The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-02-25
Byrd SIaps Crumpacker
Between the Eyes.
ON HIS OLD, OLD SONG
Fight Against Appropriation For Rem
tai Of Old New York Custom House
Results in Victory, Whereat
Oily Drops Of Grief May
Flow.
tBy the Associated Press.)

tBy the Associated Press.)
Washington, Feb. 24.-In the House
of Representatives today the fight OF
many years waged against the ap-
preparation of $130,600 for rental of
the old New York Custom House. re-
suited in a victory Mr.. Hemenway. of
Indiana, chairman of the Committee
on ABbropriations being unable to
muster sufficient strength to retain
the provision in the bill.
The opposition was led by Mr.. Sui
ger, of New York. supported by Mr..
Williams, of Mississippi, the minor
ity leader, both of whom denounced
the expenditure as a public scandal
and in the interest of the Standard
Oil Company, which it was alleged
was behind the National City Bank.
the purchaser of the building from
the government. Although the bank
was alleged to have bought the prop
erty for 100000 and TO have credit
ed the amount to the government, it
developed that no title had passed TO
il and that in consequence II WAS
paying no taxes to the State of New
York. The failure of the government
to give a deed was ascribed TO the
influence of the Standard Oil Conf
pany. The action in striking out the
provision was on q strictly party
vote.
Mr.. Williams saiG the whole trans
action was stampe vith fraud and
dishonor. He did &ot criticise the
original transaction. but he asserted
it was the subsequent dealings that
were surrounded with fraud in order
to obtain campaign contributions.
Mr.. Sulzer could not account for
a. 49, \ "a
price had not been turned into the
treasury instead of being simply
transferred on the banks books ex-
cept that it was due to the influence
which was behind the bank. Every
man in this chamber knows what that
influence is" he said. 1T is the in
fiuence of the great Standard Oil
Trust that owns that bank and the in
fiuence that bank has had in govern
mental affairs of this country"
The provision was stricken out 80
to -
CrumpacISer Starts His Do. Re Mi.
Under license of debate Mr.. Crum-
packer Gndiana) delivered a lengthy
address in favor of the proposition
to reduce the representation in the
House OF Representative of those
States violating the 14th and 18th
amendments of the Constitution re-
garding disqualification of voters. He
said that while the South would be
affected more than any other section
of the country, the reduction would
be felt as much in the State of Massa-
chusetts as in Mississippi. He plead
ed for perfect equality in citizenship
and declared that the door of hope
should be open to all citizens without
regard to color or creed.
Mr.. Crumpacker admitted that a
large percentage of negroes was not
fitted for the privileges of the ballot
but that those that were quallted. he.
contended, should be accorded those
privileges as freelv and ungrudgingly
as was accorded any white man. The
policy of maintaining two standards
of citizenship by which one portion
held absolute control over the welfare
and destiny of the other however
benevolent may be the motives was
sure to bring trouble and disaster.
Mr.. Wallace (Ark.) discussed the
relations between the North and
South and maintained that each was
helpful and indispensable to the other.
He quoted from speeches by the late
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, and
President Roosevelt in which he SAID
the olive branch had been held out.
No better illustration was needed or
the passing of Sectionalism, he said.
than when the House this week passed
the resolution giving authority TO the
Secretary of War to return Union and
Confederate battle flags TO the several
states. And yet, he said. when Presi-
dent Cleveland attempted BY an execu-
tive order to return the flags wave
of displeasure swept from ocean TO
ocean and from the foot hills of the
Alleghanies to the battlements of the
Sierras.
The Negroes Right TO Live.
Cotton conditions in the South were
discussed by Mr.. Byrd (Miss.) who
attacked the tariff policy Of the Re-
pubicans. He declared that looking
at the situation in its most favorable
light he could see but little hope for
the South unless the government
abandoned its NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. pol
icy. incidentally he alluded to the.
remarks of Mr.. Crumpacker in defense
of the negro and said that if that gem
tleman would give one-half as much
interest to the question of the right
of the negro to live as his right to
vote. the negro would be in a much
better position.
Without having finished the bill
the House adjourned until tomorrow.
TO SIT DURING RECESS.