The Topeka state journal., 1900-05-02
FIERCE WORDS.
Cannon and Hepburn SQUabble
in the House.
Fall Out During Debate on the
Canal Bill.

washington, May "A dramatic and !
sensational scene occurred in the house |
this afternoon between Mr.. Cannon,
chairman of the appropriations commit |
tee, and Mr.. Hepburn in charge of the |
Nicaragua canal bill. Mr.. Cannon resent |
ed some remarks made last night by Mr..
Hepburn impugning his (Cannon's) sin
cerity. Mr. Cannon spoke under excite
ment saying he had just read Mr.. Hep
burns attack upon him. AS he proceed
ed he recalled an lntimatlOn that had
come to him of which he had spoken
yesterday that those who were promot-
1ngs this bill were doing so to delay the
canal. Yet, ne said, he had acquitted
Mr.. Hepburn Of any such intention. To-
day he frankly stated that Mr. Hep
burns name had been connected with
the rumor
Who was the author of the rumor?''
asked Mr.. Hepburn, jumping to his
feet
"A newspaper man." replied Mr. Can
non. i do not know the name"
Continuing and speaking with great
deliberation, Mr.. Cannon said he would
have been satisfied with the acquittal
he gave Mr.. Hepburn had not his
doubts been aroused"
My observation" said he, lis that
when a. man is willing to challenge the
3 sincerity of another it is because he
is turning the glass inward upon him
I self. I do not rise to justify my own
Z
I ord Of % years in public life 1 will stand
or fall"
The excitement grew as Mr. Cannon
! proceeded. Mr.. Hepburn's face was
white and his words came in a perfect
torrent when he replied. He thought it
( entirely possible, he said, that some
I one whose name could not be recalled
/ was lying about the capitol in their in
/ terest of their pet projects. Interests
in Mr.. Cannons city of Chicago, he
B declared, were trying to sell things to
! the government, and he thought it al
together likely that the Panama Canal
company might be trying to defeat this
bill.
II know no man connected with the
Panama company" cried Mr. Cannon
fiercely. Can the gentleman say as
much?"
Yes, except as they have appeared be-
fore my committee" replied Mr.. Hep
burn who continuing, appealed to the
record for confirmation of what he had
said about Mr.. Cannon. Then pauSing
for moment, and looking squarely at
Mr.. Cannon, he proceeded, Il say this to
him. If he father the rumor that I have
any other purpose to serve, say he has
Quick as a flash, Mr.. Cannon asked
Mr.. Hepburn to repeat his statement.
BY this time the house was in a wild
state of excitement and confusion and
Mr.. Wheeler (Kentucky) attempted to call
the gentlemen to order, but the chair said
he had heard nothing unparliamentary
and Mr.. Hepburn proceeded.
Il say If the gentleman attempted tC
give currency TO the statement, ne OlQ me
a gross Injustice by making such an un-
der-handed imputatiOn.'
Mr.. Cannon, with flushed face, declared
that MI Hepburn was adopting the tao
tics of the cutie fish. He seeks to mud
dy the water and swim away"
Il am not seeking to muddy waters
retorted Mr. Hepburn passionately. q
am responsible for what l said to the
gentleman here and elsewhere. The
gentleman tried to dishonor me and
resent it,"
Mr. Cannon protested that he ha6
done nothing of the kind; that he ha6
treated the gentleman from Iowa, with
great respect. and had himself been as
sailed without provocatiOn. He would
dismiss the whole subject, believing
Mr.. Hepburn's violent remarks were
due to his temper and not his calm
Judgment. Here the matter rested.
Another scene occurred between Mr.
Gaines CTenn) and Mr.. Mann Qll). Tn
former took exceptions to some remarlO
of the latter saying they were 'devOi'
of common decency, courtesy and gen
tility."
Mr. Mann retorted that if the remarl
would merit a reply.
Mr.. Gaines declared his responsibilit.
for anything he said and the inciden
closed
IN THE SENATE.
Washington. May Pin the senate to
day Mr.. Chandler attempted to call u
the case Of Senator Clark of Montana
in accordance with a previous notice
out President Pro Tenn Frye would no
lay it before the senate upon a simpl
request to displace other business an
Mr. Chandler did not move to take
up.
Tea Crop Damaged.
Calcutta, May 2.-Reports receive
here from the tea district show that tn