The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-17
A DECIDED SENSATION
STRICKEN OUT OF SUNDRY
CIVIL BILL ON POINT
OF ORDER.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL .8lLL CONES UP
Mr.. Hepburn Moved TO Recommit the Sundry
Civil Bill With lnstruc ions to Report
It B;ck With the Canal Bill
Incorporated in it.

Washington. Feb. 16-Two very sen
sational and unexpected things happen
ed in the House to-day curing the con-
sideration of the Sundry Civil B II. The
paragraph carrying the appropriation of
$20,000,000 for payment TO Spain under
the terms of the peace treaty was strick-
en- out upon a point Of order made by
Mr. Wheeler, Dem.. Ky.), who declared
that he opposed the appropriation on
principle and would resort to any
.technicality to defeat it. The point Of
order was debated for hours. its deter
minating hinging upon the question of
whether the ratification of the treaty by
the Senate and its signing by the PresI-
dent vitalized it without the action Of
the Spanish Cortes. Warrant OF law
was necessary to make the arDropria-
ton in order. Mr.. Hopkins, Rep, I'D,
who was i'll the chair, sustained the
point of order gainst it and upon an APP
peal his decision was sustained, l49 20
56.
Mr.. Bartlett, (Dem,. Ga.l, speaking to
a pro forma amendment, challenged
some statements rs.-Antly made by Sec
retaly of the Treasury Gage 10 the eff
feet that the fear of the administration
of the Philippines costing enormous sums
of money was all 'mOonshine," aEd
that the receipts would at all times cN-
ceed the expenditures.
Mr.. Bartlett declared thai the greatest
revenue Spain had ever been able to
obtain from the Philippines under the
heaviest system of taxation was S12,G00,
600 We now had 10000 soldiers in
those islands. Within a short time there
would he $4,000. This army of soldiers
would cost at least o$2J, 100000 so that
if we were able to exact as much tribute
as Spain we would still be losers by the
holding of the islands to the extent of
S13000,O00 per annum. Mr. Bartlett
also attempted to show that in s nut Of
10 cases from the British goverl nent
gave more than it obtained.
Mr.. Cannon then attemuted to have
the appropriation inserted by unanimous
consent, but Mr.. Wheeler again OBJ
jected.
a strong intimation was given by Mr..
Cannon that a way would he found
within the rules to make the appropria-
tion before the adjournment of Congress.
He referred undoubtedly TO the proba
bility that the appropriation would be
placed on the bill by the Senate.
After the Sundry Civil Bill had been
completed and referred to the House.
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa. the champion of
the Nicaragua Canal Bill. moved to re-
commit it with instructions to report it
back with the canal bill Incorporated in
it. This was an unexpected move as it
was generally understood that Mr.. Hep
burn had abandoned all hope after his
defeat yesterday. But he believed that
his action would have additional strength
in the House where members could be
put upon record The motion was
promptly declared out of order by the
Speaker, whereupon Mr.. Hepburn ap-
pealed. and Mr.. Payne. of New York
moved TO lay the appeal on the table.
Upon the latter motion. the vote was
taken and the result was 81 ayes to 67
noes. AS no quorum was developed on
the vote, owing to the lateness of the
hour, they managed to carry an adjourn
ment until tomorrow.
This gives them 2 breathing SPELL in
which to marshal their forces for the
final encounter. and tomorrow as soon
as the House meets the vote will again
be taken.
At 6:1O D. m. the House adjourned