The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-20

more effectively by civilians than by high
salnried naval officers As Mr. Cannon
made sharp replies to questions with which
he was bombarded by Messrs. Foss, Little
field. and Dayton. the Democrats crowded
down in the centre aisle, blocking It, and
repeatedly interrupting Mr.. Cannon with
applause and approving laughter. In the
matter Of the competency Of naval othcers
in chartmalng and in issuing sailing di-
rections, Mr. Cannon said they are expert
enough The law authorized them TO DO
that. but il did not authorize them to make
surveys
Mr.. Cannon argued that the cost Of sur
veying by naval vessels was much greater
than by the Coast Survey vessels. The
Blake made 20. 600 soundings, at an average
cost Of 35 cents In the same period and
doing substantially the same work, the
Eagle and Iankton. naval vessels. made
25 O00 souudings at an average cost oil Slov.
In this connection. Mr.. Littleheld endeay-
cred to ask Mr.. Cannon a question. but the
the latter. waving him aside, said: 4 II
answer what the gentleman is going 10
ask.
Mr.. Littlefeld-It is not often we meet
omniscience here below
Mir. Cannon.-Oh. when I get my N-rays
on you l know what I'm about
Mr.. Littlefeld-You'd better not try II on
me. for you don't know what you'll ind
Time for Debate Extended.
The time for debate on the item hay-
ing been extended, the paragraph was ad-
vocated by Messrs. Dayton Of West Nir-
ginia and Diusmore of Arkansas, and op-
posed by Mr.. Cannon, in a brief supple
mental speech. After some desultory dis
cussion under the five-minute rule, the
amendment OF Mr. Cannon, to appropriate
$40, 600 for special ocean surveys instead
of 800 900 for ocean and lake surveys, IN
cluding those of the insular possessions,
was agreed to by vote Of Ill to 40.
Chairman Payne then Overruled the
! point of order made against the appro-
| priation Of $500, 900 for a cadets hall at
! the Annapolis Academy. following preee-
dents acquiesced in by the committee and
| Congress
Mr.. Cannon offered an amendment lin
iting the cost OF all buildings at the Naval
Academy, to include the $500, 600 in this
! item, and 81 ,227. 600 already appropriated
| and to reduce the appropriation for the
1 building to 81 000. 900. Supporting his
/ amendment. Mr.. Cannon said the plan
upon which the Naval Committee was pro-
! ceeding in the reconstruction of the Acad-
/ emy would cost 81. 600, 900 to complete. II
J the hall was constructed IN dCCoIudhC
| with the recommendation of the commit
| tee. he said it would cost $10.5OO to house
each cadet that would be accommodated.
Mr. Mudd of Maryland opposed the
| amendment, and Mr.. Hill Of Connecticut
advocated it. He-said that the appropria-
tion was extravaganza run mad. All the
dormitories on Yale campus, New
Haven, including the S1,000000 Vanderbilt
Hall. providing accommodations for 1,SOl
! to . 600 students. he said. did not cost, all
told. as much as the committee proposed
to spend for this one building 20 house 35C
! cadets.
Defending the committee. Mr.. Dayton
said the condition confronting the House
was due to the action of the House itself
Il had overridden the committee last yeai
and adopted the plan upon which the CON-
mittee had reported the pending amend
ment. The committee then opposed the
4 scheme, but had been compelled to accept
/ it by the action of the House.
Mr.. Cannon's amendment was voted
down and a substitute for the paragraph
adopted. offered by him, reducing the cost
Of the cadets hall to $3.50 600, and limit
ing the cost OF the reconstruction Of the
| Naval Academy to S6,00O000. The COM
/ mittee then rose.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Fitzgerald
Of Massachusetts was read to appropri'
ate 500 600 for the construction Of a monu
/ ment to commemorate the bravery OF th'
farmers at the battle OF Lexington, whicl
occurred 125 years ago yesterday.
At $50 o'clock the House adjourned IN
til today.