Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-04
Mr.. Cannon Denounces Hold
Up" by One Senator.
A MEMORABLE SCENE
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTA-
TIvEs EARLY THIS MORNING.
Declares That Change Must Be Made
in the Rules Of the Other
Body.

The speech Of Representative Cannon,
chairman Of the appropriations committee.
delivered after $50 o'clock this morning in
the House. on the conference report on the
general deficiency appropriation bill pro-
testing against Legislative blackman," and
insisting on the right OF a majority to rule
in the Senate, In view Of the fact that he
| is to be the Speaker Of the next House. is
| regarded as foreshadowing a contest upon
| this question: The scene when Mr.. Cannon
delivered this speech was the most remark
able Of this Congress In the House. Late as
the hour was the weary members were set
on fire with enthusiasm, and they cheered
his utterances until the great hall resound-
ed with their shouts. Mr.. Cannon said:
Gentlemen know that under the practice
Of the House and under the rules OF the
Senate the great money bills can contain
nothing but appropriations in pursuance of
existing law, unless by unanimous consent
of both bodies. If any Of these bills con-
tain legislation, 1t must be by unanimous
consent Of the two bodies: and the uniform
practice has been-so far as I know-the in
variable practice has been, with the ex-
ception Of one amendment upon this bill.
that when one body objected to legislation
proposed by the other upon an approprta-
ton bill. the body proposing the legislation
recedes.
South Cardinals Claim.
"In this case the trouble in arriving at an
agreement all clustered about one amend
ment. There were many amendments Of
legislative character proposed by the Sem
ate; there were many amendments cover
ing hundreds Of thousands Of dollars Of
claims pure and simple. proposed by the
Senate. One by one the legislative proyis-
ions and the claims disappeared as the Sem
ate receded until we came to an amend
ment to pay the state OF South Carolina
$47. 900. word as to that. In May last, on
the omnibus claim bill, basis was fixed for
the adjustment of the accounts OF Vir-
ginia and Baltimore and South Carolina
with the United States, growing out of the
war Of 1928. The auditing officers of the
treasury, In pursuance of that law, adjust
ed the accounts of Virginia. An indefinite
appropriation was made to pay the re-
spective states whatever should be found
due by the auditing officers. Upon that
basis, and under that legislation, the sum
of 500, 900 in round numbers has been paid
to the state OF Virginia.
Under the same law which Is the law to-
day, the auditing officers in the adjustment
of accounts Of the war Of 1912, found due to
the state Of South Carolina the sum Of "a
cents. Now, the Senate of the United
| States. Notwithstanding the law, proposed
legislation on an appropriation bill to the
extent of granting to the state OF South
Carolina 81. 900. The House conferees OBJ
jected. and the whole long delay has been
over that one item.
Practice In the Senate.
In the House of Representatives, with
out criticising either side or any individual
member. we have rules, sometimes invoked
| by our democratic friends and sometimes
by ourselves-each responsible to the peo-
pie after all Is said and done-by which
| majority, right or wrong, mistaken or other
wise, can legislate In another body there
| are no such rules. In another body legisla-
ton Is had by unanimous consent In an
nfh haudNy fndtt ,I.ar 80
body can rise in his place and talk for one
hour. two hours, ten hours, twelve hours.
1t is a matter of history that a senator on
the republican side, in a former Congress
talked to death a river and harbor bill.
There comes time constantly in the set
| Ting of bills when you must do SO and so, OF
SO and So else your bill cannot pass, and
this with reference to the great money
bills. In my opinion such q condition exist
ed as to this bill and clustered about this
one amendment.
There was also an amendment put onto
the bill In another body, which involved leg
islation to the extent OF granting to the
state Of Vermont $4,000 IN adjustment Of
her war claims. The Senate receded. but
your conferees were unable to get the Sen
ate to recede upon this gift from the treas
ury, against the law, to the state Of South
Carolina By unanimous consent another
body legislates and in the expiring hours Of
the session we are powerless without that
unanimous consent Help me, Cassius or
1 sink Unanimous consent comes to the
center of the dome; unanimous consent
comes through statuary hall and to the
House doors and comes practically to the
House. We can have no legislation without
the approval of both bodies. and one body,
in my opinion, cannot legislate without
unanimous consent.
Legislative B1ackmail.
There was the alternative. In my opinion
this applied not only to the deficiency bill,
but to the naval bill. or an agreement as to
the naval bill. Your conferees had the
alternative OF submitting to legislative
blackmail at the demand. in my opinion, of
one individual-I shall not say WHEREOF of
what are We going to do about ftf This bill
contains many important matters-your ap-
preparations for public buildings, legislation
lately had all along the line Of the public
service to the extent of 2O.OO00OO
Now, have taken the House into my
confidence touching this matter, esr It is
my duty to do. am getting to be some
what aged man. 1 pray God that my life
may be spared until an intelligent and a
and west. pervading both Of the great par
ties, will lash anybody into obedience to the
right OF the majority to rule. Ma torfttes
and nninorfties shift back and forth. Ah'
says somebody. did that work In reference
to the matter Of statehood. and did you be-
ueve In statehoodr 1 did not believe in
stathood, and am putting now the strong
est case against my own party, but a ma
tofity of the people, voiced In the Senate
will expressed.
Rule Must Be Changed
Gentlemen. have made my protest.