Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-18
Rejects Conference Report on
the Army Bill.
SENATE Is CRITICISED
CANNON ON TREATMENT OF AP-
PREPARATIONS.
Colloquy Between Messrs. Slayden and
Hull-Canal Treaty in Ex-
ecutive Session.

When the House met today the Speaker
announced that the committee on rules had
considered the question raised yesterday
by MIR. Cooper (Texas) concerning a bill
passed Monday. which he thought tech
nically repealed the river and harbor bill.
and had found that the assumption was In
correct. s--.a-,s
Mr. Hull Qowa) then called up the con-
ference report upon the army appropriation
DILL
Mr.. Hay Wa-). one of the conferees,
strenuously opposed the adoption of the
report because of the provision for retire
ment of army officers who served In the
civil war with an additional grade and the
provision permitting army officers to de-
post their money with the government,
such deposits to draw 3 per cent interest.
Mr.. Hay expressed the opinion that the lat
ter provision would establish a dangerous
precedent; that it would lead to the grant
ing of the same privilege to naval officers.
and might be extended to civil employees Of
The government. He characterized 1t pa
ternalism run mad.
Mr. Slayden (Texas) charged Mr.. Hull
with bad faith in not giving the House a
chance for a direct vote on the deposit
amendment. He said Mr.. Hull had prom
ised such a vote.
Sharp Colloquy.
"I desire to say" interposed Mr.. Hull,
that that statement is not true
"The gentleman's courtesy" retorted Mr..
Slayden, lis equal to his veracity 1t Is a
cheap form of debate, which permits the
gentleman to indulge in the expression he
has used, and only the fact that am at the
bar of the House restraints me from reply
ing to his blackguardism as it deserves"
Democratic appiause)
This sharp colloquy aroused the House,
and Mr.. Mann QlD. undertook to rebuke
Mr. Siayden He said ne was surprised
that Mr.. Slayden should use an expression
far worse than that employed by Mr..
Hull.
''The gentleman's idea of good manners
does not especially commend itself to me-
replied Mr.. Slayden, who proceeded to say
that only very strong provocation had In
duced him to say what he had. He then
quoted from the Record to show that Mr..
Hull had virtually pledged the House an
opportunity to vote upon this proposition.
Mr.. Stevens (Minn.) also opposed the
adoption of the conference report.
He especially antagoniZed the retirement
provision. which, he said. was not only re-
troactive, but Disseminated against a class
Of deserving officers
Mr.. Capron OR. II declared that the at
lacks upon the conference report were un-
fair and unwarranted.
Mr.. Cannon Criticises the Senate.
Mr. Cannon protested against the manner
in which appropriation bills were loaded
by the Senate with all sorts of legislative
provisions that were not in order in the
House. The practice, he declared. not only
demoralized appropriation bills, but would
bring scandal and deserved criticism. I'm
the House, said he, 1--WE legislate under
ruAes. In another body (the Senate) they
legislate by unanimous consent. Gentle
men know what that means" General
applause.0
Mr. Richardson CTenn.) In opposing the
conference report, declared that whether
he had sought to do so or not Mr.. Hull
had misled the House.
Mr.. Hull concluded the debate. He de-
Tended his position, calling attention to
what he stated at the time the bill went
TO conference and to what occurred In
the committee on military affairs to show
that he had carried out instructions. He
said personally he would have preferred
to have allowed the House to pass upon
the antagonized amendments separately.
Conference Report Rejected.
The conference report was voted down
33 TO 81.
The House by specific votes insisted upon
its disagreement to the retirement and Off
GERS deposit amendments.
The bill then was sent back to confer
ence and the House resumed consideration
Of the naval appropriation bill.