The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-23
TIE FORTY NINTH CONGRESS-.
Routine Business in the House-Discussion
of the River and Harb0r Bill.

of the River and Harb0r Bill.
WASHINGTON, April 22.-The Senate electoral
count bill. with the House amendments, was, on
motion of Mr.. Caldwell. of Tennessee, made q
continuing special order for May g.
Mr.. Wellborn, Of Texas, from the COMMITTEES
on Indian affairs, reported back the Indian APP
preparation bill. with Senate amendments, with
a recommendation that some of the amendments
be agreed to and others non-concurred in. The
recommendation was agreed to, and Mr.. Well
born. Mr.. Peel and Mr.. Perkins appointed as a
committee of conference.
Adverse reports were presented from the ju-
dietary committee by Mr.. Tucker. of Virginia,
on a joint resolution proposing a constitutional
amendment giving the President power to veto
specific items in appropriation bills. and on a bill
to prevent the aduiteration Of food, and they
were laid upon the table.
Mr.. .Symmes, of Colorado, from the committee
on mires and mining, reported a bill to further
defue the duties of the director of the geological
survey. Referred to the committee of the
whole.
In the morning hnur the judiciary committee
took the floor. The Gill introduced by Mr..
Adams Of New York, amending Section 2805,
Revised Statutes. was taken up and passed. 1t
amends the section so as to make it read as fol-
lows:
Section 1906. All oaths to be taken upon
making any reports or entries, or respecting
any of its acts mentioned in this chapter,
whether by the master OF any vessel, or the
owner or consignee sof any merchandise, his
factor or agent. or by any other person, shall be
administered by the collector or officer to or with
whom the report or entry is made, or by any
notary public. and shall be reduced to writing
and subscribed by the person taking and by the
person administering the OATH
Bills were also passed providing for terms OF
court in Colorado, and changing the Eastern and
Northern judicial districts of Texas.
At the expiration of the morning hour the
House went into committee of the whole-Mr.
Wellborn, of Texas, in the chair-on the river and
harbor appropriation bill.
The disputed Monongahela river clause was
still under discussion, ard Mr.. Boyle, OF Penn
syivania replied to the structures made upon it
yesterday by Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, and
Mr.. Hewitt. of New York. He denied the latter
gentleman's statement that Hungarians were
employed in the coal fields of the Monongahela
river.
Mr.. Hewitt replied that he had been informed
this morning by several Pennsylvania gentlemen
that his statement had been correct. .
Mr.. Boyle commented on the propriety of the
gentleman making his statement yesterday and
getting his authority to-day. Referring to the
wages paid to the workers in these coal fields,
he was interrupted by Mr.. Hewitt with the ques-
ton. 'sAre they satisfied nowp
Mr.. Boyle-I hope SO, because / see that the
operators have voluntarily made an increase In
their wages.
Mr.. Hewitt-How long were they out before
they got the advanced
Mr.. Boyle-l am not sure. Not longer than
the car-drivers of New York.
Mr.. Hewitt-About four months3
On motion of Mr.. Willis of Kentucky an
amendment was adopted providing machinery
for condemnation proceedings.
On motion of Mr.. Baype of Pennsylvania a
proviso was agreed to that no title to the con-
domination proceedings shall rest in the United
States. nor shall the United States be bound to
pay the value fixed until the report of the con
demnation proceedings has been approved by
Congress.
On motion of Mr.. Reagen of Texas an amend
ment was adopted. by a vote of 95 to 81, provid-
ing that the money hereby appropriated shall not
be expended on the river until the navigation
shall be made free TO the use of all people.
Mr.. Hewitt then moved to strike out the whole
of the clause under consideration. with the ex-
ception of the appropriation and the restriction
upon its use. Agreed to-97 to SO.
Then amendment after amendment was Of.
fered, and provisos were adopted, only to be
stricken out in a few moments, until members
were unable to determine exactly what each
amendment did or did not mean.
As finally agreed to by the committee, the bill
appropriates $l2l. 200 for the Improvement of the
Monongahela river, provided that no charges or
tolls shall be collected on any other part Of the
river on any commerce on said river which orig
mates above the works herein appropriated for.
In speaking to an amendment, Mr.. Lafollette,
of Wisconsin. criticised the plan upon which the
bill was drawn, viewing it as bad economic pol
icy to refuse an appropriation sufficient to COM
plete works already approaching completion, and
at the same time to provide for the inauguration
of new works. Such a policy had for It's object
the securing of votes for the bill, and it's effect
was to demoralize the people and dull and blunt
the moral sense of Congress.
A this moment Secretary McCook appeared
at the bar of the House and announced the pass
age by the Senate of $50 pension bills, an an.
snouncement which vas received with loud APP
plause and laughter.j
After concluding tine consideration of twenty
eight of the sixty-three pages of the bill, the
committee rose.
Mr.. ONeilf. of Missouri, again attempted to
secure the adoption of his resolution declaring
that the House svmpathiZes with the Right
Hon. William E. Gladstone and his associates in
their effort to provide a free Parliament for the
people of Ireland, and .corgratulatirg the people
OF that country on the prospect of an early and
successful termination of their long and patriotic
struggle for local self governments; but Mr..
Swope, of Pennsylvania. interposed the fatal OBJ
lection, ard though he subsequently withdrew
1T, a demand for the regular order prevented ac-
ton on the resolution.
Mr.. Compton, of Maryland, moved an adjourn
ment over Good Friday, but his motion was
voted down. and then the House took a recess
until IL o'clock tomorrow.
Proceedings in the Senate.
WASHINGTON, April ga large number of
petitions were presented from local emb
Of the Knights of Labor in opposition to what is