The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-21
NR. BAKERCAUSES SCENE IN HOUSE Objects to Presidents Message
 to Czar of Russia SHOULD NOT SYMPATHIzE MT. Grosvenor Defends Mr. Roosevelt and Says America Is Mortified
 By Death of Grand Duke
 Sergius.
SHOULD NOT SYMPATHIzE

Washington, February 2o--The House today after seven hours session passed tie naval appropriation bill, carrying a total of s99,914,359
 The provision for two battleships as reported by the committee on naval af- fairs was retained. Both the majority and minority were badly divided over the proposition, at least forty members of the latter going over to the republicans. while about an equal number of republ- cans voted in opposition Several im- portant changes in the hill were made Tle proposed increase of twelve hundred men and officers for the marine corps was stricken out as was also the pro- vision authorizing the construction of a collier somewhere else than the Mare Is- land navy yard in California.
 Several times during the debate the assassination of Grand Duke Sergius was referred to, the subject being brought up by MT. Baker of New York, who con demned the action Of President Roosevelt in sending message of condolence to Russia expressing the sentiment that the government and American people viewed the Lct with abhorrence.
 The people, he declared did view with adherence the massacre in St. Petersburg on January p, but the President he said. had not seen fit to send message of coincidence on that occasion. He was re- piled to by MT. Grosvenor of Ohio who took the ground that regardless of the character of the Grand Duke or the ques- ton of the right or wrong of Russia's policy toward her subjects, the President in sending the message he did had done exactly what civilization recognized as his duty.
 The climax came later in the day when MT. Baker read a resolution on the sub ject, which he subsequently introduced, which in effect was reiteration of his re- marks previously made. He explained that his object in doing so was because 1t had been suggested that in that event motion would be made to expel him. He shouted defiance to any member of the House to make the motion, as he depos- tied the resolution, and took his seat amid the confusion and turmoil which the incident had created
 Baker Starts Fireworks.
 There was a Aggression from the debate on the naval bill when MT Baker of New York condemned President Roosevelt for sending to the Russian government a message of sympathy on account of the dSSaSSlndtlOn or Grand Duke SergluS, ana expressing that both the American gov ernment and people viewed the killing with abhorrence. MT. Baker declared that no such message had been sent when the massacre occurred in St. Petersburg on January 22
 q deny" he vehemently asserted, "that the American people are shocked by the killing of the Grand Duke Sergius." The people. he insisted, were, however, shocked at the wanton massacre on Jan uary 22. The killing of Sergus. he de- clared to be but an incident in the eff fort the Russian people were making to overthrow the tyranny that had oppressed them.
 Do you wish 1t to go to the country" interjected MT. Thayer of Massachusetts, that the American people sanction the killing of the Grand Duke Sergius?"
 Mr. Baker replied that the people were shocked at the action of a government that refused to take note of the murder of thousands of it's individuals and yet pretends to be mortified at the loss or one human life"
 General applause was accorded MT. Maddox of Georgia when he declared that the democratic side of the House did not approve of this damnable assassina- tion" He said he believed in fair rights. We don't believe in slaughter" he said, land we don't believe in this but which caused the slaughter of the Grand Duke. and" he added. the democratic party don't stand for it now, nor will 1t ever do so.''
 MT. Grosvenor Answers.
 MT. Grosvenor was bitter in his critic ism of MT. Baker. MT Bakers action, he declared to have been unprecedenteu' Had adjournment been taken, he said, 1t would have been a meaningless ana stupid exhibition of ignorance. The pub lie and the world knew that the Amer ican Congress did not sympathize With riot and unnecessary bloodshed, whether it was necessary or not. There was no doubt a strong critical opinion in the country, but he said no intelligent man would suggest that Congress express ir- self on that subject
 Mir Grosvenor spoke of Grand Duke sereius as a credible officer of the Elm peror. He denied that the President Tell short of his duty and said that as re- gards the killing of. the Grand Duke, It would have been little short of impro- priety had not the President sent ms message of condolence.
 The United States. he said, was not treating the question of character of sergius nor the question of right or wrong of Russia's internal policy, but in the name of common humanity and in pursuance of time honored precedent the President had sent his message or condolence. He Ventureu the dsSertloii and received liberal applause in doing so, that if a vote of condemnation of the President was offered by any reason of Mr. Bakers. it would not get a vote except the latters own
 Will Build Two Battieships.
 On getting back to the naval bill, the House on a point of order by MT. Sher- man of New York. struck out the pro vision for the proposed increase in the strength of the marine corps. For con tingent expenses of the marine corps the approximation was reduced from S2l0'ooO to &5O00. When the provision was reached regarding the construction or two battles hips. a number of members were or their feet. An amendment was offered sS NIr. Perkins of New York pro posing a reduction in the number Of new battleships from two to one. Some mem bers opposed the construction of battle ships at all on the ground that there was no need for them, and also that the United States in the matter of battle ship construction was building faster than Great Britain. The statement was denied by MT Foss, which caused MT Maddox of Georgia to inquire why the United States should not be first among the naves of the world. He did not be- lieve In haggling over two ships, but thought the number should be increased