The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-01-14
Good Natured and Witty Cross
 Fire Between Them.
Army Appropriation Bill Comes Up, and Speeches are Made on Every 7 Subject, But That Parti-
 cular One.

1 Washington, Jan. 13.--E'or the first time since the opening of this session of Con- eress the House was regaled today with lively political debate. General Grosve- nor of Ohio and Mir. Clark of Missouri. crossed swords during the general debate on the army appropriation bill and for two hours both sides of the House cheered their respective spokesman. The contest was entirely good-natured. It grew out of a controversy which MT. Grosvenor and Mir. Clark have been car rying on in the newspaper over the fora- CTS statement in the House last Decem- Der that the Democratic party had been wiped out at the last general election. General Grosvenor today undertook with figures to sustain his contention and MT. Clark also with figures to prove that the Democrats mad all even cnance" to win the Presidency in 1904. There were sev- eral brlihant clashes and the House ana the galleries were greatly entertained. Locates o1a Everytning. The reriainder of the day was occupied by Mr. Hull tkep) who argued agalnst the abandonment of the army transport service. MT. Sbattuc (Rep.) who assalled hdward Atkinson and the anti-imperail- ists, Mir. Moon (Dem-, Tenn.) who de- nounced the refusal Of the House leaders to allow the consideration of the Indian Territory bill and who announced q pol icy of obstruction which he intended to pursue unless consideration was given it. Mir. swanson (Dem. Ns.) who argued the necessity for tariff revision and Mr. Gaines (Dem., Tenn.) who argued the i'm mediate advisahiiity of placing coal on | the free list.
 When the House met today, on motion, of Mir. Cashman (Wash) the bill pro- viding for . delegate in Congress from Alaska was made a continuing order be- gfLning on Wednesday, January 21. The House then went into committee of the whole and took up the consideration of the army appropriation bill. The bill carried $7S,S75,2 ,276. being s4,6lS.O65 less than the current law.
 MT. Hull Qowa), in charge of the meas. ure, devoted some time to the discussion of army transport service, arguing that the present service on the Pacific organ ized since the Spanish war. was the best in the world.
 Mir. Hull argued that the service should be maintained and all transports not need ed should be placed out Of commission not sold. He said he would even favor an amendment which would prohibit the sale Of the transports without action by Con- gress. At the conclusion of Mir. HulPs remarks the committee of the whole rose temporarily and Nr. Payne from the Committee on Ways and Means reported the bill to provide a rebate on coal and gave notice that he would call it up to- morrow.
 Army Bill Comes Up.
 The debate on the army bill was re- stunned. Mir. Moon (Tenn.D made a plea for a territorial form of government for the Indian Territory.
 Mir. Shattuc (Ohio) ridlculed Edward Atkinson and his anti-imperialistic cam paign.
 Mir. GrosvOnor (Ohio) made an extend ed argument, designed to sustain an as- sertion made by him before the holiday adjournment that the Democratic party had been wiped out, in the election last fall. When Mir. Fitzgerald (N. Y.) asked a question regarding New York's returns. Mir Grosvenor retorted that he would be able to reply more intelligently if in- formed whether MT. Fitzgerald belonged to the Hill wing of the Democratic party that proposes to seize the coal mines or to some other wing.
 'I will reply to that" responded Mir. Fitzgerald. If you will tell me whether on the coal question you are stand pat Republican or some other kind of a Re- publican" Democratic laughter)
 q am always a stand pat Republican" replied Mir. Grosvenor amid Republican applause.
 Later Mir. Lindsey (N. Y.) took excep- ton to what Mir. Grosvenor said and caused considerable amusement by inject ing remarks in support of David B. Hill's coal plank into Mir. Grosvenor's speech
 His parting shot was: If you folks don't do something with this coal question your majorlties at the next election will be re- duced to nothing"
 Clark Goes for 0rosvenor.
 MT. Clark CMo.) replied to MT. Grosve- nor in a characteristicallv breezy speech. The election figures show, he said, that the Democrats had at least an "even chance" in 1904. While MT Clark was arguing that the change of few thou sand votes in certain States would give the Democratapthe Presidency. MT. Wach- ter CAad.) intarpoSed: While you are making those changes, do you suppose we will be sitting with our hands on our Iapsr'
 Nc" retorted MT. Clark, you will have your hands in the treasury up to the arm pits. just where they always are (DeInoCFduc rApPi@uSo S"o bAuSn-. ter.)
 While Mir. Clark was talking about the Congressional gerrymanders in Northern states, he crossed swords in turn with a dozen Republicans and each side cheered on its speaker.
 'srhe gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gros- venor)," said MT. Clark. continuing, '1s fond of declaring that the antitrust law is a Republican measure; that John Sher- man was its father. There is not a sylla- ble of truth In 1t. I will tell you whet John sherman did it for-Dot because hS hated the trusts. but because he hated RusselI A. Alger, who was one of the principal owners in that big match fac tory they got after"
 Alger and the Match Trust.
 Mir. Grosvenor--I will state upon the honor oc Russell A. Alger himself. who recently made the statement with his name signed to it. that he never owned .