The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-03
T THE CANAL BILL
PASSED HOUSE
Victory Of the Committee
Was Complete.
A. DRAMATIC SCENE
The Words "Lie" and ''Liar" Used
by Mr.. Hepburn in Debate.
RlOTOUs CONFUSION PREVAILED
Members Crowded the Aislcs and the
| Situation, Was at One Time Threat
eninC-There Was a Show of
Peace at the Close Of the
Incident, But Feeling
! Ran High.
RloToUS CONFUSION PREVAILED

Ran High.
WASHINGTON, May 2.-The House TO-
day, at the conclusion of the most stormy
debate of the present session of Congress,
passed the Nicaraguan Canal bill by the
overwhelming vote of 225 to So.
All attempts to retain in the bill the
language of the original bin for the forti-
flcation of the canal, to still further
strengthen the language on that alne. We're
balked. and the victory OF Mr.. Hepburn
and the committee was complete
A motion to recomn1it the bill with in
strllctions to report back another bill,
leaving the selection of the route TO the
President was buried under an adverse
majority of 50 to III.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the Appropria-
eions Committee, and Mr.. Burton, OF
Ohio. chairman of the Rivers and Hs,rbors
Committee, made a game fight TO staVe-
off action at this session, but their ap-
peals were in vain, and the members rode
rough-slnod over all their arguments aud
protests.
BITTER WORDS
Much excitement reigned throughout the
day, and several times bitter words were
used The excitement reached its cllHlaX
in a highly dramatic scene between Mr.
Hepburn and Mr.. Cannon, when the
former used the words HE and
..uar,' as he denounced the dis
tinglffshed chairman of the Appro-
priatons Committee for attempting TO
dishonor him. The House was in rtotous
confusion during the quarrel Mernbers
crowded the aiSleS, and the Sffuatlou at
one time was SO threatening that MI
Wheeler, of Kentucky, sought TO pour Oil
on the waters by raising a point Of order
But he was not upheld. and the two irate
members carried their war to the very
hilt.
There was a show of peace at the close
of the incident but the feeling between
the two men ran so high that tie mutual
retractfons with which such incidents
generally end were but thu cloaks for
the keenest and most cutting sarcasm
The bill as it passed the House appro-
PIRATES the sum of $l0G50sO1 for the con-
struution of the canal, and authorizes
contracts to be made, to be paid FOR as
appropriations may from time to time
be hereafter made, not to exceed the
aggregate of $40, $50. COO.
THE AMENDMENT ADOPTED.
Mr.. Hepburn offered the committee
tect'' for .defend" in the first section.
It was adopted.
Mr.. Parker altered an amendment to
strike out that portion of the bill limit
ing the Presidents selection Of the canal
route.
This amendment called forth a protest
from Mr.. Hepburn, who declared that
it was intended to revive interest in the
Panama route, which had caused one of
..tI>a scandals. in the history of
the modern world.
The Parker amendment was defeated
81 to 81.
MIR. McCuloch, of Arkansas, offered an
amendment to insert the words ''fortify.
garrison between the words construct
and land defend"
Here occurred the sensa tional scene
between Messrs. Cannon and Hepburn.
At its close Mr.. Cannon said he would
dismiss the whole subject, believing Mr..
II Hapburns violent remarks were due to
his temper and not his calm judgment.
ANOTHER SCENE.
Here the matter rested. But soon after
another scene occurred when Mr.. Gaines,
of Tennessee, took exception to per-
sonal allusion made to him by Mr. Mann,
of Illinois.
After reading from the Record Mr..
Mann's statement. Mr.. Gaines with great
vehemence declared that the man who
had uttered the words was devoid OF
common decency, courtesy and civility'
Mr. Mann came down the aisle as Mr.
Gaines concluded, and in sarcastic tones
said: Mr.. Chairman, if the remarks
came from any other gentleman except
the gentleman from Tennessee they would
deserve a reply, but from him they de-
serve no reply
After further discussion the vote was
taken on the pending amendment. and it
was defeated-66 to ia.
The amendment was. debated without
division
The committee amendments to the sec
ond section We're adopted.
Mr.. Neville, of Nebraska, offered an
amendment, which was defeated, pro-
yiding that wherever possible, Only Amer
lean labor should be employed in the
construction of the canal.
EXCITEMENT INCREASED.
The excitement increased as the time
for the vote approached.
substitute by Mr.. Shackelford that
the bill should not go into effect il the
Hay-Pauncefote treaty was ratified, was
defeated
The bill was then reported to the
House.
Mr.. Adamson demanded separate
vote on the committee amendment, sub
stituting the words provisions for de-
fence in place OF '.fortiticatians for de-
fence The vote was taken by yeas and
nays.
The committee amendment was adopt
edit TO 1O4.
Mr. Burton tf,en moved to recommit
the bill to the Interstate Commerce Com
mittee.
MIR. Burton demanded the ayes and
noes. but could not get second for his
demand.
The vote then came on the final pas
& sage of the bill, The bill was passed