The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-02-11
HANNA BILL ALL A BLUFF
 - A MT. Cannon Saysy.t Can Not Pays
 #. 1sAs"o'pN SARCASTIC Says Republicans are Traf- licking in Negro Credulity. By a Vote of 215 to 10 the House Agrees to the Conference Re- port on the Department of Commerce Bill.

| Washington, Feb. lV.-Tne douse Souay adopted the conference report on the De- partment of Commerce bill by a report of 215 to 10 One Republican (Mr. LittiehelD and nine Democrats voted against this action. Several Democrats took the posi- ton that the Nelson amendment to the | Bureau of Corporations was weak and intellectual attempt to provide the machin- cry for corporation publicity. MT. Mann of | Illinois, on behalf of the Republicans, contended on the contrary that it was a better measure of publicity than had been presented in any other bill.
 The remainder of the day was devoted | to the sundry civil appropriation bill MT. Cannon, chairman of the Appropri- ations Committee. gave notice that at the proper time he would move two amend ments, one to provide for the purchase of sit eand the erection of three story, | four hundred room office building tor members to be connected with the Capitol l by a subway and to cost 8, ,S00,000 and the | ther an appropriation of $2,500,0OO to car ry out the original plans for beautifying and enlarging the main wings of the Capi- tol.
 Hanna and the Slaves. The notable feature of the general de- bate on the bill was a speech by MT. De Armond (Mo.) on the Hanna bill to pen- | sion ex-slaves. He spoke in a sarcastic 1 vein, but the subject assumed a serious phase when Mir. Richardson (Tenn.) said the adventurers in the South were using 1t to impose on ignorance and credulous negroes and called on MT. Cannon to give assurances that the passage of such a measure was not contemplated. This as- surance MT. Cannon gave.
 MT. McRae (Ark.) taking advantage of latitude allowed in genearl debate, dis | cussed at some length the question of the western boundary line of his State recently called to the attention of the country by the action of the Arkansas Legislature
 MT. Smith, the Delegate from Arizona, 1 secured the floor and replied to some of the statements derogatory to Arizona made in the Senate during the discussion of the Statehood bill. He declared that the illterate charges were untrue and the Mormon scare" a gross exaggeration. He ridiculed the investigation of the Sen- ate subcommittee on Territories which, 1 he said, spent two days in investigation and two months in telling the Senate l what they thought they learned. He de- clared that the outrageous misrepresenta- | ton and islander of the people of Arizona in the Senate and in the press has hurt | their credit and standing.
 1 MT. DeArmond (Mo.), in a brief but | exceedingly sarcastic speech relative to | the bill recently introduced by Senator | Harna to pension the ex-slaves, precipi- tated quite an interesting debate. He de- nominated the bill "a curious evidence of | the prevailing trend of politics." which | was more valuable as a piece of politi- | cal manouvreing than as a piece of pro- l spective legislation" The introducer of the bill. he said, announced that he was not a candidate for the Presidency, but from the same authority came the an- nouncement that there were no trusts. | The exact facts. he sad. could be bal anced in the public mind after a study of both statements The negro delegate, he said. was an important factor in Repub- lican National Conventions, and there was nothing like making preparations in | good time.
 An Interesting Game.
 It was an interesting game and those not concerned could watch with equanim- ity. It was a farce. he said, but still farces had their solemn aspects, and 1t was sobering to think of the old negroes in their cabins in the South giving up their small earnings until the time came | when they would turn for relief to their natural protectors-the whites of the South. Democratic applause).
 MT. Cannon, in reply. treated MT. De- Almonds remarks lightly. calling atten- ton to the fact that Senator Hanna's s bill has been introduced "by request"
 MT. Richardson (Tenn.) treated the mat ter very seriously. He said that com- panies were already being formed and circulars were being sent out to ignorant colored people by interruptions adven- turers, and he thought both sides should | join In an assurance to them not to in- vest their quarters and dimes in this chimerical scheme.
 MT. Cannon responded that all should understand. rich and poor white and black. cultured and ignorant, that the Government promised to all alike equality before the law and equality of oppor- tunity and under it each must work out | lis own salvation.
 | Mir. DeArmond was not satisfied with this statement, but asked for a more specific assurance, and in reply Mir. Can non stated with emphasis that if the ignorant were being imposed upon, they should be undeceived-that in his judg- ment, no such bill could or would pass. l At the conclusion of general debate, { the bill was read for amendment under | the five-minute rule. It was agreed that at the session on Sunday, February 22. eulogies to the memory of the late Rep I'resentative Moody of North Carolina should be in order. At 5:05 the House ad- journed.