Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-07
4 Democratic FiIibuster
Keeps House in Turmoil
Re||caI|s and Points Of Order
on civil Sundry Bill.


Washington, June o.-lne members
of the minority of the House believing
that a majority had taken undue adj
vantage Of them in limiting the gen
eral debate on the sundry civil bill to
one hour today started another filibus-
ter and for two hours roll calls and
points of order kept the House in
turmoil. Later when the sundry civil
bill was taken up under the 5-minute
rule but a few pages were completed
when the House adjourned, much OF
the time being given to a discussion
of the sale of all custom house ac-
emulation in New York City and the
payment of the rental to the Natlonai
City Bank. This is yearly occur
ence and the same charges ana ue-
malls were made.
The House sent into committee of the
whole for the consideration of the sun
dry civil bill. General debate was lin
tied to one hour when the bill is to be
taken up under the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Watson, Ind, the whip of the ma
jority, was called to the chair.
Tawney. Mimi, the chairman of the
appropriations committss. in explaining
the provisions of the bill. which deals
with all the departments of the govern
ment and the next to the last money
bill to be passed by the House stated
that the total appropriations for the
sundry civil expenses for the current
fiscal year is $67,16S,OOO.
The estimates submitted by the de-
partments for the next fiscal year ag-
Sregate $1O5, 416,576. The total appro-
priations approved by the committee
for sundry civil expenses for the fiscal
year 1907 is $94,342,156. being sl1,O74.42O
less than the regular and supplemental
estimates. OF the total amount carried
I'm tho bill, $25, 456,575 is for the construc
ton of the Panama canal and is reim-
bursable from the proceeds of the sale
of bonds. In addition to this sum the
amount carried for river and harbor
improvements made necessary by river
and harbor acts and especially by the
act passed at the last session Of Con-
gress is in excess of the amount ap-
propriated in the current law for that
purpose by $6,714.S44.
Tawney said that by eliminating the
canal appropriation and the excess or
river and harbor appropriations over
last YEAR the total of the bill would be
62,110,737, or $5,O52, 1863 less than the bill
Of the current year. ...
Sullivan, Mass. protested against
the belief that it was a scheme on the
part of the leaders of the Republican
party to keep out of the record the pro-
posed speech of Rayney. ILL.,, on the
watch trust" in reply to the speeches
Of .Boute1l. ILL.,, and Hepburn, Ia. He
intimated that. the Republicans had
agreed upon this plan and that general
debate would be cut off on all other
bills.
Then. passing to the consideration Of
the bill itself. he insisted that the type
OF the Panama canal should be deter
mined during the present session. He
called attention to the disagreement be-
tween the engineers and remarked that
there was a grave doubt if the Presi-
dent had the right to determine the
type under the so-called SpoOner act.
He said 1t was a question that Con-
gress should face and finally decided to
the end that the people of the United
States shall have the benefit of the best
canal constructed at the lowest posi-
BILE cost and in the quickest possible
time.
JOSSIIB ITO1n tIle VI TIE
type of canal. Sullivan began recital
of what he alleged to be specific viola
lions of law on the part of the three
members Of the Presidents official fam
lily, Secretary of the Interior Hitchcock.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson and
Secretary of Commerce and Labor Met
calf. He charged Mr.. Hitchcock with a
violation of law through the sale of
town lots in the territory of Oklahoma
and from the proceeds of which he
constructed roads, erected bridges.
court houses. jails and other public
buildings. Over s75O,000 was realized
from the sale of these lots. While rec
Ognizing the honesty and integrity of
Mr.. Hitchcock, Sullivan charged the
secretary of the interior with viola
ton Of the law In two important par
ticulars. 1.-THE money received was not
paid into the United States treasury as
part of the general fund of the gov
eminent and no account of it was rem
dered to the treasury department.
Another violation of the law" said
Sullivan. ito my mind more fragrant
and with far less excuse. was commit
ted by the secretary of agriculture. Mr.
Wilson,
He then reviewed the legislation au-
thoriZing the construction of fire proof
building for the department of agricul-
ture, and told how the secretary had
erected two wings for the amount OF the
appropriation. $1.5Oo.oeo. which Congress
clearly intended should house the entire
forces of the agricultural department
Now the result of this proceeding is
continued Sullivan. that Congress will
oe oohsed at a later date to appropriate
ahother million. five hundred thousand
ooilsis to execute the plans which the
seore.aTy had in mind from the beginning
whether he has had the sanction of
,ne President Tn his violation of the law
am NOT prepared to state" continued
sunNan. for believe the secretary is
100 loyal to his chief to tell the truth i,
.ne PRESIDENT had sanctioned that viola.
tion OF the law. At all events The fac,
remains that a law of Congress has hear
oehoerately violated by denartment
mead and the question is now what do 20,
gentlemen of the majority. charged wit,
the responsibility for legislation. nronos,
10 90 In the case of a member of 3,
executive department who deliherat FOL,
and