Evening journal., 1901-02-12
DAY aF DEBATE
In CONGRESS-
anonymous Letter introduced
Into The House
TT ATTACKS PERRY s. HElTH
Despite Objections, II Becomes a Part
Of The House Record Mr..
Suller Excited
IT ATTACKS PERRY s. HEITR

Washington, Feb. 12.-Yesterday was
field day in the house, being by far
the liveliest day during the present
session. A very interesting debate over
the constitutional limitations on the
power Of the senate over revenue legis-
lation initiated by the house was pre-
cipitated when Mr.. Payne, the chair
man of the ways and means commit
tee, brought in the resolution of the
committee to disagree to the substitute
proposed by the senate as an amend
ment to the war revenue reduction act
and to ask for a conference with the
senate. Mr.. Tawney, of Minnesota.
championed the cause of the house and
its paramount rights over revenue lee
islation but was unfortunate in not
bringing forward a resolution to re-
turn the bill to the senate with the
declaration that the senate had tram
scended its powers in substituting an
entirely new measure for the bill Of the
house.
The subsequent debate showed that
had this course been adopted the prop
osition would have commanded n large
vote Instead. however. he insisted
upon a division Of the resolution and
after the first portion-to disagree
had been adopted he made the point c !
order that the second motion was not
in order because the senate in its sub
stitute had invaded the constitutional
prerogative of the house. The result
was that the members were not con-
fronted with the direct issue and the
house voted, 233 to 3S, to ask for q
conference.
Later in the day. during the con-
sideration of the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation bill, an impassion-
ed pro-Boer speech by Mr.. Sulzer Of
New York, drew from Mr.. Mahon, of
Pennsylvania, a recital of the raising
of a fund of about 81 200 for the ben
eft of the widows of Boer soldiers at q
meeting held in this city at which Mr..
Sulzer presided. He declared that af-
ter the "terrapin and cold bottles got
in their work" only SIS was left for the
Boer widows.
This stung Mr. Sulzer to reply at
| length He said he had no connection
with the expenditure of the fund, 10
which he had contributed Sl75, and a
very lively row followed. the climax
of which was reached when Mr. Stiz0.
had read an anonymous letter which
made a sensational personal attack up
on Mr.. Perry S. Heath, late assistant
postmaster general, who was secretary
| of the Republican national committee
during the recent campaign, charging
him with being Neelys sponsor and
then denying it after the arrest OF
! Neely and also making allegations
against Mr.. Heath in connection with
government deposits in a New York
bank Mr.. Sulzer charged Mr.. Heath
with being responsible for the circula-
tion of the stories about his cOnnec-
ton with the fund for the Boer Wild
ows.
Mr.. Knox, of Massachusetts, declared
that it was Contemplate" to attack a
gentleman who could not reply through
the medium OF an anonymous letter
and moved that the infraction of the
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
i communication was anonymous he
fathered every word of it and would
be responsible for it as a member OF
the house and as an individual. The
Democrats filibustered against the mo-
ton TO expunge the letter from tho
Congressional Record and finally fore
ed an adjournment. the effect beinl
to permit publication of the letter il
the record.
Shortly after the senate convened
yesterday the naval appropriation bill
was passed. The shipping bill theI
was taken up and kept before the sen
ate during the remainder of the legis
Iative day. Mr. Caffrey, Democrat, o
Louisiana. occupied the floor through
out the session. Opposition senators
made the point Of no quorum severa
times and demanded a call of the sen
ate. Finally this drew out a warning
from Mr.. Frye. chairman of the com
mittee on commerce. that If senator
desired a river and harbor bill to h
reported at this session they wouli
better not interrupt the committee hav
ing the measure under consideration
Even after that there was one call o
the senate. Mr.. Caffrey had not con
cluded his speech when, after havin
spoken for nearly six hours, he ylelde
|. the floor for an executive session.