The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-19
BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS ON ExTRAV-
AGANCE OF THE PARTY.
NEARING BILLION DOLLAR MARK
Senators Lodge and Hale Declare the
People Will Not Stand this Immense
Expenditure IF Public Funds-The
House Again Discussed in the House.
1t Causes Some Lively Tits.
SENATE.

1880 $500
OF its session today to the agricultural
appropriation bill. The measure was
not completed. During the discussion
OF the bill Senator Hale. OF Maine, and
Senator Lodge. Of Massachusetts,.
sounded notes of warning against the
enormous appropriations being made
by the present congress.
n Hale declared the people OF
the country would soon become alarm
ed and then those who were response
BILE for the immense expenditures
would seek the rocks and mountains to
hide from the wrath OF the people.
Senator Lodge declared hat the ex-
penditures Of the government as shown
by Misrepresentation were approach
ing rapidly the billion dollar mark and
he believed it was time now to draw
the line. Every necessary expenditure
ought to be made but he asserted that
some bills, notably the river n har-
Dor bill. were loaded down with need
less and useless appropriations.
An amendment proposed by Sen
ator Shoup, of Idaho. TO the sundry
civil bill, looking to the establishment
of a soldiers home in Idaho. led Senator
Pettigrew to declare that the United
States was manufacturing material for
soldiers homes every day. General
MacArthur'S report for December
showed that there were 10. 900 more sick
in the Philippines than could be cared
for properly.
Senator Hale acceded TO his state
ment and added that every man in the
Philippines would be OIL the pension
list in five years.
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, adverted
to Senator Chambers statement that
democratic senators Joined the MAORI
ty in making appropriations and then
were the first to criticise republican eX-
travagance. Senator Bacon differed
from Senator Chandler and said: 1--WE
are not only making an effort, but we
expect that effort to be successful to
prevent the expenditure Of some $780,
900, 900 by defeating the ship subsidy
bill, and quite naturally this is of
advantage to the country and it will
save the republican majority of just so
much extravaganza"
At $50 o'clock the senate took a re-
cess until s o'clock. when a brief ses-
sion was held to complete the reading
of the District of Columbia ID bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The events in connection with the
SAT- vi lIlC III Z 1Olh SooIolli lloooS
to the National City bank, which here
tofore has been the subject of much
comment, occupied the centre of the
stage during the debate on the sundry
civil appropriation bill in the house to-
day. Much excitement attended the
debate.
Mr.. McRae. an Arkansas democrat,
raised the issues with a motion to
strike but the appropriation of 1871 ,047
for rent Of the custom house, and with
this motion as a basis Mr.. Jones, Of
Virginia, led a fierce attack upon the
circumstances and name of the sale
and the vast profit which he claimed
the bank made out of the transaction.
Secretary Gage was sharply criticised
and several references were made to
the letters written by Mr.. Hepburn to
Secretary Gage apropos of the politi-
cal claims of the bank.
Mr.. Cannon and Mr.. Hopkins, Of Illi-
noiS, both defended the custom house
transaction and the latter turned the
tables On the democrats by, springing
upon them a series Of letters written
by prominent democrats. including
Senator Jones, of Arkansas. to the sec
rotary of the treasury under the Cleve-
land administration asking the de-
posit of government funds in banks
with democratic prOcliVities.
The centre shot was a letter written
by Mr.. Richardson. of Tennessee, now
the democratic leader of the house.
Mr.. McRae. of Arkansas. indignant
ly charged that the letters were private
and had been furnished to divert at
tention from the sale of the customs
house. He and Mr.. HOPKINS had hot
words and for a m it looked al
most as if there would be a personal
encounter.
In the end Mr.. McRae's amendment
- LA 90 - no - -.~,o @o~fx- xvn{n
and another amendment offered by Mr.
Richardson to provide that the rent
should not be paid until the title
to the old custom house passed from
the government to the bank failed, on
a tie vote.
Mr.. Jones read a message from the
treasury department saying that $50.
900 remained unpaid. under the terms
Of the act which authorized the sale;
that it drew interest at 4 per cent. pay
able at the pleasure of h purchaser
Mr.. Jones said the new custom house
would not be completed for ten years
During these years, he said. the bank
would obtain s136,OO0 annually for the
REM of the old custom house; woul
save $50. 900 taxes, would have the use
of SO, 210. 600 which at 4 per cent. would
be equal to s12S,0 00. He figured thai
the bank would obtain 1907 900 in ter
years, dII1OSl SuOuRn " pay Ioi lls
site besides having the use Of millions
Of United States funds deposited in the
bank. Mr.. Jones declared the trans
action was a fraud upon the gov
eminent, and II the secretary 81
the treasury allowed it TO continue he
would be particeps criminal to be
fraud.
! Mr.. Jones then offered an amendment
to provide that of the appropriation OF
1911 ,047 for rent the secretary of treas
ury should withhold $50. 600 still u the
government on the purchase price Of
the property.
Against this amendment Mr.. Cannon
raised a point of order. which thec chair
sustained.
MI. Richardson. of Tennessee, offer
ed an amendment providing h nom
| of the rent should be paid until the tfti'
| passed from the government to tn
bank.
To this Mr.. Cannon also made a poin
| Of order, but it was overTuied- The
| vote on the amendment was a tie. 3.
to ~ and therefore failed.
E4~<- A1 99T VA OrC nj fhl