The sun., 1905-12-07
CANAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
1T rs MADE 4 CONTINUING ORDER
IN THE HOUSE.
VIII Probably he Passed To-da,-Payne
and Littauer Object to Its Reference
to the Commerce Committee-Em-
ployment OF Press Agent at $40 600.

plOyment OF Press Agent al SAo upo'
WAsHGNGToN, Dec. 6,-An unexpected
turn was given to the debate on the bill
making an emergency appropriation OF
$18, 500 600 for the Panama Canal, which
occupied the attention of the House to-day
Tho measure was taken up and made
continuing order until disposed OIL
and no one looked for anything other
than somewhat dull and spiritless
array Of statistics setting forth the con-
dtion Of the work on the canal and the
necessity for the appropriation asked
for within the next six months, But at the
very outset there was a manifestation OF
hostility to the management OF the blu up
to this time.
Messrs. Littauer and Payne Reps,, n. W
claimed jurisdiction of the bill, the first
for the Committee on Appropriations ana
the last named for the Committee on Ways
and Means. This nettled MIR. Hepburn,
author Of the bill, and for years chairman
of the Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce, who declared that the rules
clearly gave his committee jurisdiction
He characterized the membership OF the
Committee on Ways and Means as the
white button mandarins Of the House
Crticising the expenditures reported by
the Canal Commission, Mr.. Fitzgerald
Dem. n. Y J, said it had been reported that
the commission had employed press
agent" at an annual salary of $4,000, ana
he asked Mr.. Hepburn if he thought that
a proper expenditure of money voted for
the construction of an Isthmian canal.
Mr. Hepburn replied that he would repro
bate such thing. He charged Fitzgerald
with trying to give a partisan bias to the
debate and advised him, if he believed the
report to be true, to use his power as
Representative and have the official respon-
sible for the implied misappropriation OF
funds brought to book,
Several other Democrats criticised the
lack of detail in the report of expenditures
furnished by the commission and in the
estimates of expenditures for the rest OF
the fiscal year to meet which the appropria-
ton is asked.
Mr. Hepburn said the estimates were in
the usual form gave the House all necessary
information and that for him to question
the estimate of an engineer OF WORLDWIDE
repute upon a technical matter OF which
he could know nothing would be insolence,
Mr.. Cochran Dem, y, " attacked this
position vigorously, asserting that II Repre-
sentatives were TO accept estimates without
floor Of the House, that the responsibility
OF members in such condition would be
hollow mockery.
Mr.. Gardner Rep., Mich) said Mr.. Hep
burns position was fraught with great
danger. To follow the book of estimates
he said, would be 10 bankrupt the Treas
Mr.. Olmstead rep, Pa submitted that
in these days of demand for publicity In
the operations of corporations, which
- l,l l.sk,.. hn ma
cessity for, Jumping an expenditure OF
$l44 900 under the head Freight, advertis-
ing. &c" was most incongruous and un-
satisfactory.
In the course of an inquiry respecting
the, purchase of the steamshlPs n havana ,Iana
and Mexico Il developed that they we're
American bottoms.
Mr.. Williams dem. Miss admitted
that a critical condition existed on the
lsthmus; that relief was urgently needed,
in view of the fact that the laborers on
the canal if a pay day were passed would
probably conclude that the nited States had
gone bankrupt and trouble would ensue. He
stated his purpose. however, to oner an
amendment reducing the appropriation TO
an amount ascertaned 10 be absolutely nec-
essarv TO carry on the work until Jaruaryl
Before that time the committees would have
been appointed and the subject could be
presented to the House after investigation
in the regular way. He would also move
to amend by providing Tor the reimburse
ment of the Treasury from Government,
moneys on deposit in national banks. and
incidentally scored the Congress for not
requiring the Secretary Of the Treasury
to collect interest on public deposits.
Mr. Mann Rep, III discussed the de.
tailed expenditures OF the commission, and
a question by Mr.. Clayton Dem, AlaJ
brought out the fact that American high
class labor, skilled labor and professional
men were paid in gold, while common labor
was paid in silver Of Panama coinage which
the United States purchases at the market
rate of exchange.
Then we are paying those poor Jamaica
negroes in cheap money and our own work.
men in gold commented Mr. Clayton.
Mr.. Mann-We are getting all labor just
as cheap as possible, and to pay these labor
ers in gold would mean to double their
wages.
T @ bill will be considered for amendment
to.morrow and WIN probaLlv be pissed.