Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-21
NAVAL BILL PASSED.
Mr. Baker Shouts Defiance to the
House and Dares It to Expel Him.

The House last evening after a Seven-hour
session passed the naval appropriation BILL
carrying a total of $99,914,3o9. The pro-
vision for two battle ships, as reported by
the committee on naval affairs, was re-
tanned. 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 republicans voted in OPP
position. Several important changes in the
bill were made. The proposed increase of
ZOO men and officers for the Marine Corps
was stricken out, was also the provision
authorizing the construction of a collier
somewhere else than at the Mare Island
navy yard in California. In order to do
the work better an item of $4,000 was
inserted for the proper equipment of the
Mare Island yard.
Several times during the debate the as
sassination of Grand Duke Sergius was re-
ferred to, the subject being brought up
by Mr.. Baker of New York, who con-
demned the action of President Roosevelt
in sending q message of coincidence to Rus
STA expressing the sentiment that the gov
eminent and American people viewed the
act with adherence. The people, he de-
clared, did view with adherence the mas
sacre in st. Petersburg on January o. but
the President, he said. had not seen fit to
send message of coincidence on that oc
casion He was replied to by Mr.. Gros-
venor of Ohio, who took the ground that
regardless of the character of the duke or
the question of the riEht or wrong Of Rus
sias policy toward he subjects, the Presi-
dent in sending the message he did had
done exactly what civilization recognized
as his duty.
The climax came later in the day when
Mr. Baker read the following resolution on
the subject, which he subsequently intro
duced and which in effect was a reiteration
OF his remarks previously made:
THAT. while this House Views with horror
the deliberate destruction of human life, at
all times and under all circumstances; yet
1t declares that reprehensible was the
murder Of the Grand Duke Sergius 1t was
no more wanton than the massacre per-
petrated by the Russian government on
January % when thousands of unarmed
men, women and children were butchered
in cold blood; and that 1t regards the muir
der of those helpless, unoffendng men, wo-
men and children as one Of the most das-
tardly crimes ever perpetrated: That, in
refusing to express the horror of the people
Of this country at that fearful crime, while
now asserting that both the American gov
eminent and people view the killing OF
Grand Duke Sergius With adherence, the
President has not anC does not voice the
real sentiments of the people of the United
States
In excited manner he asserted that
he had been told that If he introduced the
resolution motion would be made to eXpel
him from the House Rushing down the
aisle and waving the resolution in his hand
he deposited it in the box provided for
such measures, and detied any one to make
a motion to expel him. Make it now he
shouted "Expel! Expel! Expel l tell
you. Introduce your motion to expel!'
He shouted defiance to any member OF
the House to make the motion, as he de-
posted the resolution, and took his seat
amid the confusion and. turmoil which the
incident had created.