The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-02-22
A FIELD DAY IN HOUSE.
Two Distinct Sensations Were Fur.
nished the Members.
hR. HEPBURN SCORED THE HAzERS
Mr.. Bailey OF Texas Made Some SEN
sational Charges Regarding the
House Employees.

Washington. February 21.--This was
field day In the house. Two distinct sen
sations occurred During the consldera.
tion Of an amendment to the deficiency ap
preparation bin to prevent hazng at the
naval academy, Mr.. Hepburn Of Iowa
used exceedingly strong language while In
Weighing against the practice of bazing
charging that the habits OF tyranny and
oppression formed by the officers Of the
army and navy at their academies were
responsible for the failure of sailors to
enlist In the navy and for the large mum
Der OF assertions from the army. More
over. he alleged that the officers stood by
each other when In trouble SAYING that
the commanders of twenty-five vessels OF
the navy lost since the civil war had. with
out exception, escaped punishment
Mr.. Cannon Ill) and Mr.. Dayton (w.
Va warmly defended the navy. The stir
caused by Mr.. Hepburn's speech. however
was mild, compared with the row which
was kicked up over some items IN the bill
for extra compensation TO employees OF the
house.
Mr.. Dlnsmore tArk) exposed the fact
that one Of the employees of the house.
while occupying one position. was draw
Ing salary for another and the difference
between the salaries was to be made up In
one Of the items In the bill. This led to
general ventilation OF the domestic ar
fairs Of the house, during which Mr.. Bal
ley tfex0sl declared that the situation
was a scandal upon the Integrity of the
house. lie charged that there were EN-
pIoyeS OF the house who were dividing their
salaries with others who performed no
side 10 deny his allegations He offered
TO produce sworn testimony In substaii-
ttati0n of his charges, II an investigating
committee were appointed. II was ox,
there was 40 LAW CONCERNING THE
EMPLOYEES OF THE HOUSE. Mr.. Can
were VERY MUCH MIXED. Mr.. Bailey
offered resolution for the appointment Of
an Investigating committee, which was re
ferred to the committee ON rules, with the
assurance OF Mr.. Payne. the majority
leader that Il would be reported ut once.
The general deficiency appropriation bill
the last Of the appropriation bills-was
Immediately after the reading of the
Journal today the house went into coin
mittee of the whole and resumed the con
sideratlon Of the general deficiency nppro
pratlon bill. The point of order against
Mr.. Sherman's amendment to prevent NV,
Ing at the naval academy at Annapolis
which was pending when the house ad-
1cUrned yesterday, was passed over ten
pCrarlly.
make a cadet dismissed on account OF has
Ing Ineligible for reHppointrcnt as cadet
ar Annapolis and West Point.
Mr.. Grosvenor (Ohlo) said he did not
think young man who might have bcen
guilty OF the practice of ha2ing SHOULD
be deharred forever from aspiring % ihe
States. The highest crime In the cnicn.iar
was treason. Yet men who had fouxnt
dous years against the, flag of the United
as hrRadier generals and major generals
las loyal men as ever lived. lie favored
the amended sherman proposition.
Mr.. Wheeler Kyl did not believe the
measure 10 rcprcss haslng shoulI Re 100
harsh. He referred to the crusade against
Roberts Of Utah and to the events hat
were occurring in Kansas under the leader.
chip Of misguided, hystercal woman, -
as evidence Of public sentiment run wild.
Mr.. Hepburn 1owa), who followed, ere
ated sensation. lie recalled the '9ct
that when the Booz case first attracted he
attention Of the country the superlntcndent
of the military academy rushed into print
70 declare that hazing had ceased at West
Point. Yet the committee Of the house
mad found forty-one cases where under
classmen had been called out to engage in
brutal prize tights when he declared tina;
he favored a certain, fixed severe pm
ishment' for ,-e cowing and browhe0ting
Of the younger class at the academies. his
statement received a round OF applause.
Why. Mr. Hepburn asked. was the navy
department 5000 men short Of is couple
ment? Why had there been 1000 desertions
from the army? Because the men were
American citizens compelled TO serve under
men 'schooed In tyranny and opprcs '!o.i."
These officers, Mr.. Hepburn sail. stood py
each other.
II have In my pocket" he saii "a LIST
OF twenty-five vessels OF the United states
cast away upon the rocks or shoals by
Incompetent officers since the close of the
civil war. In many eases the ships were
totally destroyed, hut with solitary OK
ception their brother officers let lac com
handlers of with slight punishment. The
severest punishment inflicted was sus-
pension of rank. Even In China puzzle
opinion compels a commander who loses his
ship to commit suicide. Here when ship
Is east away and becomes total 'oss, meth.
Ing Is done; l want to, see hxed ana
certain punishment for hazlng. Mca In
ured to tho custom Of hazing are lnrt TO
command troops or sailors OF the United
States and our boys will not serve nnder
men reared In the unwholesomc, PEI n.ciCu us
and damnable atmosphere OF tyranny.
GGreat applausel
on Mr. Wheeler Inqulrlng n Mr.. Hepburn
the latter replied: ''It is not childish
prank II you | have son at the
academy and upper classmen compel him
30 perform mental services for him. II l.
not childish prank for upper cassnlen
70 pick out an athlete 70 beat q new boy
indulge In brutality that Is felony"
Mr. Cannon briefly replied to Mr.. Hep
swept over Samoa. wrecSins the Trenton ol
and Bleaching the Yantlc, and paid glow
Ing tribute 70 the Angrlean sailors who's,
ntioiNui btNu tlhulfu tut
Charleston. he SAIL had been lost In new
seas and through use OF Imperfect Spanlsf
charts. No one OF the cases referred Z,
had been caused by negligence.
Mr. Hepburn. replying, gave detailed
list. OF naval ca1ualties covering lon
period.
'"ro show how unjust, nay, how brutal
that list and It's differences are" exclaimr,
Mr.. Dayton wv. Val. 81 viii place IN tn,
record the proceedings In each case snow
ing the circumstances"
y challenge the gentleman to bring Il
all the court martial proceedings" Respond
ed Mr.. Hepburn warmly.
The point OF order against the Sherman
amendment finally was sustained.