The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-04
BLACKMAIL.
That Is the Term Congressman
Cannon Applies
To the Senate Hold Up on the
Appropriation Bills.
AN INDIGNANT PROTEST
Is Launched Against Practices
of the Upper House
In an Impassioned Speech at
$3.50 This Morning.

Washington, March 4.-The speech Of
Representative Cannon, chairman of the
appropriation committee, delivered after
$3.50 O'Clock this morning in the house
on the conference report on the general
deficiency appropriation bill. protesting
against Legislative blackmailn 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 a
contest upon this question. The scene
when Mr. Cannon delivered this speech
was the most remarkable of this con-
gress 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. now 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
it must be by unanimous consent of the
two bodies and the uniform practice has
been-so far as I know-the invariable
practice has been with the exception
Of one amendment upon this bill. that
when one body objected to legislation
proposed by the other upon an appro-
priation bill the body proposing the
legislation recedes.
In this case the trouble in arriving at
an agreement all clustered about one
amendment. There We're many amend
ments of a legislative character propos-
ed by the senate. there We're many
amendments covering hundreds of thou
Ga of (7n5f of 7Isa and
simple. proposed by the senate one BY
] one the legislative propositions and the
/ claims disappeared as the senate reced-
ed until we came to an amendment to
pay the state of South Carolina $47 600.
A word as to that. In May on the ON
niDus claim bill, basis was fixed fer
the adjustment of the accounts Of Nir-
ginia and Baltimore and South Caro-
lima with the United States, growing out
of the war of 1812-15. The auditing Of
ficers of the treasury, in pursuance of
that law, adjusted the accounts of Vir-
ginia An indefinite appropriation was
made to pay the respective states what
ever should be found due by the audit
! ing officers. Upon that basis and under
that legislation, the sum of 100000 in
round numbers has been paid to the
state of Virginia.
II Under the same law which is the law
today the auditing officers in the ad-
justment of accounts OF the war of 1872,
found due to the state of South Caro-
lima the sum of "a cents. Now. the SEN
ate of the United States. notwithstand-
ing the law proposed legislation on an
appropriation bill to the extent of grant
ing to the state of South Carolina $47.-
0O0 The house conferees and the whole
long delay has been over that one item.
In the house of representatives without
critieizing either side or any individual
member we have rules, some times in
voked by our Democrat friends and
sometimes by OurSelves-each response
bic to the people after all said and done
by which a majority, right or wrong.
mistaken or otherwise can leglSlate- 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 a matter of history that q senator on
the Republican side in a former con-
gress talked to death river and harbor
| bill. There comes a time constantly IN
the settling of bills when you must do
so and SO and SO and 50. else your bill
can not pass, and this with reference to
the great money bills. In my opinion
such a condition existed as to this bill
and clustered about this one amend
ment- There was also an amendment
put on to the bill in another body which
involved legislation to the extent of
I granting to the state of Vermont $780,
600 in adjustment of her war claims.
The senate receded. but your confereer
We're unable to get the senate to recede
>
the law. to the state of South Carolina.
BY unanimous consent another body
legislates and in the expiring hours OF
the session we are DOwerless without
that unanimous consent
Help me, Cassius, or sink Unan-
fmous 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 Iegislatioa
without the approval Of both bodies. and
one body, in my opinion, can not legis-
late without unanimous consent. There
was the alternative-in my opinion this
applied not only to the deficiency bill.
but to the naval bill, or any agreement
as to the naval bill. Your conferees had
the alternative of submitting to legisla-
tive blackmaiI at the demand in my
opinion of one Individual shall not
say where-or Of letting these great
money bills fail Now, what are we go
ing to do about it2 This bill contains
many important matterszyour appro.
priations for public buildings legislation
lately had all along the line of public
service, to the extent of $50. .000. 600
Now ! have taken the house into my
confidence touching this matter as il
is my duty to do I am getting to be a
somewhat aged man. I pray God that
gent and a righteous sentiment. north
and south, east and west pervading both
OF the great parties, Will lash anybOd y
into obedience to the right of the ma
jOrity to rule AIajorities and minorities
shift back and forth All, says some
body, did that work in reference to the
matter Of statehood. and did you beIievs
in statehood? did not believe in state
hood and I am putting now the strong
est case against my own party, but Z
ma JOrity of the people, voiced in the
senate and in the house had the righf
to have its viii expressed
Gentlemen. I have made my protest
7 do it in sorrow and in humiliation, hH
there it is and in my ooinion another
body under these methods must change