Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-06-10


forts being put forth by our soldiers
in the Philippines, will react and that
within four months there will be
wish, perhaps unexpressed publicly
that the campaign had been laid out
on different lines.
Tenth Solid for Roosevelt.
Congressman Conner says the peo-
pie in his district, the tenth, are solid
for Roosevelt. During his two weeks
visit at home, during which time ne
covered many countries, he found only
good words for the President. The
people believe the President to be an
honest man, who is influenced in all
his acts by desire to do the right
thing, and who has the courage to
carry into execution his convictions.
RumpIe is Pleased.
Congressman Rumple is very much
elated that the item of $4,000 for a
site for Muscatine's future public
building, passed at this session. The
people of the second district will prob
ably never fully appreciate the efforts
put forth by Capt. Rumple to secure
appropriations for both Muscatine
and Iowa City. AS has been previous
ly stated he introduced bills exactly
similar for each city and his efforts
were directed to get both items
through. No amount of persuasion
could induce him to countenance any
oicker or trade or favoritism. and
when it came to the last ditch he
stood for both towns.
Muscatine May Vet Be in Luck.
1t would not be surprising if Mus
,catine enjoyed handsome reward by
waiting not more than two years for
an appropriation to erect building.
Capt. RUMBLE says he will introduce
bill at the next session providing for
an appropriation of 100000 for pub.
lie building and will be able to secure
the passage of the bill. AS a general
proposition bill for public buildings
is reported by the committee only
once in two years, but with the site
already provided for it would be pos
sible to secure a place for such bill
lon the sundry civil appropriation bill
in which event the delay to Muscatine
would be but a year. The fact that
Muscatine was dropped from the last
bill will naturally cause the commit
tee to favor the latter city when the
next bill is taken up.
Minority Always Kicks.
1t is tavorite plant of the minor
-always-whether that minority
be republican or democratic, am told,
to harp about the rule canning
bills through the house without oppor-
tnnity for 6nhntn
ton. Not long since a bill was re-
ported and with it came rule fixing
time of closing general debate for the
following evening, giving two days for
discussion. Congressman De Almond
of Missouri who is perhaps the ablest
debater upon the minority side, arose
and proceeded to skin the majority for
voting to sustain such rule He said
such action was scandalous, oppres-
sive, un-American and slavish, and
generally tore his hair that a measure
| OF such tremendous Importance and
| farreaching in consequences should
be railroaded through the house.
An Instance.
| However, the house had heard this
plant before and gave no heed to it
The rule was adopted and the debate
began. Later in the afternoon hap
pened to be in the house chamber. AT
| first l thought the house had adjourn.
1 ed and that the messengers and pages
Were cleaning up the hall and getting
ready for the next day. l soon dis
covered, however, that the house was
in session and that the debate was on
Some member was droning away away
I from typewriter manuscript, upon
a subject altogether foreign to the bill;
in fact, he was delivering campaign
speech SO as to get it in the congress
sional record and then out to his peo
pie. 1t was a political speech fol
home consumption-noth more: Mr.
De Almond was not present. Neither
were 800 other members of the house
By actual count there were precisely
lforty-four congressman present, and
during the few moments remained
/ just six, by actual count, of the forty
four were giving any heed to what the
1 speaker was saying. The other thirty
eight We're writing letters or reading
newspapers.
Heavy Work Done in Committee.
AS matter of fact it is rare occa
sion when the house devotes two full
days to actual debate upon any prop
osition. The heavy work in congress
lis done in the committees. When the
bill is reported each member gets {
copy of the bill and with it a repor
Igiving details. The member can yer,
4 quickly get general idea of the legis
lation proposed. it he has not previous
lily done SO, and the merits of the bill
could be very thoroughly canvassec
in debate in two days.
Frank ]. Stillman.
Washington, June 6.