The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-02
LITTLE TIME FOR DEBATE
The Army Appropriation Bill
Rushed Through the House.
A Rule Adopted Practically Elm
mating Discussion of the Measure
Protests From the Democrats
Oyerriddcn by the Majority.


hours and having in other ways used
forcing methods. the Republicans were
yesterday abie to compel the House to
accept all the Senate amendments to the
Army Appropriation bill and to pass it
in its entirety without sending it to con-
ference. No real attempt at serious dis
cussion was made, the Democrats con-
tenting themselves merely with going on
record against the measure and its Philip
pine and Cuban amendments. The vote
was 15y to 1874, present {.
Mr.. Dalzell presented rule providing
that the Army Appropriation bin be taken
from the Speakers table and that mo-
ton to concur in the Senate amendments
be entertained, two hours being allowed
for debate. On the roll call on consider
ing the resolution the yeas We're l5S ana
the nays l2e.
Mr.. Richardson in opening the debate,
said: we are by this rule brought to
the consideration of the most important
measure that was ever brought before a
Congress. The bin is loaded down with
the most obnoxious amendments ever pre-
scented to us for consideration.
THESE amendments quote the conditions
of the Louisiana Purchase to excuse this
arbitrary thing they propose to do. The
PROVISIONS OF bii put n
over those people, and give the Filipinos
no voice in their own government. 1t Is
in violation of all the tenets of free
country of a Republic which has pride
in its liberty of government This bill
will be in abrogation of our promises to
Cuba. When she provisions of this bill
are once enacted there will be no chance
to change it until there is a Democratic
in no 81 Enped
time
Mr.. De Armond-This is the first Con-
gressional test of Imperialism. We have
before us an imperialistic policy for dis
cussion We are allowed to discuss these
amendments because others have given
in when they might have stood against it.
There has never been day more full of
fate than today. The rights of the peo-
pie are to be frittered away. a war in
Cuba is to be risked.
Mr. Lacey called attention of the House
to what he characterized as a valuable
precedent for the course proposed by the
Administration. 1T is the law of 1903,
he said, which provided for the appoint
ment of a legislative council of thirteen
for the government of Louisiana. The bill
which is now called the worst kind of
tyranny is founded on the action of our
very loTtldlntTS. ne Is
drawn in exactly the same spirit as the
law of 1898. This is only a temporary OK
pedieut, and will shortly be supplanted.'
Mr.. Richardson-If the gentleman from
Iowa (AIr Lacey would bring forward as
a substitute the very laws which he cites
we would give him the entire and solid
vote of this side of the House. There
would be no trouble in adopting such a
measure.
Mr.. Dalzell-There seems to be an idea
that We are doing something in bringing
in this rule whicf>is out of the ordinary. /
We are simply adopting the method OF
procedure which is customary at the end
Of the session.
A yea and nay vote was ordered on the
adoption of the rule and resulted-yeas,
145; nays, 127
Mr. Richardson then made the point
of order that the rule was imperative for
the reason that under the rules the bill |
should have gone to the Committee on
Military Affairs. If it had not, then ths !
Speaker had not obeyed the rules. and, of /
course, that was not TO be IMPUTED to /
him. The bill then being with the Com /
rniutee on Military Affairs it could not /
be taken from the Speakers table, which 1
was the language of the rule, and it 4
was therefore imperative.
The Speaker oVerruled the point of or
der, on the two Grounds-first. that as
matter of fact the bill was on the Speak
er's table; second, that IT was properly
there, the language of the rule COVE rning
references of bills, giving the Speaker |
discretion as to the time 1T should be |
done. that discretion had been exercised /
by every Speaker since the present lucum- /
bent had been in Congress, and by him |
self a number of times this session at /
the request of members.
Mr.. Richardson appealed from the de- |
cision and the appeal was tabled, 40 to |
III.
Mr. Hull. Chairman of the Committee |
on Military Affairs, made the motion au- |
thorized under the rule, to concur IN the |
Senate amendments in gross. he explain |
ed the necessity for the action proposed |
that of getting all the great appropria- |
ton bills through within the next two
days to avoid extra session The Com
mittee on Military Affairs endorsed the
plan under which. the House was oper4t-
ing. Except for the Cuban and Philip
pine propositions. there was nothing IN /
the Senate amendment. said Mr.. Hull. |
that would have met the opposition OF |
the House.
disturbed because the Republican party |
and Administration was bringing the !
country out Of the grasp OF conditions that !
would be intoierable, and the result would I
be as advantageous to the inhabitants of |
Cuba as had the legislation of a year ago |
been to the people of Porto Rico. They 1
had written their endorsement of that (
legislation, and today the people OF Porto !
Rico were as prosperous and happy as any I
on earth.
Replying to a question by Mr.. Carmack |
Mr.. GrosyenOr said that the legislation I
proposed In the Cuban amendment was the |
ultimatum Of the Republican party TO !
Cuba for today. And whatever came. he (
knew that the American people would in /
sist upon maintaining control Of Cuba !
until conditions We're established that con- /
tanned no evil or danger to their interests !
Mr.. Corliss, in the face Of cries What !
about the Teller resolution said he was
in favor OF the Cuban amendment Beca use /
he believed that II meant the control of !
Cuba by the United States. This country
and humanity demanded that the sover- !
eighty OF the United States should con-
tlnue to be exercised over the island.
J. r. Williams said the Democrats had !
tried 10 buy Cuba. the Republicans were |
TRYING TO steal Cuba
In the course OF mis- service in the House |
Mr. Pierce said he had seen but one meas |
nre-the Force bill--approaching the pend |
Ing one in iufamy. He denounced the |
Democrats in the Senate for permitting |
House He added: Before / would have
seen the liberties Of the Filipinos taken
away and the pledge Of The American peo-
pie through this Congress to the Cuban |
people violated and smirched, would vel |
come an extra session ,slnd see every dol |
lar Of the River and Harbor ApprODria. |
tions left cut forever
Using Mr. Richardson's assertion that |
tne proposed legislation WAS in deroga- |
ton Of the principles of the American Re |
public as a text, MIR. GrosVenor referred |
10 the Dstend conference. called secretly |
by the President In iSji which issued the |
IcaL.iest0 proposing TO give Spain $780, |
t3-EB tor cuba. the sum aftelWard bein.,
increased to $l20,GaA.0gg. Two years later |
the Democratic party endorsed the |
scheme by nominating Buchanan for /
President. and the manifesto had never |
been regulated by the Democratic party |
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