Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-15
IN THE HOUSE.
Friends Of Nicaragua Canal Want Il Included
in Civil Sundry Bill.

Washington, Feb. 1.-THE Nicara-
House, this afternoon. as an amend
ment to the sundry civil appropriation
bill. by Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa. chair
man of the committee that reported it.
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
appropriations. served notice. last
week. that there was no time for dis
cussion of the canal bill al this session.
the supporters OF the measure deter
mined if possible to force it onto the
sundry civil as a rider.
AS soon as it was offered. today. Mr..
Canon made four points of order
against it and one of the most inter-
esting parliamentary contests of the
session was on. AS a 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
pertinency of the amendment. and. be-
sides, the bill has strong friends on
both sides of the chamber who are
seemingly ready to adopt any expedi
ent to provide for the construction of
the canal
The debate on the point of order last
ed two hours and was not concluded.
1t promises to consume several hours.
tomorrow. 1t seems to be a foregone
conclusion that the chairman of the
committee. Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois,
will sustain the points of orders, that
fhp
ton of overruling the Chair Should
the Chair be overruled there is no
doubt that the amendment will COM
mand majority of votes.
About 20 pages of the bill were dis
posed Of today. No important amend
ments were adopted.
About 100 members of the Uous,
were i'm their places whcn the HOUSE
met. Speaker Reed was present ant
called the House to order. A bill wa.
passed awarding ii life saving medal I,
Michael 7. Barry of New York CITY
for several heroic rcscues between 1873
and 1897.
At l o'clock the House went int.
committee of the whole and resume,
the consideration of the sundry civi
appropriation bill
Wheeler, Dem. Ky, in the course O
some remark in opposition to expan
sion. served notice that he proposed /
vote against the $20,00O,000 appropria
ton to be paid to Spain.
Bailey, Dem. Tex, reminded Whcele
that the President and Senate consti
tuted the treaty-making power and tn
House must acquiesce in their actor
Wheeler declared that treaty-makin
power had no right to bind the House
He declared that the Judgment of his
tory would reproach us for slaughter
ing the Filipinos.
williams. DEM, Miss. argued tina
the House had no right TO question
treaty made or to repudiate treat
obligations.
Lewis. Dem, Wash, furnished a
interesting contribution to the histor
cal phase of the subject by recallin
the fact that Spain agreed to pay Eng
land $10.00O,000 after the Philippine
had been taken by the English in 1872
But Spain had never paid and Lor
Waltham had denounced her course i
the Commons. Spain was the onl
country on the globe which had repud
ated her treaty obligations.
McRae. DEM, Ark. gave notice thu
he would offer an amendment to II
appropriation of $50 100000 declaring
to be the policy of the government n.
to annex the Philippines.
Carliss. Rep. Mich. offered as a
amendment his bill for the constru
ton of Pacific cable by the COVER,
ment. A point of order was rails,
against 1t. Corliss called attention
the extreme urgency for direct cab
communication with Hawaii and II
Philippines and the Presidents specl
message the other DAY usging INN
diate legislation for this purpose. II
chair sustained the point o. order al
the amendment was ruled out.
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