The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-05-27
DAY OF TALK In The HOUSE.
THE DIPLOMATIC BILL UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
But Only Half an Hour Was Devoted to That
Mr.. Rucker OF Missouri Predicts
Bryan's Renomination-Liyely Dis
cussion Over G6vr MagOOn's salary.

but ONLY Half an Hour Was DeyOted to That
MIR. Fucker or Missouri Predicts
Bryan's Renomination-Lively Dis
cussiOn Over G6v~ MagOOn's salary.
WASHINGTON, May occurring a session
Of six and a half hours to-day the House
had under consideration the Diplomatic
Appropriation bill. The half hour was
spent In the discussion of matters pertain
to the measure, while the six hours was
devoted to a discussion of topics in general
quite irrelevant to the subject Of dip
lomats.
Mr.. Rucker of Missouri began the days
talk at II o'clock by q speech advocating
a hill to provide publicity for campaign
contributions, and criticised the Republi-
cans for their inaction.
Mr.. Gaines Of West Virginia replied,
oharacterizing the so-called Belmont pub
licity bill as so faulty that it would do
nothing toward securing honesty or de-
cency in elections"
MIR. Rucker predicted the denomination
and election Of shat peerless leader
laughterl. yes, I say peerless leader ad-
visedly, for the brightest son Of the Republi-
ean party is a lightning bug compared to
the genius Of william Jennings Bryan"
Democratic applause.l
Mr.. Perkins Of New York discussed civil
service as affecting the political longevity
Of members of Congress. He showed that
the terms of service Of members has in
creased since they had been deprived Of
Federal patronage.
Civil service reform, " said Mr.. Perkins,
has not in all respects worked beneicially:
but for Congressman certainly it has been
an unmixed blessing. 1t has made their
lives happier and their ten ure of office
longer. The Representative who opposes
it because it lessons his chance Of getting
a Job for some ungrateful constituent may
be a benevolent man, but 1t does not seem
10 me that he is a wise one
Mr.. Rhodes Of Missouri talked on PEN
eions for Missouri soldiers; Mr.. Samuel W..
Smith Of Michigan advocated a postal tele-
graph system to be operated by the Gov
eminent and Mr.. Murphy of Missouri de-
manded statehood for Oklahoma and Indian
Territory and severely criticised the attitude
Of his Republican colleague, Mr.. Ellis, for
deserving the cause Of these two territories
Toward the close Of the day Mr.. Flood Of
Virginia discussed the diplomatic bill and
his remarks brought out some lively COL
lOQuJb iCBdioliS tLO odtuiy NhNh Wv.
Magoon draws as a member Of the Canal
Commission. He called attention to the
provision in the bill which he advocated,
stipulating that no part Of the money ap-
propriated should be paid to any minister
or ambassador drawing any other salary
from the Government. He charged that
Gov. Magoon, who is also accredited as
minister TO Panama, il drawing $40, 900 as
minister and $1500 as a member of the Canal
Commission.
Mr.. Watson of Indiana said that In view
, Of Mr., Floods charge he had called up the
Secretary of State and ascertained that
Mr.. Magoon is drawing nc salary as Minister
to Panama and TINT be could not do so
under the law.
Mr.. Flood admitted subsequently that
this was true, but during the discussion,
which was participated in by Mr.. Williams
of Mississippi, MIR. Mann of Illinois and Mr..
Tawnev OF Minnesota, it was developed
that while o Magoon draws no salary
as Minister, he is drawing a salary as a
member of the commission equivalent
to the combined salaries Of commissioner
and Minister. Mr.. Williams procured the
admission from Mr.. Tawney that while
other member of the commission are paid
$500, salary which Is fixed by the Presi-
dent and not by Congress, Gov. Magoon
Is drawing S17 500 as a member of the COM
mission, which is equivalent to the salary
of any single member of the commission
plus the salary allowed by law to the Minister
10 Panama,
Mr.. 1swney said that the two Offices
could better be combined in one man, and
while other members of the commission
were acting in an advisory capacity only,
Gov. Magoon was devoting his entire time
and attentian to the affairs of the canal
and living upon the 1sthmus.