Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-06
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY,
DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE.
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL IN THE HOUSE.
The Senate.

relat1ng TO the history OF the railway mail service
had been made on final revision, and before sigma
that service. The reason was, that the matter
erased contained inference which was believed
the facts upon Wheh # 70 Was based d nen9
1orth 10 the document. The Postmaster General
adds that a fair copy of the document was not
made because OF the pressure OF time and the ex-
pense that would be involved.
OUR SEA COAST DEFRNsEs.
resolution was offered by MIR. Sewell calling on
the Secretary Of War to report to the Senate
whether any plans or preparations had been ma
tured by the engineer corps OF the army or by the
War department, for defending the harbors on our
sea coast and lakes by torpedoes or otherwise in
case OF sudden war with any foreign power; and If
templated for such defense, then whether any
armament has been provided or plan devised
oa tho sSn To- ns
luton to the committee on military affairs, as it
might be that good reasons existed why such in
formation should not be made public.
The resolution was so referred.
GENERAL LEGISLATION ON APPROPRIATION BILLS
Mr. ingalls,, according to notice given yesterday,
moved an amendment to the Senate rule that pro-
hibits general legislation on appropriation bills
amendment being to permit such legislation as
may be germane or relevant TO the subject matter
Of the bill.
Mr.. Harris hoped the matter would be referred
to the committee on rules
Mr.. Hale favored Mr. ingalls, motion. Some ap-
preparation bills now awaiting action OF the Sen
ate ne said had provisions correcting defective
legislation OF last year. II the Senate should in
sst its rule and the House insist on its own 20
st1on, the bill would be lost. The Senate would
then be met with the question whether it would
utteriy de1y the House and lose important matters
OF legislation.
Mr.. Hale did not think the Senate could stand on
Mr Beck also supported Mr.. Ingalls, motion.
Some OF the legislative provisions contained in
pending appropriation bills Mr.. Beck said were
them out. and If 1t did strike them out the House,
In Mr.. Becks opinion, would never yield.
Mr.. Bayard expressed himself strongly opposed
to legislation on appropriation bills His hope was
that joint rule or both houses might be secured
when NC Won would az keep legislation out Of such bills
MI. Frye said efort to that end had already been
maze without result The fact was that the
House under Its rules could not get necessary leg
Mr.. Bayard thought this melancholy condition
TOT legislative body to put itself in-that of hay
ing Ing a body OF rules which seemed destructive OF
legislation But he did not think the Senate rule,
| abrogated.
Mr.. ingalls, said the Senate was confronted with
a grave situation The Senate had gone into cul
de sac SO far as legislation was concerned and
there was nothing for 1t to do but to turn around
ana come out. There was on the pending pension
bill legislation that he MrIngalls could not aford
to oppose, nor could the Senate afford oppose it.
IL was most material and important legislation.
Mr.. Hale said the legislation referred to affected
the interests OF hundreds Of thousands of pen
Soners
Mr.. Ingalls, continued that he thought the Sen
ate might better accept the situation at desB&
aDle amendments could be proposed to such mea-
sures, for, even with the rigid rule now in force
| the practical result had always been thai The
House had had its way.
Mr. Harrison thought the rule ought to be so
amended as 10 nave approprOpriatOn bills referred
to the Senate committees having in charge the sub
Ject matter to which they relate. At any rate, it
and the other tied up
/, Mr. Sherman would be Wiling under the con-
tingencles OF this particular session. to suspend
the present rule OF the Senate; but II the House
persisted IN its present course Mr.. Sherman would
favor new rule to refer the appropriation bills to
the committees having charge OF the special sub
1ects to which the bills related. But rule or no
rule, MIR. Sherman said there were legislative pro-
visions in appropriation bills soon to be acted on
that he would not oppose because 1t was in amend-
ment OF very defective legislation Of last year.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES.
After some further debate the Ingalls, motion to
amend the rules Of the Senate so that amend
ments germane and relevant to the subject matter
OF appropriation bills may be made thereto was re-
ferred to the committee on rules
House of Representatives.
When the House met at ten o'clock this morning,
In continuation OF yesterdays session. there were
not more than half dozen members present, and
g further recess OF ten minutes was taken After
the recess the House went into committee of the
whole (Mr. Hammond, OF Georgia, In the chair on
the river and harbor bill The item approprlatinR
"s1OO, 900 for improving q national harbor of the
first class at Sandy Bay, Mass" was stricken out
by vote of "a tO42.
Several amendments making additional appro-
priatiOnS were rejected.
Mr.. McComas (Md.) offered an amendment pro-
vldlng that no money appropriated by this act
Secretary OF War; under the direction of the Pres-
dent shall determine, and in no shall the ex-
penditure for any one purpose exceed the sums de-
signated by this act for that purpose.
Mr.. McCOmas said that he wished the responsi.
bllity for the expenditure to rest somewhere The
engineer corps disciaimed any responsibility, and
the committee on rivers and harbOrs was not
united on the policy of the main items in the bill
Mr.. Willis {Ky.) stated that exactly what was
| contemplated by the amendment was the law at
present.
Mr.. McComas replied that he intended only to
follow the suggestions contained In the veto mes
sage OF President Arthur, which had the approval
Mr.: Thomas glll opposed the amendment on the
the government the right to determine where i'm
prOvements shall be made. 1t attempted to set up
the judgment OF the executive against that OF the
legislature. and make him virtual dictator, say
ing when and where Improvements shall be made.
Pending action, Mr.. Willis moved that the COM
decided that the ayes had it, and dsrepardgd de-.
mands for tellers
The Speaker pro tenn. (Mr. Blackburn) having
adjourn, and the Speaker, also dlsregarding calls
for division, declared the motion carried.
The House was instantly called to order and the
legislative day Of Friday began.
To-DAY's SESSION.
After the reading OF the journal the House pro-
ceeded to the consideration OF business under the
new rule.
On motion OF Mr.. Davis {Ills.) a Senate bill was
passed amending section 4437, Revised Statutes,
by adding prOviSO that boilers when constructed
OF iron and steel plates not exceeding 51-1OO OF
inch in thickness, to which heat Is applied the
outside OF the shell, may, in the discretion of the
Secretary OF the Treasury, be authorized and used
in steam vessels navigating the Atlantic or
Pacific ocean, salt water bays or sounds and the
great lakes.
Mr.. Payson Ml), from the committee on public
lands, reported bill to declare forfeited grant of
lands In aid Of the Girard and Mobile railroad. in
Alabama House calendar.
Mr.. Thomas (IlL), from the committee on naval
affairs, reported adversely a joint resolution ten
dering the THANKS OF Congress to Commanders
Schley and Coffin and Lieut. Emory. Laid on the
table
STATEMENT By MR. RANDALL AS TO THE APPRoPRIA-
TIoN BILLS
Mr.. Randall {Pa) said that he was Instructed by
the unanimous voice OF the committee on appro-
priations to ask the chairman OF the committee on
rivers and harborS when he expected to reach
final vote upon the measures under his charge.
Mr.. Willis replied that the committee Of the
whole had been prosecuting the consideration OF
the bill as fast as the rules would permit.
Mr.. Randall said that II the bill was considered
entire week. The House would not be free from
public criticism II the appropriation bills were not
all sent to the Senate by che 2th OF the month To
accomplish this, the committee on appropriations
was Of opinion that it should have the right OF way
after Saturday night, and serious effort would bo
made TO pass next week. the post ONCE legislative
and Sundry civil bills.
to be extra session the Appropriation bills should
have the right of Way now