The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-01-14
HOUSE ENLIVENED BY
A POLITICAL
SET-TO
Champ Clark and Grosvenor
Go at Each Other, but in
Good-Natured Way-Ques-
ton of Reciprocity Fur
nishes Senator's With a
Topic.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. Jan. 13.-For
the first time since the opening of this
session of congress the house was re-
galed today with a lively political de-
bate. Gen. Grosvenor, of Ohio, and Mr..
Clark, of Missouri, crossed swords dur
ing the general debate on the army ap-
preparation bill, and for two hours both
sides of the house cheered on their re-
spective spokesman. The contest was
entirely good natured. 1t grew out of
controversy which Mr.. Grosvenor and
Mr.. Clark have been carrying on in
the newspapers over the formers
statement in the house last December
that the Democratic party had been
wiped out at the last general election.
Gen. Grosvenor today undertook with
figures to sustain his contention, and
Mr.. Clark, also with figures, to prove
that the Democrats had an "even
chance" to win the presidency in 1904.
There were several brilliant clashes
and the house and galleries were great
ly entertained. The remainder of the
day was occupied by Mr.. Hull (Rep.,
Iowa., who argued against the aban-
donnent of the army transport service;
Mr.. Shattuc (Rep., Ohio, who assailed
Edward Atkinson and the anu-impe-
rialists; Mr.. Moon Den., TENN, who
denounced the refusal of the house
leaders to allow the consideration of
of the statehood bill, and who an
nounced policy of obstruction
which he intended to pursue unless
consideration was given it; Mr.. Swan
son (Den., Va.), who argued the neces-
sity for tariff revision, and Mr.. Gaines
CDem Tenn.), who urged the inme-
date advisability Of placing coal on
the free list.
Army Transport Service.
The house took up the consideration
of the army appropriation bill. The
bill carried $73,S75,276, being $4,613,065
less than the currentlaw. 1t author.
ICES the construction of three large
battleships and one cruiser, two steel
training ships and one wooden brig for
training purposes.
Mr.. Hull Qowa), in charge of the
measure, devoted some time to the dis
cussion of the army transport service,
arguing that the present service on the
Pacific organized since the Spanish
war, was the best in the world. He
was opposed to the abandonment of the
present transport system, maintaining
shat the soldiers, especially sick SOL
diers, returning home, could not secure
equal or as healthful accommodations
aboard ordinary merchantmen. He
also insisted that a transport service
was necessary adjunct of the army
and that in the end it's cost would be
cheaper than transportation over pri-
waite lines.
Mr.. Hull declared he had no interest
In the fight between San Francisco
and Seattle. He argued that the serv-
ice should be maintained and that the
transports not needed should be placed
out of commission, not sold. If there
was no other way to prevent the abo-
lition of the service, he said, he would
favor an amendment which would pro-
hibit the sale Of the transports without
action by congress.
Senators Talk on Reciprocity.
The proceedings of the senate today
were enlivened by several speeches af-
fecting the reciprocity provision of the
Dingley act. Senator Vests reso1u-
ton directing the committee on finance
to report a bill removing the duty on
coal was under discussion. Mr.. Dolli-
yer, of Iowa, vigorously attacked those
of reciprocity treaties in the senate
He defended Secretary Shaw for issu-
ing the order instructing collectors Of
customs to resolve differences regard
ing the grade of coal in favor Of the
importers. 1t is true, he declared, that
Mr. Dingley had put the tariff rates
high SO that they could be reduced by
reciprocity agreements.
This Ny. ri oh
hemently to denounce Mr.. DolIiver and
others for making it. The only 1nten-
don, he said, of the reciprocity provi-
sion of the Dingley law was to secure
agreements on non competitive prod
ucts and he contended that it was not
to be expected that a Republican adj
ministraion would negotiate treaties
which would strike the heart of pro-
lection.
The resolution went over until to-
morrow after Mr.. Tillman had given
notice that he would then String live
wire" and lay the blame for the present
coal situation at the door of the presi-
dent and the attorney general
Mr.. Nelson concluded his remarks in
opposition to the statehood bill.
Extending Scope of Sherman Law.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 1S.-Sen-
ator Morgan today introduced a bill
to extend the scope of the Sherman
antitrust law. 1t provides that the
provisions of that law shall be so
extended as to include "all persons
and corporations hereafter engaged in
producing, manufacturing, transport
ing and buying or selling any article
for profit that is authorized to be ac-
Quired by purchase for the use of
any branch of the government"
Elastic Currency Bill Reported.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 10
Representative Fowler, chairman OF
the house banking and c1rreyc1, o1,,,o