The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-04
PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.
River and Harbor Bill Denounced by
Mr.. Hepburn.


WASHINGTON, March S.-The House re-
sumed it's session at 2 o'clock this after
noon with the galleries packed to the doors
with inauguration visitors. majority of
them We're soldiers in uniform.
Although several hard fights over items
in the various appropriation bills loomed
up on the horizon, the leaders were conf
dent that all the disputes would be
amicably settled before noon tomorrow
when Congress expires by limitation. The
House was still in the legislative day of
Friday, and the members came prepared
for siege through the night If the COM
plications made night session necessary.
Mr.. Grosvenor, of Ohio, from the COM
mittee on rules, presented a special order
providing that after ten minutes debate it
should be in order to move concurrence in
the Senate amendments to the river and
harbor bill and to agree to the conference
asked for by the Senate. Twenty minutes
on a side were allowed to the rule No
Democrats desired TO speak and Mr.. Rich
ardson yielded his time to Mr.. Hepburn,
who aroused the House with a passion
ate speech denouncing the measure. He
taunted the Democrats for not opposing
It, saying that the $6O0OO,OOO carried by the
bill accounted for the lack OF opposition
II the Democrats had stood against this
BILL he said. enough members on his side
OF the House would have joined with them
to defeat 1t.
Does the gentleman think this legislation
is vicious?" asked Mr.. Wheeler of Ken
lucky.
''I have no word to properly characterize
It." answered Mr. Hepburn. when there
is pork in the barrel the voice of the oppo-
sition is stihed. 1t is always prating about
virtue. / now appeal TO It,"
'Then does the gentleman think there is
niger in the woodpile?" asked Mr.
Fitzpatrick. of Kentucky.
II do not know" replied Mr.. Hepburn
waving him aside. 1.-THE gentleman knows
more about 'niggers' and 'woodpiles' than
| do"
A MENACE TO THE COUNTRY.
Mr.. Hepburn continued his excoriation
saying he hoped he would be able to attract
the attention of the country TO the meas
ure While a few of the appropriations in
the bill might be meritorious. he said
millions were frittered away. Mr. Hep
burn recounted several instances, notably
in the case of the force bill" where i'm
portant legislation had been abandoned in
order that Congress might be able to get
at the river and harbor bill. When a bill
was such factor il became real danger
and menace II the country He declared
that not over twenty of the four hundred
items in the bill could pass If they stood
alone. and said he hoped the constituents
of members would notice that for the $4,000
or $4,000 they secured millions of the peo-
pies money sacrificed. In conclusion
Mr.. Hepburn raised a laugh at his own ex-
pense by stating that perhaps his own vir-
tue in regard TO this bin was protected by
the meteorological conditions i'm his dis
trict
Mr.. Carmack, of Tennessee, called atten-
ton to the fact that Mr.. Hepburn had been
protect the treasury. For himself, he said.
he thought the government could expend
money on the rivers and harbors of the
country with more profit 10 the people than
in spending il seven thousand miles beyond
the sea in subjecting a people who wanted
TO be free. democratic applause.l
Mr. Reeves, OF Illinois, a member OF the
river and harbor committee, resented MIR.
Hepburnis charge that the individual items
in the bill could not stand alone on their
own merits. He said the bill as II passed
the House contained $50 items. The Sem
ate, aftef investigation. had rejected but
four OF them. The special order was
adopted.
Mr.. Burton. of Ohio. chairman of the