The National tribune., 1900-05-10
IN CONGRESS.
Synopsis of the More Important
Proceedings OF Both Houses.

In the Senate on Tuesday, May 1, a vigor-
Gus DEPRESSION to the subject of trusts
occupied the Senators for a period, during
the discussion of the Army appropriation
bill. The debate originated in an amend
ment offered by Mr.. Berry, of Arkansas,
to confine purchases for the army as far
as possible to articles of American manu-
facture and at the same time to avoid pur-
chases from trusts. A statement by Mr..
Sewell of New jersey, inqliiring what the
definition of trust was, and declaring
that these corporations had been bene
fetal in many regards, raised a storm,
in which swirled several of the opposition
Senator's. Mr.. Berry assailed the New
Jersey Senator's position. and was followed
by Mr.. Pettigrew, Mr.. Stewart, and Mr..
Teller. The discussion involved National
politics and the enforcement of the present
Sherman law before a vote was reached,
defeating the Berry amendment IS to 30.
In the House for the first times.during
the so years of agitation of the project for
the construction of an interoceanic canal,
that body entered upon the consideration
of a measure to actually authorize the
building of canal. -,
The debate was memorable, because of
the unexpected powerful opposition it
developed. Mr.. Burton, OF Ohio, Chairman
Of the Rivers and Harbors Committee;
Mr.. Hit, of Illinois, chairman of the
Foreign Affairs Committee and Mr.. Can
non, of Illinois, Chairman of the Appro-
| priatiOns Committee, threw the weight of
their influence against it. not because they
are opposed to the building of the canal,
but because they considered that the time
for authorizing its construction was not
| ripe. Mr. Burton and Mr.. Hit contended
that the bill would violate the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, which guarantees the
neutrality of the canal, and Mr. Cannon
| lpIipta1 Admiral WoIlyor (thoirrpoTt of tho
| lsthmian Canal Commission, as saying.
| that the commission was not yet prepared
| to say which was the best route. MIR.
| Cannon contended that the authorization
of the construction of the canal over the
| Nicaraguan route at this time would delay
its building for years and cost the Govern
| ment $4,000, ,000.
| The debate also developed other lines
| of opposition. Some of the Democrats
insist that the amendments striking. the
words defend" and Notifications" from
| the bill are designed TO make it harmon
ize with the Hay-PaunGefote treaty, and
| that it is therefore objectionable, and Mr..
Shackleford, Of Missouri, desired the bill
amended so that if the treaty is ratified,
| the bill will not go into effect. .-.....
The anomalous situation was according
ly presented Of nearly every member on
the floor protesting his friendship for the
canal, and yet of powerful opposition
arrayed against it on various grounds.
The. bill was vigorously champloned by
Chairman Hepburn, Of the Interstate
Commerce Committee; Mr.. Lowering, of
Massachusetts,; Mr.. Ransdell, of Louisiana,
and Mr. Corliss, of Michigan.
In the Senate on Wednesday the pre-
sentation of a memorial from r. G.. Dyren-
forth, Commander-in-Chief of the Union
Veteran Union, complaining about the PEN
sion policy of the Government, ELECTED
a brief reply from Mr.. Gallinger, Of New
Hampshire, Chairman Of the Pensions
Committee. The Government had been,
and was now, said he, liberal in its PEN
sion policy, and there was no proper reason
Tor criticism of it. There were now before
our committee 80 or more general pension
bills, which, if enacted into law, would
take from the Treasury many millions of
dollars annually. He was being roundly
abused for not having considered and
reporting these bills and for not giving to
applicants what they termed adequate
PENSIONS"
Mr.. GaHinger instanced one of the meas
ures that had been referred to the PEN
sions. Committee providing. pensions for
practically all Of the skilled artisans and |
civilians in the Government service. This |
bill brought to him hundreds of letters |
urging him to report it faVorably. OF
course, he said, he would be called to ac- |
count Cor being an enemy to such legisla-
ton.
In conclusion, Mr.. Gallinger said: 1.-THE
criticism of the pension policy of the Gov
ernmeut is unjust and unwarranted. The |
100000 and odd paid out now for
pensions is about as much as the Govern
ment ought to eXpend."
The Army appropriation was considered. |
In the House the Nicaragua canal bill
was passed by a vote of 225 to 35. All
attempts to retain in the bill the language |
of the original bill for the fortifcation of
the canal and TO still further strengthen
the language on that line were baked,
and the victory of Col. Hepburn and the
committee was complete. A motion TO
recommit the bill with instructions to report
back another bill leaving the selection of
the route to the President was buried under
an adverse majority of 50 TO III. Il
Mr. Cannon, Chairman of the Appropria-
tons Committee, and Mr.. Burton, of Ohio,
Chairman Of the River and Harbors Com
mlttee, made a fight TO stall off action at
this session, but their appeals were in vain,
ments and protests. Much excitement
reigued throughout the day. and several |
times bitter words were used.
Those who voted nay on the passage, of
the canal bill follow: Acheson, Adams,
Burton, Cannon, Capron, Clark of Mis-
souri,. Cooney, Cowherd, Cox, Dalzell, De
Almond, Denny, Dougherty, Fleming, |
Fletcher. Castor, Gillett of MaSSachu- !
sets, Graham. Hit, King. Lawrence,
Lester, Levy, Eittauer, Littlefield, Mccall,
-NthIIit, lkiSi VI htHIuchy- INuthtT, EOlld-
froth, Sprague, Stewart of Wisconsin,
Talbert, Thayer, and Vandiver-35.
In the Senate on Thursday the Army
appropriation bill was discussed. The
bill was finally passed without division.
An hour was devoted to consideration
of pension bills, 1877 being passed. Among
them were bills granting pensions of $50
a month each to Gen. James Longstreet,
who was Major in the United States
army before he went into the Confederacy;
TO Mrs. Julia Henry, widow of Gen. Guy V.
Henry; to Mrs. Margaret Badger, widow Of
Commodore Badger, and to Mrs. Gridley,
widow Of the late Capt. Gridley, of the |
Olympia. On motion of Mr.. Proctor the
amount of Mrs. Henry's bill was increased
TO 500.
In the House the sundry civil bill was
discussed. The House also passed the |
free homes bill without division. 1t pro-
vides free homesteads on public lands for
actual and bona fide settlers and provides |
that the Government shall remunerate |
Indian tribes for money due them on lands |
patented to settlers and pay any deficiency |
20 agricultural colleges if the annual sales
OF public lands should prove insufficient |
10 meet the payments.
Mr.. Eddy, Of Minnesota, who had long
been an ardent champion Of such legisla-
ton, led off in the debate, pointing ont
hgf oil To- l..