Americus times-recorder., 1919-03-05

Interest " NeO4 6Io1IS III 0hohAhS III
CONGRESSMAN Chas. r. Crisp, of th
district, saved the Brand amendme
to the War Trade Board appropriate
bill from being stricken out on a poi
of order. The Brand amendment pr
vided that no part of the $3,500,0
appropriation should be available {
long as the boards embargo on IL
export of American products, whiC
included cotton, remained in fore
The following, quoted from the re,
ord, shows the shrewd manner
which Mr. Crisp kept the amendmel
from being ruled out; the proceed
ings quoted following Immediately a
ter the introduction of his amendmeI
by Mr.. Brand:
Mr.. Dyer.-Mr. Chairman, l re-
serve a point of order.
Mr.. Mondell.-I reserve a point
of order on that amendment
Mr.. Crisp.-I ask that the point
of order be made 1 call for the
regular order.
Mr.. Dyer-I make the point of
order.
Mr.. Crisp-We would like to
know what the point of order is.
Mr.. Steagall.-I desire to offer
an amendment to the amendment.
Mr.. Chairman.-There is point
of order now to be determined.
Mr.. Wingo.-What is the point
of order that the gentleman
makes?
Mr.. Dyer-As I caught it, it
provides for things not authorized
by the act creating the War Trade
Board, and this is offered as an
amendment to the motion to strike
out.
The Chairman 1t is offered as
an amendment to perfect the text.
Mr. Wingo-It is a limitation on
the expenditure of public fund,
is it not?
Mr.. Dyer,-Oh, yes; it does.
Mr.. Would it not be in
order on that theory?
Mr. Dyer-I think not.
Mr.. Wingo There is no ques-
ton about the germaneness of the
amendment in constituting the ex-
penditure.
Mr.. Crisp.-Mr. Chairman, ]
would like to be heard on the
point of order if the Chair has any
doubt about it.
The Chairman.-The Chair will
hear the gentleman.
Mr.. Crisp.-The parliamentary
proposition pending before the
House in the motion of the gentle
man from South Carolina to strike
out a section of the bill The
gentleman form Georgia has offer
ed an amendment to perfect the
text which it is proposed by the
gentleman from South Carolina to
strike out The rules of the House
are specific in this respect as to
the motion to perfect the text
hAing first in order.
The Chairman.-If the gentle
man will pause, the Chair has no
doubt about that.
Mr. -Crisp.-Then, Mr.. Chairman
as to the other proposition I
think it is equally clear that it is
limitation. There is provision
in the bill appropriating money
for the War Trade Board and the
amendment simply provides that
no part of the fund shall be ex-
pended as long as any embargo is
maintined on the expectation of
American goods and products.
Mr. Dyer-Is not that legisla-
ton, indirectly?
Mr.. Crisp.-Absolutely not; it
it limitation pure and simple.
There is no discretion whatever
left with any executive depart
ment. They have nothing to de-
termine except to see whether the
embargo is enforced against
American goods. If any such en-
barge is in existence, then the
limitation applies and says that
this fund shall not be used. 1t is
q clear limitation, pure and
simple, and such limitations are
always in order on an appropria-
tion bill 1t is always in order
to offer a limitation on an appro-
priation contained in an appropria-
tion bill, and whether the limita-
ton is wise or unwise is not for
the Chair to determine. 1t is for
the committee to determine. The
only province of the Chair is to
determine whether it is purely