The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-20
HOLIDAY ADJOURNMENT
Both Branches of Congress to Convene Again Jan. 6.
1Ir. DeArmond, in Privileged Statement, Says He Has Not Been Treated Fairly by
 Postal Department.

Washington, Dec. 19.--Before the House adjourned today for the holiday recess. a special order was made for the considera- ton of the Nicaragua Canal bill, begin hing on Tuesday, January :, and to con tinue until the bill is disposed of. the or der not, however. to conflict with revenue or appropriation bills.
 After the vote on the Philippines reve- nue bill yesterday, there was general exodus of members of the House for their homes to spend the Christmas holi- days, and today when the House met there was a waste of vacant seats. The session of the House was brief.
 MT. Cannon QIl.) asked unanimous con- sent for consideration of a bill for de- ficiency appropriation of $1o.O0O for fur nishing transcript of records in the gen. eral land office. The bill was passed.
 The message of the President. relative to the creation of an Appalachian forest reserve, was laid before the House. MT. DeArmond (Mo.) rose to question or personal privilege He said that while he was absent in the Philippines report was circulated in his State to the effect
  being held up in his district until his re- turn.
 q desire." said Mir. DeArmond, "to present some testimony to disabuse the minds of those who may have been mis- led, to uncover those who may have been hypocritical and to confute those who may have lied"
 The Speaker finally ruled that no dues- ton of personal privilege had been pre- sented, whereupon Mir DeArmond op- tained unanimous consent to make priV- iieged statement He explained that ru- mors were circulated In his district that he had causted action on free delivery -I.esatcss. sEye be he'd sup dnrins his ahaepce in the Philippines. Those reports, ne said. were circulated by those who He'd and knew they lied. He said letters ad- dressed by him to the First Assistant Postmaster General last April, had cleo ited no reply. He also had read letter received by him after his return from the Orient, but dated July 3, saying a certain rural free delivery route would be established. and another. dated July 6, saving the action spoken Of in the letter of July 3 had been "held up" to await the final action of the Postmaster Gen. eraI Mir. DeArmond said he wondered whether the Postmaster General who had just announced his purpose of leaving the CaDlnSI, was eOiHS OSNoNSS AS WNS vvearied by the great labors of solving this question.
 MT. DeArmond declared that the de- partment had not treated him frankly, fairly or in. manly way" He charged that the conduct of the department was in the interest of certain bosses in Mis- souri. one of whom has hoped to get into the United States Senate.
 MT Hepburn asked unanimous consent that the NicaraPuan Canal bill be made a special order for Tuesday, January z, and to continue a special order until dis posed of, not, however, to interfere with revenue or appropriation bills. MT. Can non asked whether the passage Of the bill would embarrass the executive in securing the right-of-way through Ntca- ragua or Costa Rica.
 MT. Hepburn said legislation must pre- cede acquisition, the bill itself providing means for the acquisition of the right-of- way MT. Richardson, the minority lead er said this was in no sense political question, and there was no objection to the proposition on his side.
 MT. Cannon said he was in favor of the building of the canal, but he thought there should be a place to put the canal before 1t was authorized. As this was a request for consideration, however, he would not object. and the order for con sideration was made.
 At 1:45 the House adjourned until Jan uary 6. 1902.