The Portland daily press., 1900-06-06
Partisan Passion Ran High In the
Debate.
Floor Veritable Bedlam
At Night.
Members Clamoring In Interest
Of Their Private Bills.

L WaohtnkbOhf 0uHt " nt fiOuHG tti
tered the throes of dissolution today and
all day and evening the circling CALLER.
les were crowded with spectators.
The picturesque incidents were few.
Partisan passion, running high In the
face Of the impending Presidential cam
paign, broke out several times during the
afternoon and hot words were banded
across the political aisle. Mr.. Hull of
Iowa and Mr.. Lentz of Ohio crossed
swords and later Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio
and MIR. Gaines OF Tennessee had lively
encounter. Throughout the day at every
opportunity there was play for political
advantage and taunt and challenge were
banded back and forth. But all this
was merely incidental to the work of
crowding through the big supply bills
which had the right of way During
the /interims between the consideration
of conference reports members olamored
like mad men In the wheat pit on q
panic day for recognition for private
bills upon which their present salvation
might depend.
At the night session the galleries were
thronged with gaily arrayed women
and the floor was veritable bedlam.
ON with their reports, the Speaker, firm
and resolute, steering the House through
the turmoil and confusion. Toward mid
night the galleries thinned out but the
tired legislators with the prospects Of
an all night session ahead, remained in
| could from the knowledge that tomor-
row and the end would come.
The House entered upon Its work at
noon. The first matter to be considered
was the conference report upon the bill
creating n territorial form Of government
agreement was adopted as soon as pre-
sented. Mr.. Lacey OF Iowa claimed that
the chair had taken snap Judgment on
the House. Considerable bad temper
was manifested. The Speaker announced
that members must watch the proceedings
closely in the confusion attending the
closing hours in order to protect their
rights.
Mr.. Lacey replied that conference
report on a bill of six hundred pages
should not be disposed of In such q sum
mary manner. He was howled down
by demands for the regular order but
with the support OF the opposition, he
forced roll can upon motion to lay on
the table motion to reconsider the vote
by which the conference report was
adopted.
The motion prevailed. 1888 to 121. A
conference was ordered on the Nicely ex-
tradition bill. Objection was made to
non-concurrence In the Senate amend.
ments to the military academy appropria-
ton bill and IL was arranged that there
should be an hours debate on each side.
MIR. Hull OF Iowa said the most important
amendment to the bill was that fncreas-
ing the rank of the senior Major General
and the Adjutant General of the army.
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee introduced the
subject of the New York Ice trust charg-
ing that Mr.. Ray OF New York In giving
a resume of the Democratic politicians
involved In 1t had failed to name the
Repu blican politicians involved. He and
Mr.. Grosvenor exchanged the lie in par
liamentary language.
Mr.. Grosvenor read the list of stock
holders of the ice trust, commenting
sarcastically upon the names of the DEM
ocratic officials. Mr.. SulZer of New York
declared that fully seven-tenths OF the
stockholders whose names were published
were Republicans belonging to the Platt
machine.
Mr.. Briggs of New York criticised
severely the proposition to raise General
Miles to the rank OF Lieutenant General.
So far as Adjutant General Corbin was
concerned he called attention to the mar
vellous '.rapldity of General Corbin' s
promotion since 1896 when he was Lieu
tenant Colonel"
Mr. Cummings of New York regretted
that his colleague had opposed the pro-
motion of General Corbin.
A moment later Mr.. Cummings created
something of a sensation by reading the |
following letter from W. j. Bryan:
Lincoln, Neb., June 2
MY Dear Mr.. Cummings see that |
the Republicans are asserting that think |
u constitutional amendment necessary |
for the humiliation of the trusts. l have |
never said or believed that an amendment |
was necessary. have urged legislation |
which l believe to be constitutional and
have said that / favor q constitution nal
amendment II the decisions of the Su-
preme court declares uch legislation I'M
constitutional.
''The Republican party does not want |
to destroy the trusts. During this session |
of Congress the Republicans have unani- |
the national banks control of the currency |
and thus create paper money trust. /
enclose copy of my Chicago anti trust |
speech which discusses the question of |
amendments.
"Yours truly,
"W. j. Bryan"
The Democrats cheered vociferously |
when Mr.. Cummings concluded the |
reading.
Mr.. Lentz of Ohio made an onslaught
ON the proposition to promote General
Corbin, who he declared, had been hang
ing about the corridors of the capital
begging for promotion.
II have not any more respect for mill
tary beggars than have for political
beggars,h said he, II believe that mill
tary men should fight for their promo
tions, not beg for them"
Excitement had been rising during Mr.. |
Lentz's remarks and things Were at
high tension when Mr.. Huh rose to
reply.
"The Adjutant General of the Army"
saidi Mr. Hull, "if he had been haunting
the corridors Of the capitol asking Con-
gress to give him promotion, certainly
would have come TO me as chairman of
the military COMMITTEES. I never yet
heard him in the corridors OF the capitol
asking me or any other member of Con-
gress to give him this promotion"