Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-07
THE HOUSE.

Reading of the Panama canal approprfa-
ton bill was resumed in the House of Rep
resentatives on the converting of that body
today.
The first amendment was presented by
Mr. Williams He moved to cut the appro-
priation from SIG, 10000 to SO. SoS, 1913, stat
ing that he had come to the conclusion that
this latter sum was sufficient to meet the
needs of the commission to January Is
next.
The amount had been arrived at by tax
ing the Indebtedness of the commission.
which they had stated as S4.5Oo,OO0. He
had added to this the December estimates,
amounting to 81 353, 1913.
The point was made by Mr.. Tawney that
II was impossible to segregate from the
estimates the liability Of the commission
due In December on equipment purchased
by the commission.
1t was commended by Mr.. Williams that
these supplies were not to be delivered
until June, and payment need not be made
until delivery. Mr.. Tawney held that pay
ment might be necessary before delivery,
according TO the terms of purchase.
Mr.. Mann Qlltnois) raised the point that
the total estimates submitted were for seven
months beginning December l, and that
one-sixth of these estimates. which Mr..
Williams proposed to appropriate. would
not be sufficient to meet the necessities to
January Is.
An amendment to that of Mr. Williams
was offered by Mr.. Prince (Illnois), MAX
ing the appropriation s10,G000G0 Basing
his argument on the speedy appointment
of committees, which. he said, should take
UP and make a careful examination of the
estimates furnished Mr.. Prince was of the
opinion that s10.oo0,Coo was sufficient sum
to meet all emergency necessities. He also
opposed the issuance of bonds No bonds
had been issued since the Spanish-American
war. Besides, he said, there was s136 ,000-
ooe in the treasury and s55ooo000 of gov
eminent money in national banks
The question was raised by Mr.. Burton
(Ohio) as to the necessity of the purchase
OF forty-three steam shovels, costing some
thing less than half a million dollars,
should it be decided to have the work done
by contract
Replying, Mr.. Mann stated that the COM
mission and engineers had reached the con-
clusion that the equipment estimated for
was necessary, no matter how the work
done.
The entire appropriation was advocated
by Mr. Payne New York; on the ground
that the materials ordered were under
hurry orders, and without doubt many de-
liveries would be made before June 30 next.
To make the money available would act as
a spur to contractors, but to withhold 1t
would be to delay all deliveries until June
Mr.. Clark Charges Discrimination.
Mr.. Clark (MissourD asked Mr.. Hepburn
* all most of the supplies for the canal
were not purchased by the New York and
Washington purchasing agents. although
other agents were located at New Orleans
and Takoma.
Mr.. Hepburn had no information.
Mr. Clark-'.How many ships have we?V
Five"
Why don't some OF them ply between
New Orleans and Panama."
Il cannot say"
What l want to say Is that in my opin-
ion discrimination is being made against
all that territory drained by the Mississippi
river, and l maintain that cheaper, all
water rates could be made from Pittsburg
by way of New Orleans than by New
York"
Mr. Wanger (Penrsylvania) stated that
there was a line Of steamers plying be-
tween New Orleans and Colon, but that it
did not give rates as advantageous as by
the governments own boats from New
York
why don't some of those steamers run
from New Orleans?" demanded Mr.. Clark.
Il understand the port of New Orleans
was closed during a part OF last season.,
replied Mr.. Wanger.
You are not the man I want to ques-
tion." retorted Mr. Clark amid laughter.
Il want to talk to some man who don't
want to cut our business and give it all to
the New York gang.
Amendment Adopted.
The House rejected the amendment of Mr.
Williams fixing the amount of the canal
appropriation at SO, SIS. 1873, and adopted an
amendment fixing the amount at s11.0oo,coJ.