The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-11
Debate on the Sandry Civil ApprOpFia-
ton Bill Begins.
UNDERWOOD ARRAI6Ns CONGRESS
Declares That History Will Show That
1t Has Broken It's Pledges to the
People Denounces
Imperialistic Policy.


| Speakers during the day touched variety
| of topics but as a rule the debate lacked
| spirit.
Mr.. Dockery (dem.) of Missouri, con-
graduated the country upon the statement
made by Mr. Cannon yesterday. Had it
been made earlier he said the country
might have been saved many millions of
dollars. Mr.. Dockery produced figures to
show that there was already in sight a
deficiency of $67,o00,0OO for the next fiscal
| year. But this was exclusive of the addi-
| tional expenditures of $3.50 900 involved in
the naval personnel bill, the new ships to
be authorized in the naval appropriation
bill, the Cuban claims, the $11 600, 600 for
public buildings and the enormous expendi-
ture involved in the Hanna-Payne subsidy
bill, should either of these latter bills be
passed.
Revealed and Rioted
After the civil war, he said, congress had
revelled and rioted in the substance of the
people, but the Forty fourth congress had
come. Another Forty-fourth congress had
come, not by that name, however. 1t
might be the Fifty-seventh, it might not
be until the Fifty-eghth but one would
come animated by the spirit that controlled
the Forty-fourth and it would cut down
the tax burdens of the people.
Mr.. Johnson (rep) of Indiana, asked how
the expenditures could be reduced under
the foreign policy entered upon by the adj
ministration.
Mr.. Doekery replied that circumstances
would probably necessitate large increases
in the cost of our military and naval es-
adjustments, but he did believe there could
hn
penditures.
You mean, then," interposed Mr.. john
son, THAT we must cut down the expenses
for our internal affairs at home in order
that we may be able to support a great
army and navy abroad?'
Il am not sure but the gentleman is about
right" replied Mr.. Dockery. Somewhere
the pruning knife must be laid else the
tax burdens of the people must be in
creased"
The People WIN Pay
Mr.. DeArmond (dem.) of Missouri agreed
that If the people were to be made to bear
additional tax burdens an income tax 5u!d
be imposed.
Turning to the question of the future, Mr..
DeArmond declared that all history proved
that when republics turned toward impe-
rialism it was only a question of time when
the end came. There was no goal. We were
travelling a new road. All our grand hertz
age was to be abandoned. Should we not
pause before we made the plunge?
In conclusion, he appealed to the mem
bers to break their shackles, rise in their
dignity and assert themselves in favor of
America, in favor of free government at
home and opposed to oppression the world
over. If congress expired without acting
and matters were allowed to drift on, the
die would be cast. Our pride, our vanity
would be appealed to- There would be pro-
tests against parting with the Philippines.
They were ours, it would be argued be-
cause we had shed our blood for them.
Mr.. Hepburn (rep.) of Iowa, chairman OF
the committe on interstate and foreign COM
merce, at this point created something of
a sensation by giving notice that at the
proper time he would offer the Nicaragua
canal bill as an amendment to the sundry
civil bill.
Would be In Order
The announcement was greeted with ap-
plause by the friends of the measure. He
had been moved to take this course, he de-
clared by the statement of Mr.. Cannon yes
terday that the bill would not be considered
at this session. Mr.. Hepburn argued that
the amendment would be in order and could
be properly placed upon the bill.
Mr.. Underwood (dem., of Ala.), under the
latitude allowed for debate reviewed the
record of the present congress to show
that it had betrayed it's pledges to the peo-
pie.
Mr. Lentz dem, of o. concluded the de-
bate for the day with denunciation of the
president for committing the sentence f
Commissary General Eagan. He declared
that General Eagan's attack upon General
Miles had no parallel in military history.
He had called General Miles a liar for sim
ply telling the truth to which $4,000 private
soldiers could testify. The troops had been
fed rotten beef, said Mr.. Lentz, and yet
General Eagan was to be suspended with
pay for six years and then retired upon
three-fourths pay because he had de-
nounced the truth as lie. He was to be
rewarded for attacking General Miles. With
his pay during his suspension and calculat-
ing the length of his life according to
recognized mortality tables, General Eagan
would draw SIS 900 from the treasury after
he had been convicted by courtmartial of
a most heinous offense against military dis
cipline.
More Pension Legislation
The committee then rose and the house
took recess until o'clock, the evening
session to be devoted to pension legislation.
Representative Hepburn's notice in the
house that the Nicaragua canal bill would
be offered as an amendment to the sundry
civil bill resulted from numerous confer
ences held today. Early in the day Chair
man Burton, of the river and harbor COM
mittee, conferred with Senator Morgan
with a view to having him leave the river
and harbor bill unencumbered. Mr.. Nor
gan Is understood to have assented not to
embarrass the river and harbor bill. This
in turn lead to the consideration of the civil
sundry bill as the medium for advancing
the Nicaragua canal bill. As result Mr..
Hepburn gave the formal notice. The
amendment ne proposes In the Hepburn bill
was given in full in these dispatches last
week. 1t appropriates $11b. 600 for canal
construction and authorizes the president
to negotiate with Nicaragua and Costa
Rica for the route.
THE SENATE
Washington, February 10.-During the en-
tire open session today the senate had un-