropriation bill, with instructions to
strike from the paragraph appropriate
ing 100000 for mail facilities in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippine Islands,
the words newly acquired territory.
The Democrats opposed this Ian
guage.
To avoid roll-call, which had been
ordered. Loud, in charge of the bill.
asked unanimous consent that the
words be stricken out, as they were
unnecessary.
There was no objection, and the bill
was passed. A small urgent deficiency
bill carrying an appropriation of $31,-
600 was passed without objection.
Hull Chairman of the Military At
fairs Committee, asked unanimous con-
sent that the army reorganization bill
be taken up next Tuesday, with pro-
vision for fifteen hours general debate
Bailey said he was willing to agree.
II some additional time was allowed for
general debate by holding night ses-
sions.
Hull modified his request to include
provisions for night sessions Tuesday,
wednesday and Thursday, and. as
modified, it was agreed to.
A, bill was passed authorizing the
construction of bridge across the Mis-
souri, River at Oacoma, S. D.
On motion of Perine of South Caro-
lima. the House agreed to adjourn over
until Monday.
The House then began consideration
of the private calendar.
The first bill considered was for the
relief of William Cramp & Sons of Phil
adelphia. 1t referred to the Court OF
Claims the claims of this company for
damages and the losses alleged to be
due for delay caused by the Govern
ment in the supply Of armor and other
material.
The history of the claim was lhor-
oughly exhausted during the debate
which Lewis CD of Washington eniiv-
ened by making the bill the text LOT
an attack on the general methods OF
Government contractors. During the
war with Spain, when the country was
confronted with an enemy from wltn-
out. traitors. he. said, threatened IT from
within. These contractors, who snoulo
have upheld the Government in its nour
of peril, he declared, declined 10 plo
against each other. In some cases tney
had furnished rotten and oecayeo
food which had been prepared for the
Chinese-Japanese war" 1t was putrid
and corrupt, but was sent to our sol.
dters at the front, and they per1sneo
from it and from the plague Inese
men had earned the ignominy, the re-
nroach and contempt of Congress. II
he were Attorney General he should ar
raien before the grand juries OF ms
conntrv those who had furnished
poisoned food to the army, those VINO
had sold armor plate to the enemy and
those who had sold coal for the use OF
fhe enemy's fleets, and he would con-
vict them OF treason and have them
.hot as Napoleon did, or have them I'M
prisoned, as Grant did.
aimpson (P.) OF Kansas remarked
mon the peculiarity which always re-