The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-21
WON'T DECLARE PURPOSE
BILL TO PAY 100000 TO SPAIN
PASSED.
TWAS SUSPENSION DAY IN THE HOUSE
Some Minor Business Was Transacted by I'm
animous Consent. The Post Offices
Appropriation Bill Feature
in the Senate.

Washington, ID. c., Feb. 20.-lThis was
suspension day in the House. Some
minor business was transacted by
unanimous consent
The Senate amendments to number
of private pension bills were adopted.
Mr.. Grow rep. Pa, asked unanimous
consent for the consideration of a bill
to pay the heirs Of Samuel Tewksbury,
of Scranton, Pa, $5,697 for war
claim and when consent was refused
the Speaker recognized him to move
its passage, under suspension of the
rules. Mr.. Maddox dem. Ga.), opposed
the bill on the ground that it was an
unjust discrimination against similar
class of claims in the House. The bill
was defeated 12S to Il, two-thirds not
having voted in the affirmative.
MIR. Loud (Rep. Ga.l, moved the pas
sage under suspension of the rules of
the Senate bill to extend the uses of
the mail service. The bill is to legalize
the use of the return envelope and pos
tai cards ofs the United States economic
postage association. This bill was also
defeated, 125 to 81, two-thirds having
again failed to vote to suspend the
rules.
Thursday was set aside for the consid-
Grafton of District of Columbia business
subject to appropriation bills and the
contested election case of Brown VS..
Swanson which Mr.. Crumpacker, Qnd.),
gave notice he would again call up ON
that day.
Mr.. Mahon (Rep. Pa.), moved the pas
sage under suspension of the Senate bill
to reimburse Governors of States for
expenses incurred by them in the or
ganization of volunteers for service in
the war with Spain.
Mr.. Mahon said there Were claims
from the various States for this work
aggregating over S3,000,000. Under the
existing law only $4,000 of these
claims had been liquidated. The passage
of this act was necessary for the set
Element of the remainder. The House
: amendment, he said, would compel the
Governors of the States to produce
vouchers and the reimbursement would
be made through the Governments ac-
counting officers.
Mr.. Cooper Dem. Tey.), urged that
the bill should be amended so as to
provide for the payment of expenses
incurred or paid pointing out that in
some cases there existed no State au-
thority for the payment of such ex-
penses and as a matter of fact these
expenses had not been liquidated IMAM
imous consent was refused for the
adoption of this amendment and Mr..
Cooper expressed the hope that the CON
ferees on the bill would see that it was
Incorporated.
The bill was passed 155 70 10.
Mr.. Cannon, Chairman of the Appro-
priation Committee. was then recognized
and by the direction of his committee.
moved the passage under suspension
of the rules of the bill for the payment
of $2O,0OO.OO0 to Spain.
Mr.. Dockery tDem. MOI asked imam
imous consent to offer an amendment
declaratory of the policy of the United
States relative to the Philippines
Regular order" regular order"
shouted dozen members on the Repib-
lican side.
"By direction of the appropriations
committee" said Mr.. Cannon. II am
directed to decline to accept that amend
ment. Il could not if would. and
would not if could"
Mr.. Wheeler dem. KY, demanded a
second, which was ordered, 151 to II.
This permitted twenty minutes for
debate on each side Mr. Canon called
attention to the fact that few DAYS
ago when the appropriation was stricken
from the Sundry Civil Bill he had pre-
dicted that way would be found with
in the rules to pass it. In his opinion
nine-temths of the members of the
House favored it.
MIR. Dockery again asked unanimous
consent for the consideration of his
amendment which he said, was a combi
nation Of the McEnery and Bacon reso-
buttons. Again Mr.. Cannon objected.
Mr.. Clayton De1n. Ala.), said he did
not think the President and the peace
commissioners had been wise in insisting
upon the cession of the Philippines, but
since the treaty was concluded he had
believed there was but one thing to
do-to ratify the treaty. Republican
applause).
Mr.. Wheeler Dem. KY, upon whose
objection the appropriation went out of
the Sundry Civil Bill, declared he would
vote against it with great pleasure. He
was opposed to it because he believed it
wrong in principle and infamous in exc
cution. He was not afraid of giving
OnenSe 10 some eHete anu decaylnS
monarchy of the Old World. He de-
clared that the Administration was a
soldier of fortune. 1t lacked the nerve
and pluck to declare its purpose. Micaw-
Der like it was waiting for something
to turn up. The war begun for humanity
had degenerated into war of bloody
determination, that would disgrace the
pages of history. Mr.. Wheeler criti-
cised the methods of the Appropriations
Committee and in conclusion declared he
world stand by what he believed to be
right.
Mr.. Cannon concluded the depa:e with
q brief speech emphasizing the idleness
of a declaration of policy at this time
when our troops were fighting to pre-
serve order. When the authority of the
United States was acknowledged then
with due regard to our own self-respect
hay;ro IN mind orr own hest interests