The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1905-03-07
A HOT FIGHT
Between Senator Penrose
and Chairman
Burton.
RIVERS AND HARB0RS

cleared the decks OF all but three great
appropriation bills. The conference re-
port on these came up tonight for de-
bate. There is but slight chance for
opposition to the reports of the con-
ference on the general deficiency and
Indian appropriation bills.
The report, however, on the river
and harbor bill. the measure that lies
more closely to the hearts of men,
bers OF congress, and senators than
all other legislation combined, is meet
ing with the aggressive opposition of
Senator Penrose Of Pennsylvania, who
has declared that he will talk the
measure to death II the house refuses
to recede from its purpose to insist
upon its disagreement to the senate
amendment providing for the un-
conditional improvement of the Del
aware river.
Chairman Burton, of Ohio, in the
house, has declined to yield, and the
house has thus far supported him In
his declaration that he will let the bill
die rather than concede to the unjust
claim.
Inasmuch as the measure carries an
aggregate of over 100000 in new ap-
preparations and continuing contracts
for the Keystone state, the friends of
the bill express confidence that SEN
ator Penrose will not carry his oppo-
sition to the point of killing It when
ne realizes fully that there is to be no
concessions. But there are those who
are fretting. They have distinct
recollection that four years ago Sena-
tor Carter Of Montana. talked the
river and harbor bill of that time to
an untimely grave because he was re-
fused an appropriation for his state
Montana had not as much at stake as
Pennsylvania has now. Otherwise the
conditions are similar. for It was on
the evening of March that Senator
Carter begun his fight. At o'clock in
the morning of March 4. he took the
foor and held 1t almost continuously
until noon when the session ended.
Senator Penrose has fought hard for
o 35-foot channel for the Delaware
and today when the conferees re-
ported to the senate that an agree
cry disputed point except the Della
aware river project. Senator Penrose
significantly remarked that IL the
conferees could not agree he wished
to discuss the matter at some length
before the senate members of the con-
ference committee receded.
About this time a lively scene was
being enacted in the house. where the
same conference report was being re-
ported.
Mr.. Sibley (Rep., Pa.) declared that
Chairman Burton was prejudiced and
charged that after the river and har-
Dor bill had passed the house. Mr..
Burton had written a letter to the
chairman OF the committee of the
senate, declaring that ''the bill should
pass without amendment or not at
ALL"
Other Pennsylvania members sup
ported him.
Then 1t was that Chairman Burton
threw down the gauntlet and openly
defied the keystone members in the
house and senate.
Mr.. Burton declared that the line
mad been drawn with unusual care.
with view of treating Justly all sec
uons Oh the country and keeping It
within reasonable bounds. He pointed
out how literally Philadelphia had
been provided for and in concluding
announced with vehemence that was
unmistakable that the bill would pass
as 1t were or not at all.
1T Is for the Pennsylvania members
TO say he declared. Eve have done
our duty. If they wish to defeat the
measure they can do it. But the
blame will rest wholly upon them"
Cheers punctuated his remarks.
The vote of Mr.. Sibley to concur in
the senate amendment relative to the
delaware river Improvement below
Phiiadelphia was lost by vote of
lSs to rs. The bill was again sent to
conference with instructions. to the
conferees to insist upon their dis
agreement to the senate amendments.
II was a trying day in both branch
es, but more SO In the senate. which
was far behind the lower branch in
disposing Of business.
Both chambers were at times In such
an uproar that spectators in the
crowded galleries could not hear what
was being said.
The sound of the gavel was frequent
and resounding
The temper of some members gave
evidence that the long hours were hav-
ing. their effect
The senate forcibly displayed the
Hepburn pure food bill which has been
the regular order of business for
weeks. Its author, the senator from
Idaho protested, but Mr.. Spooner (Wis-
consin) who objected to the considera-
tion of a measure that could not pos
slbly pass the senate, brought the dis