The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-03-05
ATTACKS THE SENATE RULES Cannon Delivers a Remark
 able Speech. WILL BE NEXT SPEAKER His Remarks Thought to Fore
 shadow Policy. Says He is Against Statehood Bill, But Should Have Passed
 as Majority So
 Desired.
WILL BE NEXT SPEAKER

Washington. March 4.-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 appropriations biil, protesting against Legislation black mail'' and in- sisting 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 contest on this question.
 The scene when Mir. Cannon delivered this speech was the most remarkable 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 re- sounded with their shouts. MT. Cannon said:
 Cannon's Great Speech.
 Gentlemen know that under the prac- tice 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 contains legislation, 1t must be by unanimous consent of the two bodies and the uniform practice has been with the exception of one amendment upon this bill that when one body ob- jected to legislation proposed by the other upon an appropriation bill, the body proposing the legislation recedes.
 Tn this case the trouble in arriving at an agreement is all caused by one amend ment. There were many amendments of a legislative character proposed by the Senate; there were many amendment covering hundreds of tkosIsanda of aol- lars on claims pure and simple. proposed by the Senate. One by one the legisla. tive propositions and the claims appeared in the Senate until we came to an amend ment to pay the State of South Carolina $47,000. A word as to that, In May last, on the omnibus claim bill, a basis was fixed for the adjustment of the ac- counts of Virginia and Baltimore and South Carolina with the United States growing out of the war of 1S12-15. The auditing officers of the treasury in pur- suance of that law, adjusted the accounts of Virginia. An indefinite appropriation was made to pay the respective States whatever should be found due by the auditing officers. Upon that basis, and under that legislation. the sum of $10O,- 0Os in round numbers has ben appropriat- ed to the State of Virginia.
 Was Due Thirty-four Cents.
 Under the same law. which is the law today, the auditing officers in the adjust ment of accounts of the war of 1872 found due to the State of South Caro- lima the sum of 34 cents Now. the Sen ate of the United States, notwithstanding the law, proposed legislation on an appro- priatlon bill to the extent of granting to the State of South Carolina $45.000. The House conferees objected and the whole long delay has been over that one item.
 Tn the House of Representatives, with out criticism of either side or any indi- vidual member, we have rules, sometimes invoked by our Democratic friends, and sometimes by ourselves-each responsible to the people after all is said and done by which majority right or wrong mistaken or otherwise, can leglsiate
 Tn another body there are no suct rules. In another body legislation Is hac by unanimous consent. In another body an individual member of that body car rise in his place and talk for one hour two hours, ten hours, twelve hours. ia a matter of history that Senator or a Republican side in a former Congres! talked to death a river and harbor Dill There comes a time constantly in the set fling of bills when you must do so ant SO or so and so, else your bill canno pass. and this with reference to the grea money bills In my opin.Jn such a con dttion existed as to this bill and cluster ed about this one amendment mere wa also an amendment put on to the Dill II another body which involved leglsiau9I 10 the extent of granting to the state 0 Vermont $15O00O In adjustment oL hel claims.
 Conferees Wouldn't Recede.
 ..rhe Senate receded. but your conferee' were unable to get the Senate to reced' upon the gift from the treasury agains inc law to the State of South Carolina.
 ..Without unanimous consent of another body in legislation in the expiring hours of the session we are poweriess.
 Help me, Cassius. or I sink Unani- mons consent comes to the center Of the dome. unanimous consent comes througf .tatuarv and through the House doors and comes practically to the House. we can not legisIate without the approval oi both bodies and one body in my opinlor cannot legislate without unanimous con sent There was the alternative. in my oniniou. This applied not only to the de fctency bill but to the naval bill, or al agreement as to the naval bill.
 Your conferees had the alternative O submitting to legislative blackmail at thu demand, in my opinion. of one individua T shall not say where-or of letting thes great money biHs,fail. Now. what are w going to do about 1t? This bill contain many important matters. Your appropri aations for public buildings Legislation lately has been all along the public ser vice to the extent of $2O.O0O,OOO.. hay taken the House into my confidenc touching this matter. as 1t is my duty t do
 Right of Majority to Rule.
 T am getting to be a somewhat age man. I pray God that my life may b spared until an intelligent and righteou sentiment. North and South. East an West. prevailing the great parties. wi leash anybody into obelience to the righ of the majority to rule. Majorities ar minorities shift back and forth. An | says somebody. did that work in refer ence to the matter of Statehood and di