Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-28
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
A Committee Substitute for the River
and HarbOr Bill Passes the House I'm
der "A suspension of the Rules.

/ a substitute Tor the River
and HarbOr Bill Passes the House I'm
der a Suspension of the Rules
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27.-The Senate
took up the naval appropriation bill and
its reading was proceeded with.
At l o'clock the unfinished business.
! being the anti-silver coinage bill, was
! laid before the Senate, but was tenn
| pOrarily laid aside and consideration of
the naval bill was continued.
In the discuss n on the bill Mr.. Nc Pherson
| favored the building of larger cruisers than
were provided for, and on the suggestion of
Mr.. Miller. of California, without Obi action
| By Mr.. Hale, the limit of maximum tonnage
for the two new cruisers recommended by the
Senate Committee was made 5000 instead of
| 1000 tons.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Hale was
agreed to, appropriating $4,000 for the pur-
chase of ErlcSsOn'S torpedo boat DESTROYER.
With this exception the bill was then passed
substantially as reported from the Senate
Committee on Appropriations.
At 2:l5 p. N. the Senate went into execu-
tive session. At 3:40 p m. the doors were re-
opened and legislative business proceeded
with.
Mr.. Cameron, Of Wisconsin, moved to re-
sumo consideration of the House bill limiting
the time for the presentation of claims against
the United States.
Mr.. Morrill, called for the regular order, be-
ing the trade dollar bill Mr.. Morrill, said
that "after demonstrations made elsewhere"
there was no probability that the section re-
pealing the standard dollar coinage act would
become a law. He thought, therefore, il
would be well to take vote on that section
without debate, and then the Senate could
dispose Of the trade dollar bill as 1t might
choose.
Mr.. Camerons motion was agreed to-ayes
"a, nays 81 but the claims bill was tempo
rarlly laid aside and a number of pension
bills were disposed of.
The House substitute for the river and har-
Dor Dill, apprOprating gross sum, was laid
nd hQ han naH ana
Mr.. Cameron, of Wisconsin, objected to its
second reading, 50 the bill lies on the table,
not having been referred to the committee.
Mr.. Morgan asked unanimous consent to
take up the bill for the relief of Letitla Tyler
Semple, daughter of the late President Tyler.
The bin would give her pension of $50 per
month. The lady named, Mr.. Morgan said
is now blind and dependent upon the charity
OF W. w. Coreoran. IN the city Of Washing
ton.
Mr.. Riddleberger objected. as he saw no
reason for pensioning Presidents daughters
Mr.. Cockrel a.so objected. He thought it
crime ag ainst the people to pass such bills
1t was the beginning of civil pension list.
Mr.. Morgan cited instances of Presidents
widows and daughters who had received pen
siOns He thought 1t would crafty the peO-
pie of the United States to provide for this
poor blind lady, lady who, in her day, had
been the lady of the White House. and had
filed that place with credit to the people of
the country. The vote on tle bill resulted
yeas II, nays II. No quorum having voted,
no decision was reached.
The Senate then, at p. m, adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
In the House, on motion of Mr.. Dbrell, the
Senate joint resolution was passed author
lzlng the secretaries of War and Navy to loan
certain flags and bunting to the Committee
on Inauguration Ceremonies.
Mr.. Reagan asked unanimous consent to
take from the Speakers table the inter- State
commerce bill for the purpose of non concur
ring in the senate amendments thereto, but
Mr. Kean objected.
Mr. ., ,.s44~,
tary Affairs, reported the bill for the retire
ment of Gen. IL. u. Wright with the rank of
Major General.
Placed on the priv te calendar.
As the regular order Of business the House
proceeded TO further consideration of the
sunday civil appropriation bill.
MI. HOrr, Of Michigan, offered an amend
ment providing that the money appropriated
to aid the New Orleans Exposition shall be
used, hrst, IN payment of the Indebtedness
now outstanding of the exposition which is
due to persons living outside of Louisiana, in
cluding debts to foreigners or foreign nations.
and such as are due to States and Territories;
and second, in payment of all premiums
awarded by the exposition. Adopted-yeas
2O6, nays So.
Mr.. Potter then moved to strike out the en-
tire clause aud the motion was lost-yeas l22,
nays l59.
Mr.. White, of Kentucky, demanded the
reading of the engrossed bill.
a short debate arose as to whether it was
necessary that the engrOssed bill should be
read, the practice of the House being to have
the bill read a third time by title, without its
having been engrOssed.
The Speaker expressed some doubt upon
the question, but made no decision, Mr..
Randall informed the House that he had
taken the precautiOn to have the bill en-
crossed IN advance. He moved, however. co
suspend the rules so as to dispense with the
requirement OF having the bill read at length.
Mr.. Randall's motion was agreed to-yeas
zz4, nays 54-and third reading of the bill
was dispensed with. The bill was then
passed-Ycas l6S, nays lo7.
The Senate amendments to the legislative
Appropriation bill were non-concurned in,
and Messrs Holman, Hancock and Cannon
were appointed cOnferees.
Mr.. Willis, of Kentucky, n owed to suspend
the rules and put upon its passage the bill
apprOprlatlng $5,L 10000 to be expended Nnder
direction and with the approval of the
Secretary Of War for the continuation and
completion Of works designated in the last
river and hartOr law.
MIR. Willis briefly explained that it had
been thought best not 10 allow the present
works Of the government to go to waste and
ruin on account of the lack of appropriations
For this reason he had, after consultation
with number of gentlemen, brought in a bill
approprlatlng S5,0O0,000, or one-seYenth of the
amount winch the corps of engineers had
stated could be prOitably expended during
the ensuing year. The bill was submitted as
a compromise, because he knew that a discus
sion of the regular bill would consume valua-
bic time and might endanger the passage of
other appropriation bills and cause an extra
session.
After some debate the motion was agreed
to and the bill passed-yeas 100, nays IS.
Mr.. Turner, of Georgia. called up the con-
tested election case from North Carolina In
which the prima facle right Of T. G. Skinner
to the seat Is involved, but the House refused
to consider 1t.
The Committee on Appropriations reported
the post ONCE appropriation bill with the
senate amendments, with report recon-
mending concurrence in some and non con-
currence in others of those amendments
In order to prevent Mr.. Turner calling up
any contested election case the Republicans
demanded separate vote on each amend
ment, and though the recommendations of the
Appropriations Committee were in each case
agreed to (the clause relative to ocean trans
pOrtatlon was not reached), they consumed
time till O'Clock, when a recess was taken
until p. M, the evening session to be for the
consideration of pen ion bills.
The House at its evening session passed SO
pension bills, and at 10 20 p. NJ. adjourned.
CONFIRMED.
The Senate in executive session to day con-
firmed the following nominations; George II
Craig to be United states District Attorney
for the Northern and Middle Districts of Ala
bama. and VIM. 5. Scruggs, of Georgia, TO be
Minister Plenipotenary to the United States
of Colombia.
TWO MORE REVENUE DISTRICTS.
The President has directed that the number
OF internal revenue districts IN the State of
North Carolina be increased from two to
three, to be numbered Fourth, Fifth and
Sixth districts. Isaac J. Young has been
designated as Collector of the Fourth district,
and Thomas n. Cooper as Collector of the
Sixth district, It is not expected that the
vacancy in the Fifth district will be filed
during the present administration.
SMALL REDUCTION FOR FEBRUARY,
Owing to the heavy payments from the pub
llc Treasury during the present month for
pensions and other obligations, it is said that
there will be but small reduction of the
public debt for February.
THE SIGNAL SERVICE BUREAU.