The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-04-03
THE AGRICULTURAL
BILL IS PASSED
Total of $11,508,806 Is Set
Aside By tine House
DISCUSSION is VERY WARM
After Nine Days of Debate the Bill
Is Made Law-Harrison of New
York Takes Issue With
John Sharp Williams.
DISCUSSION is VERY WARM

Washington, April 2.-Carrying a total
ton bill was passed by the House of
Representatives late today 1t had been
urder discussion for nine days and from
the time its consideration began until
The very end its provisions were attacked
az every turn, with the result that it un-
oerWent many changes. Just before it,
passage Mr. Scott of Kansas, chairma /
Of the agricultural committee made an
effort to have stricken ont the amendment
accepted yesterday, considerably increasing
the appropriations for soil Investigations.
Under the debate today bfief furry was
c-eated by Mr. Harrison of New York
;democraD characterizing as socialistic
the bill of Minority Leader Williams
providing for the utilization of the treas
ny surolus in the construction and i'm
Drovement of roads in the several states.
Debate on the agricultural ill was re-
sumed Immediately after the House met
today, the subject of governmental aid
to state roads arousing a spirited discus
3 en-.
Mr. Harrison ,of New York (democrat)
20 the apparent surprise of his colleagues,
but to the delight of the republicans
/ aced himself in rebellion against Mr..
Williams, the minority leader. He in
Weighed against the proposition of Mr.
Williams to expend the treasury surplus
in the construction and repair OF roads
maintaining that there was no surplu )
in the treasury so long as national debt
existed There was. he said, surplus
OF daily balance, but no real surplus. Mr.
Harrison predicted that if Alr. Williams
socialistic policy were to be pursued, the
ctates soon would BIZ asking the federal
government to do everything for them
down TO feeding and clotlin. them"
Mr.. Sheppard of Texas took issue with
Mr.. Harrison's view that the proposition
of Mr.. Williams represented a departure
from democratic principles. He cited II
bill Offered by John c. Calhoun in sup
port of his contention and as regarded the
vetoes Of Presidents Madison and Mon
roe. he said they never questioned the
naked appropriation, but their vote was
based on the fact that the bill empowered
Congress to go further than the act of
appropriation and to participate in the
actual construction Of roads.
An amendment by Mr.. Sheppard author
izing the Secretary of Agriculture to CO.
operate with the postoffice department in
suggesting methods for the maintenance
and improvement of rural routes roads
was lost
Mr.. Burleson of Texas spoke in support
of his measure prohibiting gambling III
cotton. He read from letters from me;n-
bers of the New York Cotton exchange
and Others admitting should his PROPOSE
ton be enacted into law the exchange
would go out of business.
The reading of the agricultural appo-
pria tion bill then was concluded, where
upon Mr. Scott. chairman OF the commit
tee on agriculture. gave notice that ne
would as,. a separate vote on the amend
ment increasing by $685. AGO the appropriate
ton for soil Investigations and the Gs-
cussion on that subject was reopened.
the chief Of the bureau of soils. and
the chief of the bureal of soils, an 4
charged that with all the arts and art-
fees of an .experr lobbyist, and log
roller he had in his over-zealousness,
keen instrumental in getting the appro-
q iation increased.
The increase having been obtained
ii rough an amendment ty Mr. Hum
phreys of Mississippi that gentleman de-
RED that 1t was the result of any log
rolling" with him. His acton in offering
the amendments he declared, was based
solely on his own conviction that the
bureaus work should be enlarged.
The democrats forced the yeas and nays
~ Mr.. SCOTS proposition and the roll
was called. The vote resulted:
Ayes. AZ: nays, 1876. The amendment