The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-01-30
TIE AGRICULTURAL BILL.
The House Spends the Day Upon This Measure.
Gains on the Constitution.

the day upon the Agricultural Appropria-
ton bill. 1t was used as vehicle for
the introduction Of several general
speeches. Mr.. Thayer, of Massachusetts,
discussed the Ship Subsidy bill, Mr..
White North Carolina), the colored
member who goes out of Congress March
4th, delivered his valedictory upon the
general subject of the aspirations OF his
race, and Mr. Gaines, of Tennessee, dis
cussed the limitations of the Constitution
in connection with our insular possess
sons. Mr. Corliss (Michigan) made a
vicious onslaught upon the Bureau of
Animal Industry Of the Agricultural De-
partment, but his attack raised host Of
defenders and his amendment TO reduce
the appropriation for the bureau was
overwhelmingly defeated.
All that portion of the bill relating to
the reorganization of the scientific Du-
reaus of the Agricultural Department
went out on a point OF order raised by
Mr.. Mahon, of Pennsylvania.
The earliest portion of the session was
enlivened by a sequel to the exchange
between Mr. Flynn (Oklahoma) and Mr..
stephens (Texas), yesterday, when the lie
was almost passed. Mr. Stephens again
denied and Mr.. Flynn again reiterated his
charges in connection with the passage
of the bill to ratify tie Kiowa and Com
manche agreement passed at the last
session.
Under a question of privileges Mr..
stephens read the language used by Mr..
Flynn.
Mr. Stephens said it was unfortunate
for Mr. Flynn that he himself had in
troGucd a bill in January, 1909f which
contained the identical languag which he
now charged was surreptitiously inserted
in the bill. He Indignantly repelled the
insinuation to which Mr.. Flynn had given
utterance.
MIR. Flynn arose and declared en-
phatically that when the bill passed no
one on the floor except Mr. Stephens
knew the section was in the bill.
Would we have allowed a section to so
in,' he asked, (Which permitted whites
to take without compensation lands we
were allotting to the Indians?"
Didn't you introduce a bill containing
similar language?" asked Mr.. Stephens.
II had sufficient confidence in the gen.
tleman at that time" retorted Mr. Flynn.
What led to the investigation which un-
earthed the facts" he continuer, was
that tke moment the bill passed the~gen-
tleman from Texas telegraphed 1aa
friends to go into the lands and locate
claims"
Did you not telegraph your friends?"
iuterposed Mr.. Stephens.
Yes, that the bill had passed, but l
insist that the investigation developed
tha fact that the gentleman from Texas
was the ther House to
know the mining clause was in the bill
THAT statement" cried Mr.. stephens,
raising his arm threateningly. lis utterly
unfounded and ] believe il is knowingly
ana malicicusly made"
Mr.. Flynn retorted that he received
this Information on visit to the reserva-
ton
Then the incident hattened out. Mr..
Stephens called upon Mr.. Curtis (kansas)
Of the Committee on Indian Affairs, and
Mr.. Little arkansas, who, he said,
knew the section vas in the bill to bear
testimony 70 that effect Mr.. Little
finally said be knew the section was in
the bill.
a motion to send the Army Reorganiza
ton bill back 10 conference was agreed to.
The House then went into committee
Of the whole and took up The Agricultural
bill. Mr.. Wadsworth, chairman OF the
Agricultural Committee explained the
salient features Of the measure
Mr. White North Carolina) made
general speech in defense of the political
rights of the colored man. He referred
to the reapportionment bill. The reduc-
ton of representation in the South he
said, would further intrench the Repub-
lican party in power and enable it TO dis
pense with the loyal support of the negro
race Some members of the Republican
party he said the lily whites" after
receiving the unalloyed support of the
negroes for years now appeared to be-
lieve they had grown a little too good
toT association with them. But SUCH he
thanked God We're comparatively few in
number. Mr. White declaed that the ne
gro on the threshold of the Twentieth
Century was to be reckoned with. He
was no longer the negro of forty years
ago. Since that time illiteracy among
the members of his race had decreased
- per cent. His race now included 1000
lawyers and as many physicians. the ne
grOes had $12, 100000 of school property
and 0,000,000 of church property; they
owned 10000 homes and farms of the
value CT $4,000 900 and personal property
10 the amount of S17, ,000 900 All this. he
said, his race he'd accomplished in the
face Of almost insurmountable obstacles,
lynchings, burnings, disfranchsement, the
slander OF the black men ana women and
Notwithstanding the fact that the door
of every trade was closed against the
colored man. The colorcd man. he said,
who had done the country's work for two
and half centuries would not always re-
main poor.
There was plenty Of room at the top
and the negro was climbing In conclu-
sion Mr.. White as id he was delivering
the valedictory of the colored man in
Congress. ut It was not farewell for
ever. The negro. he said. would rise up
and come again. lie spoke in behalf of
an outraged, broken hearted, bruised and
bleeding people, but a faithful and indus
trious one. On their behalf he asked no
special favors, but only fair field. As
Mr.. White finished the public galleries.
which were filed with coiorcd people,
aDplauded vigorously.
MIR. Hall submitted the second confer
ence report upon the Army Reorganiza-
tiou bill. explaining that the two clerical
errors in tho former repot had been COR
rected. The report was adopted
The Agricultural bin was then read for
amendments under the hye-minutc rule,
Arter lsrocv., lobaF. On Mr EorIft -