The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-23

only one who has the right to make pro- motions and the Senate confirms them" replied MT Prince.
 MT. Prince pictured these officers with l 'one hand on the flag and the other on the treasury, getting money they have not earned"
 Twice MT Stevens, of Minnesota, for merly member of the military commit tee asked if it were not true that the refusing to promote officers who served in the civil war to the rank of brigadier general unless they would at once retire, and that this policy had resulted in plac- ing fifty or sixty such officers on the re- tirement list, who otherwise would be on the active list.
 No answer was made to this question. MT. Prince hesitatingly remarked that there was a good deal of truth in the statement.
 Chairman Hull declined to throw any light on the question.
 critlcises the Organization.
 Presenting the reason why he could not get action on a bill he introduced last December, MT. Clark of Florida made severe criticism of the organization of the House. He then dwelt at length on the merits of his bill, which prohibits internal revenue officers from receiving special taxes and granting liquor licenses in prohibition or local option sections.
 Illustrating the necessity of the meas ure he said that in prohibition Maine in 1906 $40 federal licenses were issued, in 19O5, 3024 were issued in Kansas also prohibition state and that in Connecticut not prohibition in 1905. 3269 federal H. censes were issued, while the state H. oenses numbered but 2191.
 Ship subsidy was discussed for an hour by MT. Gilbert of Kentucky who took the position which he maintained against many contrary statements by Messrs. Grosvenor and Littlefield that ships could be built as cheaply in this country as abroad.
 Finest Merchant Marine Fleet.
 MT. Gilbert asserted that the United States possessed the finest merchant ma rine fleet of any nation. In this he in- cluded the 136 ships of the Morgan & Go. ownership, sailed under the British and German flags. Asked to explain this he quoted English and German law to the effect that shipping was not entitled to the protection of those countries un- less completely owned by their subjects. Should trouble come the Morgan ships would have to be protected by the Amer ican flag. Under the proposed ship sub sidy bill he said the Standard Oil com pany would get subsidy on fifteen of it's ships and the Great Northern Railway company would get S100000 a year on each of it's steamships running to the Orient Such bills, he said, were always drawn in the interest of the shipping trust" and the millionaires. Eighty four Atlantic steamships would get total of $35O,421, while 626 sailing vessels with more than double the tonnage would get but S95. 3S5.
 When Mir. Grosvenor of Ohio took the floor he was greeted with prolonged ap- plause from both sides of the House. 1t being understood as an expression of regret at MT. Grosvenor's failure Of re- nomination.
 'T hope this does not come out of my time." smlingly remarked MT. Gros- venor He then proceeded first to pay his respects to MT. Gilbert of Kentucky who had lust concluded speech on ship suhsidy "There never has been com pressed into an hour so many erroneous statements as were made by the gen tleman from Kentucky" declared Mr. Grosvenor, who announced that some time later he would reply in detail.
 Grosvenor Is Cheerful.
 MT Clarlxs criticism of the rules were next the subject of reply by MT. Grosve- nor, who cited the record to show that there has been more debate on the pllls so far this season of Congress, than ever before and contrasted 1t with a session of Congress controlled by the democrats when, he pointed out, a bill repeating the resumption and making paper money equal to gold: bill for the free coinage of silver. and an appropriation act car rying $19000 900 were all passed without a single word of debate.
 Mir Clark interrupted to state that three days of debate at the present ses- sion was on bill unanimously reported and favored by both political parties, and on which no debate was necessary.
 "Oh yes," replied MT. Grosvenor, members thought debate very necessary for their constituents. l made one speech myself but I don't think 1t did a particle of good" Oaughter)
 T am exceedingly sorry that it did not avail in the gentlemans case,' replied MT. Clark amid applause.
 Turning his attention to the army MT. Grosvenor concluded his speech with vigorous protest against the provision abolishing the grade of lieutenant gen. eral in the army He declared he should make a point of order against the pro- vision and for the reason that it would shut out General Corbin, whose services as a soldier he reviewed at some length. It would also bar General Macarthur. Breezy Discussion on Payne Bill.
 The debate concluded with breezy discussion of the Payne bill to abolish customs districts MT. Payne urged the uselessness of certain ports. MT. James of Kentucky called him to account for statements regarding Paducah, Ky. It was easy to explain. he said, why no GUS toms were received there It was not a port of entry, simply a port of delivery. He charged MT. Payne with ignorance regarding the whole subject MT. James took MT, Payne to task Assertions that he Payne) was agail (sraft He recalled MT Payne's object 4 when MT. Gillespie of Texas wanted t3 read to the House the proof of Illegal combinations among railroads and remarked:
 "The gentleman was not against graft regarding railroads, but he is against it when 1t comes to rivers, He seems to have natural antpathy to water" Qaugh.er)
 'The gentleman from New York;" re- marked MT. Payne, referring to himself, ought to be very popular in Kentukcy."
 The House adjourned at 5;05 o'clock, having finished the general debate on the army bill.