Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-12
BOTH HOUSES At WORK ON THE APPROPRIA-
.TION BILLS.

THE CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION
PILL PASSED.
On motion OF Mr.. Allison the Senate took final
vote on the consular and diplomatic appropriation
bill, and the bill was passed by vote OF 3s yeas,
2 nays Messrs Vance and Van Wyck) The bill
as passed Is almost precisely as reported from the
senate committee on appropriations, making an
addition Of $500 600 to the BILL as reported from the
House.
THE MEXICAN PENSIONS BILL.
On motion Of MI. Harris, the Mexican pensions
bill was taken up
MI. Van Wyck moved, as an amendment, the bill
some time since reported from the pension commit
zee Dy MI. Cullom to provide pensions for invalid
soldiers and sailors who have been discharged from
the army or navy after three months in the war Of
tne IeDellion. and Tor the widows and dependent
parents Of deceased pensioners.
MI. Cuilom hoped the whole subject would go
over III TO- morrow, as he was expecting estimates
amount OF money involved In the amendment.
MI: Harris felt compelled to refuse his consent
Ae dld not wish to cucumber the Mexicon bill by
any amendments
The House.
AMENDING THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The House met at 10 o'clock, in continuation Of
Wednesdays session, and went into comrlittee of
the whole (Mr Cox. OF New York, in the chair, on
the river and haroor appropriation bill.
MI: Graves Mo.) offered an amendment, provtd-
strued as limitation the powers OF the board Of
engineers designated to prepare and submit plans,
speclncat1ons, estimates and recommendations for
souri, river, and that said board shall constitute
commission, to be called the Missouri river COM
mission, whose duty it shall be to complete the
surveys OF the Missouri river between Its mouth
and headwaters, and make such additional surveys
as may be deemed needful for the maturing Of such
channel and protect the banks of the river. give
SAFETY 10 It's navigation and promote commerce and
the postal service; and all appropriations hereafter
maoe 1or that river shall be expended in accord
ance with such plans as the commission shall from
time to time report to Congress through the Secre-
tary of War: Adopted.
was adopted providing that hereafter all purchases
OF supplies and materials shall be made by con-
tract, after advertisement.
Mr.. BrecK1nridge (Ark.), at the request OF Mr.
Cox IN. ", offered as an amendment the bill re-
Gently introduced by that gentleman to prohibit
dumping OF refuse material In New York harbor.
Mr. Cox (havtng left the chair advocated the
amendment at some length.
The amendment was adopted.
coNFEREEs ON THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL
At II O'Clock the committee rose and the legisla-
tive day Of Thursday opened.
The Speaker announced the appoIntnent of
Messrs Follett, Hutchins and Cannon as conferees
ON the District OF Columbia appropriation bill
THE KILBouRN-THoMPsoN JUDGMENT
The Speaker laid before the House communica-
tton from the Attorney General transmitting q
letter from the United States district attorney for
the District of Columbia concerning the trial OF the
case OF Hallet Ktlbourn agt. j. G. Thompson, and
it was appropriately referred After giving de-
tailed history OF the case, the district attorney
may be informed of the present state and condition
OF the case, and asked to take some action in re-
gard to It. 1t cannot be expected that the judges
OF the District will continue much longer to set
aside verdicts In this case, there must Some time
be an end to litigation; and after three verdicts
have been set aside 1t would be hard to find fault
with court II, on the fourth trial, should
there be one, verdict to any amount should
be allowed to stand; and fear, unless Congress
shall either tn .a direct @ that the which
law so that the connection of the government with
this case shall cease when f1nal action shall have
been taken the bill OF exceptions by the Supreme
Court of the United States, the government may
have to pay much larger sum than $4,000"
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL AGAIN.
The House then, at 11:15, went into committee OF
the whole Mr Wellborn (Tex.) In the chair) on the
river and harbor appropriation bill.
On motion Of Mr.. Spooner (R L., an amendment
was adopted prohibiting vessels from dumping
ashes or other refuse matter in the Providence
river.
A large number OF amendments were offered to
the section OF the bill providing for surveys
few OF which were adopted, but majority OF which
were voted down.
Mr.. BELFoRD's AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Belford (COl) offered an amendment pro-
vidlng that all the appropriations in this bill shall
be paid In standard silver coin or silver certih-
Gates.
Mr: Weller Gowa>-why not pay the unta1ed
Mr.. Belford.-They ought to be paid in that kind
OF money.
MI Weller-Amenl
The amendment was lOst-71 to IS.
THE BILL REPORTED TO THE HOUSE.
At 1:25 the committee rose and reported the bill
to the House.
Mr. Oates (Ala.) moved to strike out the Henne-
pin canal clause. This led to considerable debate
The motion to strike out was agreed to-yeas
Mr.: Murphy then moved to lay the bill and pend
ing amendments on the table.
Ihe motion was lOSt-yeas, 81; nays, 1885,
The District in Congress.
SENATE CoNFEREEs ON TIE APPROPRIATION BILL
Messrs. Plumb, Dawes and Cockrell have been ap-
pointed Senate confereeS on the District appropri-
ton bill
l.. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN.
The House District committee will probably rec
ommend the passage Of the bill, which has already
passed the Senate for the protection OF children In
the District OF Columbia.
Capitol Topics.
THE STRUGGLE OVER THE NEUTRALITY ACT APPRo.
PRIATION.
The Senate remained in secret session several
hours yesterday considering the s25O,OOO appro-
pr1atton, in the consular and diplomatic bill, fol
the enforcement OF the neutrality laws When the
doors were opened separate vote was demanded
on this amendment Mr.. Van Wyck offered an
amendment directing that portion of the $3.50
shall be paid to the owners OF concession granted
to the Maritime Canal company Of Nicaragua.
slider the vote the doors were again closed. When
the doors were opened vote was taken on the
passage OF the bill, but quorum could not be had,
and the Senate adjourned
It now looks as II there will be determined oppO
stion In the House to the Senates $25OOOO appro-
priation for the Nicaraguan canal project. There
are members OF the House who declare that they
intend to demand an open and explicit statement
Of what the money Is wanted for; and there are
democratic members who say they intend to vote
against 1t anyhow.
THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC BUILDING s1TR
The subcommittee that visited Brooklyn to In
vestigate the proposed purchase OF site for pub
lie building In that city, by the resolution under
which the investigation was made, will be required
member OF the SUBJ committee, expressed the opin-
ion to-day that the government would "Save
nothing by the trip to Brooklyn" The report OF
the committee has not yet been prepared It Is
thought, however, that it will be similar to that
which was reported to the House last week by the
committee on public buildings and grounds. Su-
pervistnR Architect Bell Will be OSs-eXam1ned by
the committee tomorrow.
THE SUBSIDY CLAUSES OF THE SHIPPING BILL
There was q report at the Capitol to-day that a
compromise had been arranged on the shipping
bill: that it would be reported back without the
free shipping provision and without the subsidy
clause, but Senator Frye says the conferees have
siton in the House to the subsidy clause, and tho
indications are that 1t win not get through that
body.
THR NASsXY Va wIHI ELKCTToN CASE
The House committee on elections to-day refused
the request OF MI. Massey for q reopening OF the
contested election case OF Massey Vi Wise, OF vir
R1n1a. The request was made In order that mrtner
argument might be made on the facts OF the case,
the law question having bean fnlly argued