Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-02-14
HOUSE MEMBERS QUESTION pow
ERS OF SENATE.
IN REVENUE LEGISLATION
oro-Boer Speech by Mr.. Sulzer PrecIp-
jtates a Lively Debate-Perry S.
Heath Attacked-Senator Spooner
Questions Regarding Application of
Proposed Subsidy Measure.

session. A very interesting debate |
over the constitutional limitations on |
the power of the senate over revenue /
legislation initiated by the house was
precipitated when Mr. Payne, chair ]
man of the ways and means commit
tee, brought in a resolution TO dlsa-
gree to the substitute proposed by
the senate amendment to the war rev
enue reduction act, and to ask Tor
conference with the senate. Senator
Tawney championed the cause OF the
house and its paramount rights over
the revenue legislation, but was IN
fortunate in not bringing forward the
resolution to return the bill to the SEN
ate with the declaration that the SEN
ate had transcribed it's powers in sub
shutting an entirely new measure for
the bill of the house. Subsequently
debate showed that had this course
been adopted the proposition would
have commanded large
vote. Instead, however. he insisted
upon a division of the resolution and
after the first portion-to disagree
|
| of order that the second motion was
not in order because the senate in its
substitute had invaded the cOnstitu-
tional prerogative Of the house. The
result was the members we're not con-
fronted with the direct issue and
voted 233 to SO to ask for a confer
ence.
Later in the day, during the consid-
Grafton of the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation bill. an impas-
stoned pro-boer speech by Mr.. Sulzer
of New York drew from Mr.. MahOn Of
Pennsylvania the recital of the rails
ing of a fund of about $1,000 for the
benefit of widows of bOer soldiers at
a meeting at which Mr.. Sulzer pre-
sided. He declared that after the
terrapin and cold bottles got in their
work. only SIS was left for the boer
widows. This stung Mr.. SulZer to re-
ply at length. He said he had no con-
nection with the expenditure Of the
fund, to which he had contributed
SIS, and a very likely row followed,
the climax Of which was reached
when Mr. Sulzer read an anonymous
letter which made a sensational per-
sonal attack upon Perry S. Heath, late
assistant postmaster general, who was
secretary of the republican national
committee during the recent cam
paign, charging him with be-
ing Neely's sponsor, and then
denying it after the arrest of Nicely;
also making allegations against Heath
in connection with the government de-
posts in the New York bank. Mr.. Sui
ger charged Heath with being respOn-
sible for the funds for the boer
widows.
Mr.. Knox (Mass.) declared that it
was contemplate" to attack gen
tleman who could not reply through
and moved that the infraction Of rules
be reported to the house and stricken
from the record. In the course of the
debate upon this motion Mr.. Sulzer
declared that although the commune
cation was anonymous he fathered
every word of it and would be respon-
sible for it as a member of the house
filibustered against the motion to ex-
punge the letter from the COMPRESSION
al record and finally forced adjourn
ment, the effect being to permit the
publication of the letter in the record.
The desk of Representative Shaw Of
New York, late commander in chief
of the G. A. R., was draped in black
I.
! extreme pressure of public business,
| it was decided by the house leaders in
expedient to adjourn Immediately out
of respect to his memory.
Spooner Makes Inquiry.
Shortly after the senate convened
the naval appropriation bill was
passed. The shipping bill was then
taken up and kept before the senate
during the remainder of the legislative
day. Senator Caffery (dem., La.) oc.
cupied the floor throughout the ses-
sion. The opposition senators made
the point of no quorum several times
and demanded the call of the senate.
Finally, they drew out the warming
from Senator Frye, chairman of the
committee on commerce, that if the
senators desired the river and harbor
bill to be reported at this session they
had better not interrupt the committee
having the measure under considera-
ton. Even after that there was one
call for the senate. Senator Caffery
had not concluded his speech when. F.!
after having spoken nearly six hours,
he yielded the floor for the executive |
session.
A resolution offered by Senator |
Spooner was passed calling upon the |
secretary of the treasury to furnish |
the senate the number and tonnage of
vessels engaged in foreign commerce,
the number now engaged in coastwise
trade that could enter foreign trade
under the pending bill, also the
amount Of subsidy each vessel would
receive under the bill. The resolu-
ton also calls for number
OF foreign-built vessels authorized
to come under the American registry
by bill and the amount Of subsidy
each would receive and the number
Of foreign ships registered as con-
tracted to be built under the provi- I
sions of the bill Senators Aldrich, |
Allison and Jones (Ark.) were ap-
bill. 7
The senate held two brief executive
sessions for the consideration of nom Y