Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-01
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
A Lively Discussion in the House.
VARIOUS BILLS PASS THE SENATE.

VARIOUS BILLS PASS THE SENATE.
The Senate.
A communication from the Commissioners of the
District OF Columbia in reference to the building
Of f1re-engine house on the Wallach School lot
was read and referred to the committee on the
District Of Columbia
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BILL
Mr.. Plumb, from the committee on agriculture,
reported back House bill to enlarge the powers
and duties Of the Department OF Agriculture and
to create an Executive Department to be known
as the Department OF Agriculture. He said the
and recommitted, and that he would call 1t up for
action at very early day.
House bill for the transfer OF the weather bureau
from the War Department to the Department Of
Agriculture are stricken out.
Mr.. HOar, frOnr<Ae judiciary committee, reported
back House bill to subdivide the eastern judicial
district Of Louisiana and TO fix the times and
places for holding terms OF court therein, and said
1t was similar TO a Senate bill on the same subject
1t was considered and passed.
THE SEIZURE OF THE VENEZUELAN CoMPANY's
STEAMERS.
Mr.. Evarts, from the committee on foreign re-
lations, reported back Senate joint resolution au-
thorizng and empowering the President OF the
United states to take such measures as in his
judgment may be necessary to obtain indemnity
promptly for the injuries, losses and damages
suffered by the Venezuelan steam Co. OF New
York by reason OF the wrongful seizure and deten-
tiOn OF the companys three steamers In 1871, and
to employ such means or exercise such powers as
may be necessary. Placed on calendar.
MIR. stewart offered a resolution calling on the
Secretary OF the Interior for information
celled desert land appropriations. Laid over.
BILLS PASSED.
The following bills were taken up and passed:
nriza fha Ind h
western Railway Co. to build bridge across the
Mississippi at Winona, MINI.
The House bill for Improving the mouth OF the
BraZos River, Texas.
lying in the vicinity OF Denver. Col, heretofore
withdrawn by the Executive Department OF the
Government as lying within the limits OF certain
railroad grants and afterward held to lie without
such limits
The House bill for public building at Jackson,
Mich, with an amendment increasing the appro-
priation from $50,00OSto S15, 600.
The House bill TO authorize the Baltimore and
Potomac Railroad Company to extend a side
The Senate bill appropratlng $4,000 tor a
public building at Wikesbarre, Pa.
The House bill authorizing the Richmond and
the District OF Columbia.
The House bill for the erection Of an appraisers
warehouse in the city OF New York.
The House bill to provide for the disposal of the
Fort Wallace military reservation in Kansas
The House bill to extend for five years from
the muster and pay Of certain officers and enlisted
men OF the volunteer forces.
The Senate bill appropriating $50. 900 for a mon
umental column TO commemorate the battle OF
Princeton, n. J.-lke amount TO be contributed
by the Princeton Battle Monument -ssociation.
Mr.. BECK GIVES NOTICE.
All these bills having been taken up and acted
upon under unanimous consent, MI. Beck gave
notice that, after this morning, he would
object to bills being taken up in that way
The mode in which the Senate was proceeding
this morning made the President OF the Senate
the autocrat of the body, recognizing
passed e certdE ana tSs caendas
while other bills entitled to equal consideration
could not be taken up. His own people had half
dozen such bills on the calendar. He found no
fault with the President OF the Senate The pre-
siding officer would recognize him (Ar. Becky as
soon as anybody else. He would tomorrow morn
order to give every bill its chance.
THE AUToCRAT OF THE SENATE.
Mr.. HOar-The Senator from Kentucky made an
observation just now that might bear meaning
which am quite sure he did not himself intend.
Mr.. Beck-I do not know what 1t was.
Mr.. Hoar.-The Senator said that this
method ef procedure made the President
OF the Senate the autocrat OF this
Just as he pleased My experience, and think it
Is the experience OF gentlemen on both sides OF
the chamber, has been that whenever any OF these
little times OF vacation come about, when no bill
is being urged with great earnestness, the Presi-
dent OF the Senate rhe present occupant, as well
as his predecessoD has, with entire impartiality,
to both sides OF the chamber, recognized Senators
in the order in which they have asked him, at the
desk, to be recognized and that there has been no
instance OF favoritism, either as between the two
sides of the chamber, or as between individual
Senators, or particular measures. am quite sure
tnat the senator did not mean TO imply anything
TO the contrary, but his expression might indicate
MR.. BECK EXPLAINS.
Mr.. Beck-The Senator might not have given
himself the trouble to make that explana-
nation. What said was that the
Senate, by this mode Of procedure,
to select from time to time the Senators who
were to get precedence by putting their names
down on q list. That is not the ordinary way
Oficer would recognize me as quickly as
anybody else. But / want TO get bust.
done IL an aEs WAY way a0d
to assure the Senator from Massachusetts,
that l am not complaining OF the fair
any shape or form, but the method Of doing busi-
ness necessarily produces this result. II used
any offensive word.autocrat or anything else-I
did not mean to use 1t In that sense.
MR.. INGALLS, OBSERVATION
The Presiding Of1cer CMr Ingalls)-Before this
subject passes from the attention Of
the Senate the chair begs its indulgence
to make a single observation. The chair
has been subjected to great embarrassment by the
Of the Senate FOR action on the bills in
which they are concerned. The rules require
the presiding oficer TO recognize the Senator who
the chair. When several Senators rise simuita.
neously and address the chair it is obviously
impossible for that rule to be literally executed;
and, therefore, to avoid embarrassment and DIM
Guilty and apparent partiality. the Chair
has followed the practice Of SET
ting down on a list alternately those
who desire TO be recognized rst one side OF the
chamber and then on the other, In the order in
which they have applied, as being the
only equitable and practical method OF escaping
from the difficulty which the chair is subjected to
in consequence OF the applications that are
made for recognition. The chair has en-
deavored to be absolutely impartial and just to all
senators who desire to have bills taken
up. II any other method can be suggested the
chair will be very glad indeed TO listen to and
comply with 1t.
House OF Representatives.
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
After disposing Of unimportant routine business
on the Speakers table, the House went into com.
mittee Of the whole [Mr. Springer, of Illinois, in
the chair) on the Senate amendment to the Army
appropriation bill
The pending motion was that made by Mr..
Townshend Qn.) to non-concur In the amendment
appropriating s., 500 for repairs to sea-wall and
wharf at Wtllet's Point, N. Y.
Mr. Burnes (Mo.) addressed himself to the policy
which the House should follow in acting upun
Senate amendments which, II offered In the House,
would be out OF order. He conceded the right OF