National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-06-14
FORTY-SlXTH CONGRESS.
Passage of the Legislative Appro-
priation Bill.
Hts Defects Exposed by Mr.. Blaine and Ac'
knowledged by Mr.. Beok-Amendmcnt
Forbidden by King Cauous-The
Judioial-Expense Bin Taken
Up-Important bills Re-
ported to tho House.
SENATE.


On motion Of Mr.. whyte the Senate took up and
passed the bill TO authorize the Secretary of the
Treasury to negotiate and contract for the con.
ditional purchase of site for postonice in Bal
bmore.
On motion OF Mr.. Withers the army nppropria.
lion bill was read second time and referred to the
Committee on Appropriations.
On motion Of Mr.. Maxey the House supplemental
post rontc bill was taken up, amended, and passed.
On motion of Mr.. Beck the Senate proceeded TO
consider the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill, as reported from the Committee
on Appropriations,
Mr. BECK explained the bill. with view 10
simplifying the bill as 1t came from the House he
had himself prepared MS n substitute an amend.
ment presenting the usual form OF such an appro.
priation bill, without changing the amount or pur
poses OF the appropriations except according to
The amendments made by the Senate Committee on
Appropriations. lie was not, however. authorized
by the committee TO report that substitute. stu Il
might help the Senate TO understand the House
Mr. WiNDoM thought he could not vote for the
bill as passed by the House. II was an incompre-
honsibC affair, and It would be far better 10 pass
the bill lately vetoed without the political clauses.
Mr.. BECK explained that the bill had been passed
in It's present form by the House and accepted by
The Senate committee with view TO fastening
action and permitting an early adjournment.
Mr.. WINDoM moved to recolnmit the bill, that the
bill in the usual form.
Mr.. DAWSON Na) opposed the motion.
Mr.: BLAlNE supported ~ and severely criticised
ihe form OF the bill, saying among other things
that as II came from the House IL actually appro.
priated nothing ut all, and the Senate committee
l h%n 70 amend py inserting the necessary oppropri-
grace for Congress to send such a thing out as an
appropriation bill. He read some of the language
said If people didn't know where this language wns
used they would think !: was taken from some joke
eook, 1et ms WINS what came from the House as
an appropriation bill; He thought good motion
would be one TO kick the whole thing under the
able.
Mr.. CoNRI.INa also derided the bin
Mr.. Window motion TO reconmt was lost
yeas ~ NAYS, ga strict party vote except that
The bill was then read for action on the commit.
tee amendments.
When the first clause had been read Mr.. Window
asked Mr.. Beck 10 inform him how much money
That clause appropriated.
Mr. BECK said he could tell how much the whole
Dill Ioprated-nanicly, about sl50oo,000. II
MIR WINDOW said every clause ,' of MIR. BecS sub:
Mi'ute showed just what money was voted by IT,.
nc wanted to know n Mr.. Beck could tell within
1our or i've million dollars OF what this clause p
prnpriaed. lLaughter.l
Mr.. Becks reply and the discussion that followed
was repetition of the previous debate.
MI BLAINE offered an amendment to substitute
3oOC instead Of So $50 for wagons for transporting
SENATE mails" There was considerable laughter
shu CONFUSION nObodycou d find such provision
III Tie Dill, and Mr. Blaine would only say that IL
G,'me somewhere under Il Q first clause. Several
Democratic Senators protested against this method
Di what they considered obstruction.
After some further debate Mr.. BLAINE Withdrew
his amendment and the reading of the bill was
proceeded with. -f.
At the end of each clause the debate was re
ncwed. as indicated above. Mr.. Blaine at one time
going so far us to shy that the bill really appropr-
atcd nothing for the year 1880. bnt only amended
End limited The appropriation for 1879.
MI SALISBURY Denounced what he called this
eaptions criticism of the bill. He would say that
any man with any legal acumen who attempted TO
consider the bill would be q iacknss if he could
not understand what Congress meant by H."
Great laughter followed this remark and good
fore manifested.
Mr.. RoILISs submitted an amendment appropri.
hting Sl50O0O TO pay judgments of the Court OF
Clnlms. Relected-yeAs. II; nays, 80.
MI. BAILEY submitted an amendment Rppropriat.
Ing $4,000 for collecting statistics and compiling
matter for annual and special reports and editing
md publishing circulars of information by the
Bureau OF Education. Adopted.
The bill was reported back to the Senate and the
amendments made in Committee of the Whole
agreed TO.
Mr.. BLAINE obtained the assurance from Mr.. Beck
mat the bill contained nothing affecting disputed
political questions, saying that he could not find
out himself what 1t did or did not contain.
The bill was read third time and passed
Mr.. WALLACE moved to take up the supplemental
judicial appropriation bill. Agreed to.
=, Mr., WHITE moved 20 proceed to consider execu-
tive business.
Mr.. CoNKLISG moved to adjourn. Agreed to- and
Al $3.50 the Senate adjourned.