St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-10
A Protracted Skirmish in the House
Between the River and Harbor
Members and the
Appropriation COmmittee-The Latter
Wins the Fight and the Big Steal
Probably Doomed.
The Senate Soon to Devote Its Attention to
the Electoral Count and the Silver
Question.
Comptroller of the Currency Cannon, From
Minnesota, to Hold His 0fiice-Almost
Done With Botkin.
A lively Fight in the House.

Special TO the GloOe.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-To-day has been
looked forward to as being one OF importance
for the reason that the result OF the contest
between the committee on appropriations
and that on river and harbors would decide
the question of an extra session. Had not
the appropriations committee been victorious
it is thought that an extra session as result
would have been a necessity in order to pass
the regular appropriation bills. AS the
present session approaches to the
end the confusion in the
house of representatives increases daily.
To-day was not an exceptional one. The
house convened at 10 O'Clock in continue
ton of Saturdays session, with the river and
harbor bill having the right of way. The
house had scarcely begun to consider this
bill when the appropriation committee
through
TowNsHEND, OF ILLINOIS,
antagonized the river and harbor bill with
the postofiice appropriation bill. The conflict
between the two com mittees was thus brought
to an issue. Willis, the chairman of the COM
mittee on the river and harbor bill. protested
against the motion to sidetrack
his bill and to consider the APP
preparation bill for the reason that the
house had on Saturday almost unanimously
given the two hours of the morning with the
understanding that the time was to be occu-
pied In the consideration of the river and
harbor bill. Townshend suggested that the
committee take an hour for the river and
harbor bill, with the understanding that they
yield at 12 o'clock to the appropriations COM
mittee, but Willis declined to accede to the
proposition, and an hour was
WASTED IN FILLIBUsTERING,
when finally the river and harbor bill was
given the preference. just before IL
O'Clock the clause providing for the
improvement of the Galveston harbor
was reached and was about to be discussed,
when the appropriations committee, through
Townshend, under the leadership OF Ran
dali, again made motion to lay aside the
river and harbor bill, and proceed to the
consideration Of the postofflce bill.
1t is the general opinion that the river and
harbor bill is dead. Mr.. Randall says that if
the vote to-day be taken as test of the spirit
Of the house, the appropriation bill will go
right through, and the danger of an
EXTRA SESSION BE AvERTED.
Some of the members Of the Republican
side Of the house, It is UNDERSTOOD have pre-
pared a resolution for the expulsion of
Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms Hill for his action
In laying hands upon J. D. White. 1t is
likely, however, that the matter will be settled
by written apology from Hill.
The condition of business in congress Is
such that a minority in either honse can
easily force an extra session, but If purpose
to do so is anywhere entertained the fact
has not been made known and leaders
In both houses express the opinion
that the appropriation bills will all be passed
before the 4th OF March. Not much legisla-
tion other than that which may be attached
to the appropriation bills can in any way be
enacted.
THE COURSE OF AFFAIRS
in the senate during the present week is in
yolved in considerable doubt. Wednesday
will be devoted to the counting Of the cleo
toral votes, the unfinished bust
ness In the anti-silver coinage
bill and several senators have
prepared speeches upon it. The silver men,
who at first threatened to prevent action
upon this bill now claim to have strength
enough to strike out the feature which looks
to the stoppage Of the coinage of the silver
dollar. If shorn of this, its most important
feature, the bill will simply provide for the
retirement and recoinage of the dollar.
Minnesota Man Who VIII Hold His
Office.
Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9.-It is not generally
known that there is one officer of the treas
ury department who holds his Office for
specified number of years, and that is the
comptroller of the currency, which position
is now filed by Henry D. Cannon, of Min