Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-12
57TH CONGRESS.
House Takes Up Post Office
Appropriation Bill.
Mr.. BurIeson Drags the Boer War Into
the Varied Debate.
Mallory Opposes Ship Subsidy Bill in
Long Speech.

Washington, March 1.-THE House
entered, today, on the consideration of
the post Office appropriation bill, but as
usual during general debate on an ap-
preparation BILL the members who spoke
devoted themselves to everything ex-
cept the bill before the House. Early
in the day, Thayer. Mass, attempted to
take advantage of the division among
the Republicans on the subject of
reciprocity by bringing forward reso-
luton that reports that the sugar trust
would be the chief beneficiary of Cuban
reciprocity, be Investigated. He tried
to reverse decision of the Speaker in
order to secure action on his resolution,
but the Republicans voted solidly
against such a course and he was
checkmated. Brantley. Georgia
Democrat, made a speech in favor of
Cuban reciprocity. and Meyer, Louis
lana Democrat, against it. Hill, Conn.,,
made some remarks on his monetary
bill
But the feature of the day was 4
speech by Burleson, attacking Sec. Hay
for declining to request the British au-
thorities to furnish passports to Rev.
Hiram w. Thomas and his wife to pass
through the British lines. Thomas and
his wife desire to go to South Africa to
distribute BOer relief funds collected in
Illinois. Hit, ILL.,, chairman of the for
eigu affairs committee, made a spirited
reply to Burleson,, charging the Texas
member with attempting to prejudice
the case before the evidence was in.
Hit pointed out that relief funds could
be distributed through the Red Cross
or the American consuls and AIDED that
1t was contrary to international law and
usag es to allow those in sympathy with
an enemy to go through their oppo-
neEts' lines in time of war.
When the House met, Thayer, Mass,
created something of a furry by rising
to n question of privilege, which he
said involved the dignity of the House
and the safety of it's members"
He therefore presented Il resolution
setting forth many rumors regarding
Cuban reciprocity together with allie
CATION that the sugar trust was to be
the chief beneficiary of such recipro
city so that it was subsiding news
papers, establishing literary bureaus
and in other ways attempting to Gre
ate public sentiment in favor of the
Cuban reciprocity. The resolution de-
clares that the dignity of the House
was involved and called for a special
committee of seven members to in
vestigate the subject.
Loud made a point of order against
the resolution, which was sustained by
the Speaker. Thayer appealed from
the decision of the Chair. Il move
to lay the appeal on the table," in
stantly cried Mr. Payne. the Republic
can floor leader. Thayer demanded
the ayes and noes and the roll was
called.
The Republicans voted solidly for
the motion to lay the appeal on the
table, while two Democrats, Fleming,
Ga, and Mcclellan, N. Y, broke away
from their party associates and voted
with the Republicans. The appeal was
laid on the table, 125 to 81.
The House then went into commit
tee of the whole Uittlefield of Maine,
in the chair) on the post office APP
preparation bill. AS Littlefield took
the chair there was an outburst of
applause on both sides of the House.
Loud, Cal, explained the provisions
of the bill, which carries $137,916,596,
being $3,1S5,O22 more than the esti-
mates and s14,133.910 more than the
appropriations for the current year.
The main cause of the increase, he
said. was the increased salaries of
postal employees which, under this BILL
would average 5000.
Brantley, Ga, took advantage of the
latitude allowed in general debate on an
appropriation bill to discuss the question
of Cuban reciprocity. He contended that
whatever was to be done should be done
speedily. He favored reciprocity. He ar
gued that the South would benefit great
ly by the commerce of Cuba IL freer trade
existed. and that If Cuba was prosper
Gus. sanitary condition would be main
tanned there which would remove the
danger of yellow fever which had con-
stantly threatened the southern ports in
the past.
Brantley spoke for over an hour He
was closely question by the Michigan ana
Louisiana members.
Hill, Conn. followed Brantley with
some remarks in favor of his bill to
maintain the legal tender value of the
silver dollar at parity with gold While
he was speaking a group of Republicans
were listening to Senator Hanna. The
little gathering attracted much attention.
Finally Sulzer. n. Y. rose to a point of
order and asked Littlefeld. who was in
the chair. whether the gentleman from
Connecticut or the senator from Ohio
had the floor. Mr.. Iittleheld, who was
presiding, smiled broadly, pounded for or
der and announced that the gentleman
from Connecticut had the floor. He look
ed toward the group of which Senator
Hanna was the center and admonished
those who desired to indulge in CONVERSE
ton TO retire behind the rail
Burleson, Texas then called attention
to the resolution introduced by him a
few days ago calling on the secretary Of
state for Information to whether he
had declined to request the British am
bassador to furnish passports for Rev.
Hiram w. Thomas and Mrs. Thomas. of
Chicago, who were selected to distribute
funds collected in Illinois for the relief
of non-combatant prisoners in South
Africa.
Burleson admitted that he did not know
PERSONALITY whether the report on which
his resolution was based was true His
purpose was solely to ascertain the facts.
lie sent to the clerks desk and had a
letter from John o. Knight read He
said in the letter that he went to Secre
tary Hay with a letter from Senator Gull
lom and the secretary of state declined
to make the request of Lord Pauncefote
on the ground that such request would
be considered ''meddlesome" and a re
mission of neutrality" and against the
views of President Roosevelt.
If the facts stated in this letter We're
true, Burleson said then the state depart
ment was $50 saturated with pro-Brit.Sh
spirit that it could no longer respond to