The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-22
Clear Statement Of the Position of
the United States by the Illi-
nois Representative.
ANTITRUST BILL IN SENATE
HOUSE MEASURE DENOUNCED AS UN.
CONSTITUTIONAL.
Pneumatic Tube Service Item I'm the
Postofice Appropriation Bill
Finally Eliminated.

WASHINGTON. Feb 2i-This was an
sensations occurred. Early in the day. dur
ing consideration of an amendment TO the
dehciency appropriation bill 10 prevent haz-
ing at the Naval Academy. Mr.. Hepburn.
of Iowa, used exceedingly strong language
while inveighing against the practice OF
hazing. charging by indirection that the
habits of tyranny and oppression formed
by the officers OF the army and navy at
their academies were responsible for the
refusal of sailors to enlist in the navy and
for the large number OF desertions from
the army. Moreover. he alleged that the
officers stood by each other when I'm trou-
ble saying that the commanders OF twens
ty-five vessels of the navy lost since the
civil war had, with one exception, escaped
with slight punishment Mr.. Cannon, OK
Illinois, and Mr.. Dayton, of West Virginia,
warmly defended the navy.
The stir caused by Mr.. Hepburn's speech.
however, was mild compared with the row
which was kicked up later over some items
in the bill for extra compensation to en-
ployes of the House. Mr.. Dinsmore. Of
Arkansas, called attention to the fact that
one of the employees of the House, while
occupying one position. was drawing salary
for another, and that the difference be-
tween the salaries was to be made up In
one of the items in the bill. This led to .
general ventilation Of the domestic affairs
of the House. during which Mr.. Bailey. OF
Texas, declared that the situation was
scandal on the integrity of the House. He
charged that there were employees OF the
House who were dividing their salaries
with others who performed no work. and
challenged any one on the other side 10
deny his allegations. He offered to produce
sworn testimony in substantiaticn OF his
charges If an investigating committee were
appointed. 1t was explained by Mr.. Joy,
of Missouri and others that there was no
law concerning the employees OF the House
Mr. Cannon contented himself with saying
it was evident matters were very much
mixed. At the close OF the session Mr..
Bailey offered a resolution for the appoint
ment of an investigating committee. which
was referred TO the committee on rules on
the assurance OF Mr.. Payne. the majority
leader, that IL would be reported at once
The general deficiency appropriation bill
the last of the appropriation bills-was
passed.
NO CADETS SHOULD BE BRANDED.
During the debate on the hazing question.
Mr.. Grosvenor said he did not think q
young man who might have been guilty OK
the practice of hazing should be debarred
forever from aspiring to the dignity of be-
ing soldier of the United States. The
highest crime in the calendar was treasc1.
Yet men who had fought four years against
the flag Of the United States were to-day on
the rolls OF the army as brigadier and
major generals-as loyal men ever
lived. No cadet should be forever branded
He favored the Sherman proposition as IL
was proposed to amend it.
Mr. Wheeler OF Kentucky, did not be-
lieve the measure to repress hazing should
be too harsh. Every coiege-bred man. he
said had experienced hazing I'm some form
While he believed public sentiment should
have weight in legislation he did not be-
Ieve a passing agitation should govern In
legislation. He referred TO the crusade
against Roberts. of Utah. and TO the events
that were occurring In Kansas under the
leadership OF a misguided. hysterical
woman" as evidences OF public sentiment
run wild.
Mr. Hepburn. in his speech. recalled tho
fact that when the Booz case first at
tracted the attention OF the country the
superintendent Of the Military Academy
rushed into print 10 declare that hazing
had ceased at West Point. Yet the COM
mittee OF the public had found forty-one
cases where underclass men had been called
out 10 engage in brutal prize fights. When
he declared that he favored certain.
fixed. severe punishment" for the cowing
and browbeating OF the younger class at
the academies his statement received q
round OF applause Why. Mr. Hepburn
asked. was the Navy Department eight
thousand men short OF it's complementr
Why had there been four thousand deser-
tions from the army? Because the men
were American citizens compelled 10 serve
under men "schooled I'm tyranny and op-
preston" These officers. Mr.. Hepburn said.
stood by each other.
II have I'm my pocket" he said. "a list
OF twenty-five vessels of the United States
cast away upon the rocks or shoals by In
competent officers since the close OF the
civil war. In mans cases the ships were to-
tally destroyed. but with = solitary excep-