The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-21
LEWIS RAISED 4 LAUGH
He Ridiculed Grosvenor in a
Witty Speech.
ATTACK ON CONTRACTORS
Soldiers Fed on Meat Prepared for the
Chinese Japanese War - Blue,
Putrid and Corrupt-Payne
Floor Leader.

wordy debate between Mr.. Grosvenor
of Ohio and Mr.. Lewis, the picturesque
member from Washington. During the
| discussion on private bill to refer to
the court of claims the claim of Cramp
& Sons, the Philadelphia shpbuilders.
for damages from the government for
delays incident to the building of the
| warships New York, Massa chusetts.
Indiana. and Columbia, due to the fail
ure of the government to deliver ar
NOR plate and other materials for these
ships on time. Mr.. Lewis got the floor
Mr.. Lewis made the bill text for
general attack on army and navy con-
tractors, whom he charged with being
traitors for taking advantage of the
necessities of the government in time
of stress. Mr.. Simpson, the Kansas
populist, followed along the same lines,
and Mr. Grosvenor undertook to rebuke
them both. Mr.. Lewis. in his reply,
made one of the wittiest speeches, rid
iculing the Ohioan for his alleged pre-
tensions, that has been heard in the
house for months. Mr.. Grosvenor did
not deign to make an extensive reioin-
der, though he displayed a lot of docu-
ments 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 postoffice appro-
priation bill was finally passed, and just
before the recess in the afternoon,
Speaker Reed put an end to the spec
| ulation regarding the Craftsmanship of
the ways and means committee by APP
pointing Mr.. Payne, rep, N. Y, to the
vacancy caused by the death of Mr.
Dingley. This carries with it the floor
leadership of the majority. AT the same
| time he filled the vacancies in the mi
nority representation on ways and
means and rules caused by the retire
ment of Mr.. McMillin by appointing
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee to both
places. Mr.. Crumpacker of Indiana
was appointed on census. An arrange
ment was made for the consideration
of the army reorganization bill, begin
ming next Tuesday. Fifteen hours are
to be allowed for general debate. ex-
elusive of night sessions Tuesday We'd,
nesday and Thursday nights. A night
session was held tonight for pension
legislation and the house then adjourn
ed over until Monday.
The house passed the postoffice ap-
preparation bill.
A small urgent deficiency bill. carry
ing an appropriation of $3l 600, passed
without objection.
1t was agreed to take up the army re-
organization. next Tuesday with pro-,
vision for Is hours general debate anT
night sessions Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday.
The house agreed to adjourn over
Monday, consideration of the private
calendar then to begin.
Contractors Were Traitors.
The first bill considered was for the
relief of William Cramp & Sons cf
Philadelphia. 1t referred to the court
of claims the claims of this company
for damages and the losses alleged to
be due for delay caused by the govern
ment in the supply of armor and other
material. The history of the claim was
thoroughly exhausted during the de-
bate, which Mr. Lewis, DEM, Wash,
enlivened by making the bill the text
for a general attack of the methods of
government contractors. During the
war with Spain, when the country was
confronted with an enemy from with
out, traitors, he said, threatened it from
within. These contractors, who should
have upheld the government in the hour
OF its peril, he declared, declined to
bid against each other. In some cases
they had furnished. he said, rotten and
decayed food which had been prepared
for the Chinese Japanese war" 1t was
mussed and blue, putrid and corrupt,
but was sent to our soldiers at the
front, and they perished from it and,
from the plague. These men had earn
ed the ignominy, reproach and con-
tempt of congress If he We're attorney
general he should arraign before the
grand JurieS of this country those who
had furnished poisoned food to the
army. those who had sold armor pld tie
to the enemy and those who had sold
coal for the use of the enemy's fleets
and he would convict them of treason
and have them shot as Napoleon did,
or have them imprisoned as Grant did
Mr. Simpson, pop, Kan, remarked
upon the popularity which always Sc
cured hearing for large claims in the
house bill and which always kept the
modest, but often meritorious, claims
in the background. This was especially
true, he said, of those bills to reimburse
Dig contractors. The report on the
pending bill, he said, argued that Cramp
& Sons should be reimbursed because
OF the great efficiency of these ships, as
demonstrated by their service during
the late war. Was it claimed that these
ships took part in the sinking of Ger
vera S ships? he asked. What part had,
the New York played at the battley of
santiago? She was not in it. She neSvr
caught up. Laughter) Then there
We're the Columbia and the Massachu-
sets. neither of which was there. The
only ship which had cut any figure Al
the destruction of the Spanish fleet be-
sides the Brooklyn and the Texas was
the Oregon. The builders of that mag
niticent ship We're not here asking for
bonuses. said Mr.. Simpson.
Mr. Bingham, rep, Pa, called the at
tention of the gentleman from Kansas
to the effect that the Union Iron works
had claim pending.
Elected by Corporations.
In conclusion, Mr. Simpson said he
had no complaint to make against the
members from Pennsylvania who were
pressing this bill. He readily under
stood their position. Men We're not
elected to congress in Pennsylvania
They were selected by corporations and
they were compelled to carry out the
wishes of these corporations.
They must do that to hold their
Jobs said he, amid laughter.