Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-07
AN ENelIED SESSION
The House Refuses to Yield to the
Senate.
DISAGREEMENT ON OCEAN SURVEYS
Deadlock Over a Paragraph in the
Naval Bill.
DISCHARGE OF CONFEREES

Last nights session Of the House was
ore of the most interesting of this Con-
gress and developed sensational turn in
the proceedings before the gavel fell. It
was intended to close up the legislative
business and adjourn Congress last night,
but the House became embroiled in a con-
test with the Senate over an amendment
to the naval appropriation bill.
Action on Armor Plate.
Mr.. Foss called the attention Of the House
to the fact that the Senate, after pro-
tracted struggle had practically agreed to
the House provision of the naval bill rela-
tive to armor plate (applause). The only
change was change of verbiage making it
mandatory upon the Secretary Of the Navy
to erect armor plate factory in case he
cannot contract for armor plate at a "rea-
sonable and equitable" price us not this
complete change in the policy of the gov
eminent in taking the limit off the price Of
armor plate?' asked Mr.. Kitchin IN. c..
NO limit was ever placed upon the price
of armor." replied Mr.. Foss, until 1897.
Owing to the action of Congress for several
years the construction of ships has been
tied up. The naval committee this year
was in favor Of ships not on paper, but
upon the seas. This provision will mean
much for the upbuilding Of the American
navy" tapplause).
NIL hllCflll dSStllou lHc pFOpOSlllOH 10
give the Secretary of the Navy carte
blanche to pay what price he pleases for
armor plate.
Mr. Cummings On. " made an earnest
speech in support of the proposition.
Mr.. Foss moved that the House concur
In the Senate amendment
The motion prevailed 1874 to %. The bill
was then sent back to conference. The
House took a recess until pm.
There was a full attendance Of members
last night, and the galleries were crowded
with spectators, who followed with intense
interest the exciting proceedings upon the
floor.
Mr.. Cannon Of Illinois was the central
figure of the evening. With his face
flushed with excitement, with collar and
necktie off and his sleeves drawn up, the
energetic chairman OF the appropriations
committee denounced in bitter terms the
amendment which the Senate insisted upon,
and criticised the members of the confer
ence committee who had yielded to the Sen
ate.
The outcome of Mr.. Cannon's fight was
the discharge. upon Mr.. Foss request, of
the naval conferees from duty, Mr.. Foss,
Mr. Dayton and Mr.. Cummings and the ap-
pOntment of a new set-Mr. Cannon Mr..
Moody and Mr.. Shafroth-with instructions
to insist upon disagreement to the Senate
amendment. The discharging of the con-
fereeS is an unusual occurrence in the
House of Representatives.
Report of Naval Bill Conferees.
Foss presented the final report on the naval
appropriation bill. A compromise had been
effected on the provision relative to ocean
surveys, which appropriated $4,000 for hy-
geographic surveys. while the House re-
coded from Its provision abolishing the two
years sea course for naval cadets, but
secured an amendment to the present law
to permit an appointment from each con-
gressional district every four years Mr..
Foss said the Senate conferees had abso-
lutely insisted upon the provision relative
to ocean surveys.
Mr.. Cannon, who had led the fight against
ocean surveys under the direction of the
Navy Department. was not satisfied with
the agreement reached by the conferees.
He declared 1t was reached in the teeth of
the specific instructions of the House. He
should ask the House to reject the confer
ence report.
Mr.. Moody CIass) vigorously demanded
that the report should be rejected. The
"coterie of naval officers" or the House
was supreme. shall we.' he asked in
disnantly. get down on our knees to these
bureau officers because our conferees have
proved unfaithful to their trust? We should
teach them the lesson they deserve" Gap
piause)
Mr. Cummings On. " said the Senate
conferees had insisted on the word "hydro-
graphic 1T was said he, simply the
alternative of accepting that word or stay
ing here all night and possibly for several
days
Navy Department Arrafgned.
Mr.. Cannon told how members had been
bombarded by letters and kilograms in the
interest of this photographic work He
had suspected that they were prompted
from the Navy Department, and had call
ed on the Secretary for all letters sent out
from there on the subject The Secretary
had replied that there was nothing.
Il knew that letter was a falsehood in
substance" continued Mr.. Cannon. THAT
is strong language; but I afterward was
able to prove that the Secretary as we'll
as the House had been imposed upon by the
bureau of equipme MT
Mr.. Cannon then related how subsequent
ly Secretary Long had ascertained that the
photographer, Commander Todd, had sent
out a circular letter without his (Secretary
Longs knowledge, and for that act had
been suspended. He read the circular letter,
which had gone to commercial bodies
boards of trade maritime exchanges etc,
appealing for influence and aid in forcing
the appropriation back into the naval APP
preparation bill. He had kept all these facts
secret, he said. because he knew the Sec
rotary of the Navy was an honorable man
and had been imposed upon. He had been
compelled to disclose them, he said, in the
interest of the public service and to vindi-
cate the honor and manhood of the House.
Amid great applause he asked the House
to send the bill back to conference with
three conferees in sympathy with the SEN
tlment OF the House.
The debate grew more and more exciting
it proceeded.
Mr.. Grosvenor said he hoped 1t would be
a long time before the House would humilf-
ate its conferees by taking the business Of
the House out Of their hands.
He advised the House to yield.
1.-THE gentleman Is a good gutter" cried
Mr.. Cannon sarcastically. He doesn't
know what he is talking about"
ut is better not to know what one is
talking about" responded Mr.. Grosvenor,
than to know and not tell
Mr.. Burton Ohio) Indignantly repudiated
the charge in Commander Todd's circular
that he and others were in secret COM
bine against the Navy Department in this
controversy.
COnferees Defend Themselves.
Mr.. Dayton CIV. Va.), one Of the naval
conferees. defended the action of the con-
ferees and deprecated the display of bad
temper INDUCED in by the members.
Immediately afterward Mr.. Dayton, In
wildly excited tones. denounced as false
and untrue" the statement that the con-
ferees had betrayed their trust.
Mr.. Foss also denounced in harsh wosas
the statements that the conferees had not
stood by the Houses Instructions. He had
stood by the Houses instructions on every
vote in the conference. even to the last vote
taken. II resent the charge and hurl 1t
ck ha