Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-08
Appropriation Bill
Passes House
Measure is Result of a
Compromise
Several Unsuccessful Amendments Of
fcred by Mr.. Williams, Seeking
20 Abandon Policy Of lssu-
ing Bonds for the Work
By Associated Press.

By Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 7-An appro-
priation of Si1 900 900 was voted today
toward the construction of the Panama
canal The amount was compromise
between the SIG. 100000 carried in the
bill under consideration, and an esti-
mate of something over S6,0O0,OO0 rec
commended by Mr.. Williams. the Demo-
cratic leader, to carry on the work un-
til the middle of January Mr.. Hep
burn, in charge OF the bill, suggested
that something over $l1,OOO,OOO would
carry on the work until March. There
was no intention manifested to delay
the work, the only argument for cutting
down the original estimate being that
closer scrutiny might be had of the es-
innate The bill was amended in ac-
cordance with suggestions of Mr.. Mann
of Illinois, directing the president TO re-
qure annual reports from canal Off
GERS covering all details of the work,
requiring such employees TO give con-
gress any Information it may desire,
and restricting all expenditures to
money appropriated by congress and
10 that received by the operation of the
property OF tne Panama r0llTOdu. OlH-
Crwise the bill was not amended and 1T
contains besides the appropriation
provision removing II tax disability
against the proposed bonds to be issued
Tor the construction of the canal, thus
placing the bonds on u footing with
other government bonds, as available
for security for national bank circula-
tion and to reimburse the treasury for
the money appropriated in the bill.
Dond Dn1.,;c;o.
The bond provision in the bill was a
point of attack today. Mr. Williams
of Mississippi offered several unsuc-
cessful amendments, all seeking to
abandon the policy of issuing bonds for
the canal work, on the ground that
there is sufficient available funds in
the treasury to meet all needed de-
mands for the canal work. Mr.. over
street of Indiana did not succeed in
amending the bill SO that the $40, 600
COO already expended in canal construc-
uon might be refunded to the treasury
from the sale of the canal bonds. The
bond policy of the two parties occa-
stoned the feature of the debate, and
resulted in limited political discussions
Secretary Taft, accompanied by the
auditor and purchasing agant of the
canal commission, came to the capitol
and remained available to give any in
formation that might be asked for on
the floor, but they were not called
upon. With the bill out of the way.
and no committees appointed to begin
consideration of the several thousand
measures that have been introduced
since the session began, the house ad-
journed until Monday.
The Days Proceedings
Reading of the Panama canad appro-
prlation bill was resumed in the house
on the converting of that body today.
Ihe first amendment was presented
by Mr. Williams. He moved to cut
the appropriation from S16,50O,OOo to
$6,S53, 1893, stating that he had come to
the conclusion that this latter sum was
sufficient to meet the needs of the COM
mission to January 10 next
Inc amount has been arrived at by
taking the Indebtedness Of the COM
mission which they had stated was
$4,500,000. He had added to this tha
25S, ,333
The point was made by Mr.. TaWney
that it was impossible to segregate
from the estimates the liabilities of the
commission due in December on euuip-
ment purchased by the commission.
1t was contested by Mr.. Williams that
these supplies We're not to be delivered
until June, and payment need not be
made until delivery. Mr. Tawney held
that payment might be necessary be-
lore delivery, according to terms of
purchase.
An amendment to that of Mr.. Will
llams was offered by Mr., Prince of
Illinois, making the appropriation S1O.-
0Oo,OOa, basing his argument on the
speedy appointment of committees.
which, he said, should take ND and
make careful examination of the es-
Inmates furnished. Mr.. Prince was of
the opinion that $10O000O0 was a suf
1icient sum to meet all emergency ne
cessties. He was also opposed to the
issuance Of bonds. He said there We're
sl3ooOooOO in the treasury and $55, 00O.-
ooo OF government money in national
banks.
Mr.. Hepburn Is Questioned
Mr.. Clark of Missouri asked Mr..
Hepburn if all or most of the supplies
Tor the canal We're not purchased by
the new YORK and Washington pur-
chasing agents. although other agents
were located at New Orleans and Ta-
coma
Mr. Hepburn had no information.
Mr.. Clark; How many ships have
We?"
Mr. Hepburn: "Flve."
why don't some of them ply be-
tween New Orleans and Panama ?"
II cannot say"
What | want to say is that in NV
opinion discrimination is being made
against all that territory drained bv
the Mississippi river, and | maintain
that cheaper all-water rates could be
made from Pittsburg by way of New
Orleans than by New York"
Concluding the debate on the pend
ing amendment, Mr., Hepburn opposed
cutting down the sum to the amount
proposed by Mr. Williams. If il was
The temper OF the house to cut down
the appropriations he said, at least
enough money should be made avail
able to meet all needs to the first of
March lie estimated these necessl.
ties at 81 125 600
After rejecting the amount proposed
by MIR, Williams, $6 S5SS33, and the
amendment of Mr.. Prince for 10000