The Washington herald., 1907-02-22

The House made a record day yester-
day i'm its work on the sundry civil bill.
The bill was taken up soon after the be-
ginning Of the session. and at o'clock
members were amusingly Mortified to hear
from Speaker Cannon that there would
he an evening session, and he would keep
the music going" until everybody was
tired. Ninety-One pages OF the 1913 Of the
bill were disposed of when the House
adjourned at 1870 last evening.
The most important discussion Of the
long session occurred at a late hour at
night, presenting a revolt against the
use Of the big stick" in shaping legisla-
ton. and on a vote Of IS TO 90 the Com
mittee Of the Whole decided TO follow
the Committee on Appropriations rather
than the President. It occurred over the
paragraph in the sundTy civil appropria-
ton bill carrying an item Of $4,000 to
enable the Census Office TO make the in
vestigation into conditions Of woman and
child labor recently ordered by Congress.
The House leaders tried, when the bin
was taken up, to cut off ali general de-
bate, except a statement by the Repub-
lican members and by the Democatic
members Of the committee. in order 10
rush through the bill 10 reach the ship
subsidy bill.
\ wrangle ensued. Mr.. Clark. Of Flori-
da. a member of the committee which in
vestigated ST. Elizabeths. wanted half an
hour TO talk about that. and Mr.. Sulzer.
Of New York, was determined TO secure
it for him. So he objected to closing gem
eral debate Mr. Tawney gave notice that
after he had made his statement he would
move that the committee rise, and then
ask the House TO limit debate.
When the title of the bill was reported.
Mr.. Tawnev made the request that the
first reading be dispensed with.
Mr. SuIzer Objects.
Il object" shouted Mr.. Sulzer, unless
the gentleman from Florida can have half
an hour"
Mr.. Tawney doggedly sank back in his
seat, and Speaker Cannon, his arms flying
and hair brisuing. expostulsted with Sui
zer. who shortly retired from the hall.
Mr. Tawney's desk was surrounded with
anxious members. who wanted him 10
yield the thirty minutes TO Clark. declar-
read the bill. but he remained obdurate.
The reading clerk began 10 make mar
velous progress with the reading, when
Minority Leader Williams inquired If he
was not skipping pages.
The Chair cannot inform the gentle
man." replied Chairman Watson. The
presumption Is that the officers and en-
ployes Of the House discharge their duties
IN accordance with the rules The Chair
has admonished the clerk 70 be very
careful in turning the pages. and has no
doubt that he has been so heretofore.
Which caused an audible smile.
At l.30 o'clock Mr.. SulZer returned
When he reached the space in front OF his
desk he raised his finger to attract atten-
ton, and said:
Il ask unanimous consent that the
further reading be dispensed with and that
the gentleman from Florida have half an
hour"
IT objectr simultaneously remarked Mr..
Tawney and Mr.. Dalzell
BiIIion-dOIIar Congress.
At 2:50 the reading clerks concluded.
having made a record for fast works.
pages in ten minutes less than two hours
and Mr.. Tawney. chairman of AppTOpTia-
tons. opened the general debate with a
statement OF the probable total OF ap-
propriations al this session.
lie said this was to be q bilIiOn-dOllar
session of Congress
I regret exceedingly 10 state" said Mr.
Tawuey, what I believe will be the fact,
that the aggregate amount appropriated
in this session of Congress. including the
permanent appropriations for the eX-
penditures during the fiscal year 1908, will
exceed the appropriations made at any
previous session Of Congress in the history
OF the republic. The annual estimate
for expenditures submitted at the begin
ming of the session amount TO $50, 690, $50
There are obligations created by the riv-
ers and harbor and the naval appro-
priation bills in round numbers of $l5,-
63i536. IT. addition to this there are sup
Elemental sundry civil estimates aggre-
eating lS.0O000O in round numbers. max
ing a total of 81. COS, 244.56S. as the total OF
estimates and amounts now carried IN
the bills that have passed one or both
Houses.
"Our revenues during the fiscal year
1898 will not exceed $780,. 5lS,264. This esti-
mate is an increase Of almost S2oOo0,es
over the revenues of the current fiscal
year. we will have a deficit at the end
Of the fiscal year 1908 Of over Sl00Oo,00.
Il do not make this statement In any
spirit Of criticism upon either branch OF
Congress. ! appeal 10 the patriotism OF
every member of the House, and ask hin
to do what he can to endeavor to keer
down the aggregate of our appropriations
as far as it is possible to do consistent
with the public service and the needs Of
our government
After Mr. Taylor Dem, AlaD, haC
briefly reviewed the growth Of the sundry
civil bills the committee rose. Mr.
TaWuey moved that general debate or
The bill be closed which was ordered-l6
10 45-the yeas and nays being refused
and reading OF the bill in Committee Of
the Whole for amendment was begun.
SuIzer EnIivens the Debate.
Nessrs. Sulzer and Clark, still smartng
under their failure TO obtain an oppor
tunity for the latter to talk, interposeC
numerous points of order against appro
prlations for public buildings, being al
most uniformly unsuccessful. Good tenn
per was observed throughout MIR. Sui
zer's frequent discontinue afforded con
siderable amusement. However, they IL
noWise disconnected him He told Mr.
Tawney, apropos Of an admission by the
latter that he was not particularly in
formed on some subject
No wonder you talk about a billion
dollar session II that's the way you ap
propriote money
Mr.. Sulzer criticised the Committee OF
Appropriations for failure 10 provide fol
the building Of the new New York post
office. and moved to insert an item o.
coo to begin the building. 1t wen
out on point of order Mr. Benne
stated a moment later that S1,0G0,000 wa.
not needed next year. SlCo.O00 was all tina
could bc used. And he was confiden
that before the end Of the session q way
would be found 20 get the money. a:
far as Sl,0o0CO) FOR the building was con