Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-02-23
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
WEDNESDAY, February %.

amendment, House bill for the ascertainmenr
OF the amount due the ChoctaW nation. CaIen-
dar.
Mr.. Kirkwood from the minority Of the spe-
cal committee on the subject, reported Dill
for the relief OF the Ponca Indians. Tabled
g. mporarily.
M Butler addressed the Senate upon his pro-
posed amendment to the river and harbor bill
for survey and examination OF routes for the
Blue Ridge canal, in the interest of water trans
portattoh to Charleston.
Mr.. ConkliDg from the committee on judI-
c1ary. reported, without ameDd dment, House DILL
concerning the settlement OF boundary lines
between the states OF New York and Connecti-
cut. Calendar
AT 1l:45 O'Clock the calendar was considered,
the first bill In order being the Senate bill eX-
tending the time for nling claims for horses and
equipments lost by officers and soldiers OF the
| nited States (Which expired by limitation on
December 81. 1S15,) TO two years from the pas
sage of this act; and constituting all such claims
flled before the passage of the act as In due
time.
MT. Withers objected to the bill, but after an
explanation by MIR. Garland that the total OF
the claims admissible, according to the report
OF the third auditor, would amount to scarcely
one-fourth of what had been supposed, and
That the bill would place the claims OF soldiers
now barred under the act OF 1S49 upon an
equality with like claims of civilians which are
not Darred. he withdrew the objection.
MI. Cockrell moved an amendment extend
Ing for two years longer the time for the pre-
sentation Of all such claims, and thereafter for
ever barring them, whether of civilians or
soldiers.
MIR. Wallace opposed any extension OF the
limitation, and called attention to the charac-
ter or the bill. The amendment was agreed TO
ard the bill passed.
On motion OF Mr. Hill, (Col. y the Senate bill
to enable the state OF Colorado to take lands In
lieu OF the 10th and 36th sections, found to be
mineral lands, was taken up, and, after amend
ment thereto. passed.
The House bill on the calendar to regulate
practice In suits brought to recover dam ages
for infringement OF patent was discussed by
MesSrS. salisbury, voorhees,. Herman, Williams,
Conkllng and HOar. The debate brought to the
notice OF the Senate the veXatious and black
mailing suits TO recover damages for the use OF
patented articles. to which the people OF the
west, especially farmers, were constantly sub
Jected, and the propriety Of exemptlng by law
the innocent purchasers Of patented articles
from all damages.
Mr.. voorhees, and Mr. ingalls, favored more
rigid measure than that of the House. but We're
willing to take that as the only relief that
could be had at this session and, with this
view. suggested that the Senate committee
amendmentS be rejected.
The bill was finally laid aside lat oclock)
without act1on-Mr. Window giving notice he
o1, would ask 1t to be further considered after
routine business tomorrow.
Mr., Booth presented the conference report
on the pension appropriation bill, and In reply
TO Mr.. ingalls, stated that the Senate amend
ment relating TO Indian pensions had been con-
Messrs. Wallace, Beck and Booth were con-
stituted the Senate conferees on the post Office
appropriation bill.
Messrs. W1thers, Harris and Window were
appointed conferees on the District approprla-
uon bill.
The fortificat1ons appropriation bill was then
taken up.
HOUSE:-The House met at 10 O'CLOCK IN con.
t1nuanCe OF Tuesdays session, and Immediately
went into the committee OF the whole (Mr
Harris, OF Va. in the chair) on the sundry civil
appropriation bill.
Mr. Buckner offered amendment authorizing
the Secretary OF the Trea ,ury to purchase gas
saving Instruments for use In buildings under
me contrOl OF the Treasury department. Ruled
out on point OF order.
MI. King moved to strike out the clause pro-
nlblt1ng more than S25 600 of the balance or Jhe
appropriations previously made TO prevent tue
spread OF epidemic diseases, TO be used for th At
purpose during the fiscal year. The exemption
frOm yellow fever which the south had enjoyed
durlDg the past few years did not allgur free
ness nom 1t during the approaching summer.
III the government had right to protect It's peo-
pie against foreign enemies, certainly this da:a-
ccrattc Congress could not refuse protection
against an enemy which simply meant death
Mr. Blount contended that the amount ap-
propr1ated - 500 900 was amply sufficient
The board OF health had been going on with eX-
pendltures and purposes In view which lad
never been intended by the act creating Ii, and
he trusted that the committee would retain the
clause that it was proposed to strike out. so as
TO make the law so plain that no arUIf1ce OF
construction could escape its will.
MI. Young cTenn.) Thought that it was un-
wise economy to cut down appropriations for a
purpose SO important as that to prevent the
spread OF epidemic diseases. The national
Doard OF health asked, in addition to the uneX-
pended appropriations. an appropriation of
demand.
MIR. Goode favored the amendment. The
ooard nad shoWn no disposition TO be Wastetul
Mr.. Hawley did not believe in the wisdom OF
undertaking 10 take out OF the hands OF local
quarantine authorities this work or any SUD-
stantial part OF 1t. 1t had not been In the con-
temptation of Congress at the time of creating
the national board OF health TO establish uar.
manent board TO supercede the state boards of
quarantine. That board had conducted itself
In an extravagant but not in a practical
manner.
Mr.. Manning argued that 1t was economy.
humanity, and the part OF common decency for
Congress TO afford the means which were eS sem
tial for the protection OF human life.
THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL.
PENDING action on the amendment the com
mittee arose.
MIR. Cobb from committee on appropriations
reported back the District of Columbia appro.
pTlat1on bill with Senate amendments recon-
mendiDg concurrence in some and non-concur-
rence IN others OF those amendments.
The report was agreed to; and then. at II
O'clock, the session OF Tuesday ended and We'd
days session commenced.
Mr.. Blackburn, from the committee on ap-
preparations, reported back the Post Office aD.
preparation bill with Senate amendments rec
Ommend1Dg concurrence in some and non. con-
currence In others of the amendments, The
report was agreed to; and then at IL O'Clock the
session CT Tuesday ended, and Wednesdays
session began.
Mr.. Cox 1N.Y.) called up for consideration the
uI ni lshed business-the apportionment bill
MIR: Conger raised the question of constdera-
non i In favor OF the sundry civil appropriation
The republicans, with one or two exces.
flons, refused to vote on this question, and the
vote standing yeas 1913, NAYS 5, In favor of TAX
ibg up the apportionment bill, the point of no
quorum was raised.
MIR. Frye stated that the republicans
were 10 nave had a conference e last night. but
Inat lt had been necessarily postponed There.
IOre tney were not In condition to proceed
with the apportionment bill at present. III the
gentleman from New York would allow other
business TO intervene. the republicans would
Il.e .eu tnlS evening at 4:30, and 1T would tnen be
or not.
Mr.. Conger-I suppose that after that no dils-
tory motions will be made
MI Frye-I do not say that.
MI COX-I will yield to the gentleman from
MAINE on his suggestion, and will trust to his
nonor 10 put the bill through.
Messfs: Frye and Conger stated that they had
noC neard the last remark OF the gentleman and
Wou!d not, therefore, consider that any agree.
ment had been made.
Mr. Cox then gave notice that he would call
10 OIL up Tomorrow after the morning hour
He had several times deferred to the wishes OF
nus a republican friends and he only asked them