The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-11
lAaN0N's BoMBsHELL.
Significant DsIiyeranee From the
Next Speaker.
He Calls Senator TilIman's Sue
cessful lnsistence that the Fed
eraI Government Shall
Pay South Carolina a Just Debt of s4z,-
600 Legislative BIackmail."

Washington, March 4.-The speech
of Representative Cannon, chairman
of the appropriations committee, de-
liyered after $50 o'clock this morning
In the House, on the conference report
On the general deficiency appropriation
bill, protesting against Legislative
blackmail,'' - and insisting on the right
of a majority to rule in the Senate, IN
view Of the fact that he is to be 5he
speaker Of the next House, is regarded
as foreshadoWing contest upon THIS
question. The scene when Mr. 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 nre WIN
enthusiasm and they cheered ms utter
ances until the great hall resounded
with their shouts. Mr.. Cannon SAID:
g Gentlemen know that under the
practice of the House and under the
ruIes of the Senate the great money
bills can contain nothing but appro-
pyiations, in pursuance OF existing
law. unless by unanimous consent OF
10th bodies. If any of these bills con-
tain legislation it must be by unanl-
mons mon consent O. the two bodies; and
the uniform practice has been, so lar as
J know, She invariable practice has
beer. with the exception of one amend
ment upon this bill, that when oae
body objected to legislation proposed
By the other upon an approprlatlon
bill the body proposing the Legislation
recedes.
ssIn this case the trouble in arriving
at an agreement all clustered about
one amendment. There were many
amendments of legislative character
proposed By the Senate; Ghere were
many amendments covering hundreds
Of thousands of dollars Of claims, pure
and simple, proposd by the Senate.
One by one the legislative provisions
and the claims disappeared as the SEN
ate receded, until we came to an amend
ment to nay the State Of South Caro-
ina s47, 600. A word as to that. In
May last, on the omnibus claim Dill,
q basis was fxed for the adjustment
of the accounts Of Virginia and Baiti-
more, and South Carolina with the
United States, growing out OF the war
of lSI2-'15. The auditing omcers OF
the treasury, in pursuance OF that law,
adjusted the accounts OF Virginia.
IAN indefinite appropriation was MADE
90 nav the respective States. whatever
shonld be found due by the auditing
ofcers. Upon that basis, and unders
That legislation, the sum OF SlOU,UOO
in round numbers has been PAID 70
the State OF Virginia.
ssJnder the same law which is the
Law today the auditing officers IN the
adjustment of the war Of 1872 found
! sdne TO the State Of South Carolina the
ssnn of "a cents. Nov, the Senate
I Of the United States, notwithstanding
the law, proposed legislation on an
appropriation bill to the extent OF
grantipe TO the State Of South Carroll
IA s47. 900. The House conserees OBJ
iscted and the whole long delay has
baen over that one item. In the House
al Representatives, without critlclslng
either side or any individual members,
we have rules. sometimes invoked by
our Democratic friends and sometimes
by ourselyes-each responsible to the
people after after all said and done
by which q majority, right or wrong,
mistaken or otherwise, can legisiate.
In another body there are no such
rules. In another body legislation is had
by unanimous consent. In another
body an individual member Of that
body can rise in his place and talk for
one hour, two hours, ten hours, twelve
hours. 1t is matter of history that
Senator on the Republican side, IN
a former Congress, talked to death a
river and harbor bill. There comes a
time constantly in the settling of bills
when you must do so and so or so and
so else your bill cannot pass, and this
With reference to the great money bills.
In nv opinion such condition existed
TO this bill, and clustered about this
one. There was also an amendment
put on to the bill in another body
which involved legislation to the
extent of granting to the State of Yer
mont $50, 900 in adjustment of her
war claims. The Senate receded, but
Sour conferees were unable to get the
Senate to receed upon this gift from
The treasury, against the law, to the
State of South Carolina. By unani-
nous consent another body legislates
and in the expiring hours Of the ses-
sion we are powerless without that
unanimous consent. Help me, Cas-
sins. or I sink Unanimous consent
comes to the centre of the dome
unanimous consent comes practically
to the House. We can have no leglsia-
tion without approval of both bodies,
onnd ane hacly. in nv opinion, cannot