New-York tribune., 1901-01-19
CRAMP BILL IN THE HOUSE.
FILIBUSTERING ALL DAY OVER IT-PRE-
VIOUS QUESTION FINALLY ORDERED.

Washington, Jan. 1S.-The House spent the
entire day to-day on the bill to refer to the
Court of Claims the claims of the William
Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company. of Pbila
delphia, for alleged damages due to the delay
of the Government in furnishing armor plate
and material for the battleships Massachusetts
and Indiana and the cruisers New-York and
Columbia. The claims aggregate 81. .361 244 The
bill has been conspicuous at every session of
Congress for several years. 1t met with the
strenuous and determined opposition of a por-
ton Of the minority under the leadership of Mr.
McDermOtt, of New-Jersey, and Mr. Robh. of
Missouri filibuster was finally begun but
its advocates at last succeeded in having the
previous question ordered upon the bill The
House then adjourned The ordering of the
previous question gives the bill tactical ad-
vantage in parliamentary way. which prac-
tically insures a vote upon it whenever it is
called up again.
Mr. Throop Penn.), who was in charge Of the
bill, explained its provisions and it's history 1t
has been before several Congresses, and from
time 10 time has passed one the other house.
Mr. Robb Co) who is a member of the Com
rnttee on Claims opposed the bill. He called
attention to the fact that the contract with the
Cramps specified that no additional charges
should be made on account of changes in plans
and also that the contractors had further ex-
pressly released the Government from every
claim for loss damage sustained by them by
reason of the Governments failure to furnish
armor and material. The Government held the
contractors receipt in full. he said
Mr.. Steel Qnd) interposed to ask whether the
receipt not made under duress. Il have
heard an intimation," replied Mr.. Robb that
the great shipbuilding firm of Cramp & Sons
had been coerced into surrendering a claim for
in Orda an nd 81
S15O,OO0. But L do not believe 1t. 1t is ridicu-
lous"
Mr. Dalzell Penn) made extended argu-
rnent in support Of the measure, which he said
would only submit the claim to the Court of
Claims TO determine its equities. 1t gave the
Government the right TO appeal the judgment OF
the Court to the Supreme Court.
After some further remarks Mr.. Grosvenor
(Ohio) moved that the committee rise. Without
opposition the committee rose and reported to
the House that il had come 10 no conclusion
upon the Cramp bill Thereupon Mr.. Grosvenor
moved that the House go back into Committee
Of the Whole and limit general debate to one
minute. 1t was carried. The House went back
into Committee of the Whole. where the oppo-
nents of the bill succeeded for some time in pro-
longing the fight An amendment offered by
Mr.. BouteI Qll.), member of the committee.
10 change slightly the verbiage adopted.
Mr.. Grosvenor tried to cut off further attempts
10 amend the bill by moving that the committee
rise and report the bill favorably TO the House.
but Mr.. Hemenway Qnd), who was in the chair,
ruled that the motion was not in order until the
amendments offered became dilatory. This
opened the way TO a . rfect stream of amend
Inents. which poured in from the opponents Of
the bill.
Finally the Chair recognized a motion that
the committee rise. and Il prevailed. Mr.. Grosve-
nor demanded the previous question upon the
bill. A rising vote resulted 81 to 80 whereupon
Mr. McDermott made the point of no quorum
The Speaker able 10 count only 40 mem
bers. and a call of the House ordered. Mr.
McDermott attempted to move adjournment
but the Speaker held that the motion dila-
tOr..
The call Of the House developed the presence
OF 113 members, and the Speaker directed the
sergeant at arms TO bring in absentees Pend
ing the appearance of enough absentees to make
up quorum. Mr.. Robb moved TO adjourn. The
motion was lost. When the quorum last ap-
peared the previous question was ordered, 104
10 J6, twenty present and not voting The pre-
vious question was also ordered the four
minor bills favorably acted upon by the
nittee, and they were passed The House then
adjourned.