The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-21
Mr.. PAYNE MADE CHAIRMAN
DingIey's Successor as Floor Leader
Of Republicans.
SPEAKER REED FILLS VACANCIES
ON WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

wordy Duel Between MIR. Grosvenor
and MIR. Lewis of acknowledgement
| Lively sparrins ola spicy Natures
Army Reorganization Bill Comes Up
Tuesday.
Washington, January 20. The proceed
| ings In the House were enlivened today
by wordy duel between Mr.. Grosvenor
OF Ohio and Mr.. Lewis, the picturesque
member from Washington. During the
debate on a private bill, to refer to the
court of claims ths claim of Cramp "
Sons. the Philadelphia shipbuilders for
| damages, from the government for delays
incident to the building of the warshlps
New York. Massachusetts, Indiana and
| Columbia. duo to the failure Of the gov
eminent to deliver armor plate and other
materials for this these ships on time Mr.
Lewis got the floor. The claims .aggre-
gated about 100000 and the bill had
encountered good deal of opposition.
Mr. Lewis made IL the text for general
attack ON army and navy contractors
when he charged with bong traintors
for taking advantage of the necessities Of
the government in time of stress. Mr..
simpson, the Kansas Populist, followed
along the same lines and MIR. Grosvenor
undertook to rebuke them both Mr..
Lewis in reply made very witty speech
ridiculing the Ohioan for his alleged pre-
tensions. Mr.. Grosvenor did not make
an extensive rejoinder though he dis
played lot of documents and intimated
that he had plenty OF reserve ammunition
in store for Mr.. Lewis The Cramp bill
was edged out of the way after the flow of
oratory ceased. Earlier in the day, the
post office appropriation bill was finally
passed aud just before recess in the after
noon, Speaker Reed put an end to the
speculation regarding the Craftsmanship
of the ways and means committee by ap.
pointing Mr. Payne, Republican of New
York, to the vacancy caused by the death
of Mr.. Dingley. This carries with 1t the
floor leadership of the majority. AT the
same time he filed the vacancies in the
minority representation on ways and
ment OF Mr.. Mcmillan by appointing Mr..
Richardson ofsTennessee to both places.
Mr. Crumpaoker of Indiana was appointed
on census An arrangement was mada
for the consideration of the army reor-
ganization bill beginning next Tuesday.
Fifteen hours are TO be allowed for gen
eral debate exclusive of night sessions.
Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday
nights A night session was held tonight
for pension legislation ana the House
then adjourned until Monday.
Washington, January 20 When the
House met today the pending question
was on the motion of MIR. swansea to
recommit the post Office appropriation
hill with instructions to strike from the
paragraph appropriatine s3oo; 0ou Tor maii
facilities In Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippine islands the words, newly &c
quired territory.
The Demo Gratis opposed this language.
To avoid roll call which had been or
iered. MIR. Lord in charge of the bill
asked unanimous consent that the words
be stricken out rs they were unnecessary.
There was no objection. The order for IA
roll call was revoked and the bill passed.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the appropri.
ations committee presented smsll
urgent deficiency bill carrying s5l 200 and
1t was passed without objection.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the military
affairs COMMITTEES asked unanimous con-
sent that the army reorganization bill be
taken up next Tuesday with provision
for fifteen hours general debate.
Mr.. Bailey said he realized that this
bill was To be considered and he was will
ing TO agree If some time were allowed
for general debate by holding night SEES
siona
Mr.. Hull modified his request to in
olude provision Tor night sessions Tues
day, Wednesday and Thursday and as
modified IL was agreed to.
MIR. Marsh Republican of Illinois, re-
ported the military academy approprla-
ton bill A bill TO grant an honorable
discharge for Owen Prentice, Lieutenant
of the Seth New York Volunteers, who
was dismissed from the army for playing
cards with enlisted men, drew from MIR.
Ralley some caustic comment on the
army regulations, which made IL a crime
for officers to play cards with enlisted
men and IA pastiine with brother officers
The bill WAS passed.
The House then proceeded to the con.
sideration OF the private calendar. The
first bill considered was for the relief o
William Cramp a SONS OF Philadelphia,
it refers to the court of claims OF this
company for damages and losses alleged
10 be due for delays caused by the govern
ment in the supply of arnior and other
material. The claims Jag gregate vi Olo
in the case of the cruiser New YORK,
Sl9l. .33 in the case of the Columbia >4s@,
757 in the case of the battleship Mnssaohu-
sets, and S4e0,.3l in the case OF the
Indiana The history of the claim was