Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-08-02
TUESDAYS CONGRESS.
The Union Pacific Funding Bill
Reported to the Senate
The
Atchison Public Building Amendment
Rejected-Direct Tax Bill Shelved
Confederate
Property in Foreign Lands Debated-Ths
Omaha Public Building Appropriation
Sent Back to Conference.

y
Committee on the Pacific Railroads, re-
ported the Union Pacific Funding bill,
providing for a settlement of cases grow
ing out of the issue of bonds and to secure
payment of all Indebtedness. He said that
the bill was the Cultivate bill as reported
to the House, containing many amend
ments over the bill as it came from the
Commission originally. The Senate re-
port is signed by all the members of the
committee-the Senator from Minnesota,
Mr.. Davis, who was absent, having au-
thorized the chairman by telegraph
to sign his name. 1t relates only
to the Union Pacific and Cen
trail Branch, having nothing whatever to
do with the Central Pacific. The commit
tee found much greater difficulty in formu-
lating an adjustment and settlement with
the Central Pacific than with the Union
Pacific and is not prepared at the present
time to make any report touching that
company. Mr.. Frye then said that the
actuarieS of the New York Life Insurance
Company had been requested to present a
statement and that it was possible that,
when received, the committee might want
to offer it as an amendment to the bill. The
bill was placed on the calendar and with
the report ordered to be printed.
The Hoar resolution in regard to the ap-
pointment of a committee of seven to re-
port upon the relations of commerce and
business existing between the United
States and Canada was taken up and
adopted.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill, the
pending question being ON the amendment
offered Monday by Mr.. Spooner appro-
priating $4,000 for a public building at
Atchison, Kan.
Mr.. Beck made a point of order on the
amendment and proceeded to argue that
the Senate had no right to attach to the
Sundry Civil bill appropriations for public
buildings as it was not good legislation,
but after long discussion the point of
order was withdrawn and a yea and nay
vote taken on the proposition itself as a
test question affecting all the other public
buildings. The amendment was rejected
yeas 81, nays %.
Mr.. Spooner said that in reference to the
vote just had he would offer no other pub
lie building amendment, that was in the
same category with the Atohison one, but
he would offer an appropriation of So 900
for public building at Opelousas, La.
The circumstances were that such bill
had passed both houses and was now be-
fore the President but did not contain the
appropriation clause. The amendment
was rejected-yeas, 6; nays, 80.
Mr.. Spooner then offered as an amend
ment, the bill to refund the direct tax, but
MIR. Harris made the point of order that it
was general legislation and not in order
on a General Appropriation bill, when
the Presiding Officer ruled: ''The Chair
has no doubt on the subject. The point of
order is well taken"
Mr.. Plumb offered an amendment pro-
viding that supplies, the result of prison
labor, should not be purchased for use at the
National Soldiers Home. 1t was rejected
without division.
Mr.. Henderson offered an amendment
appropriating $3,O17 to repay the city of
Omaha for paving about the court house
and post-office. 1t was agreed to.
Mr.. Stewart moved an amendment pro-
viding that no part of the appropriations
in the bill should be used in the inyestiga-
ton of any case or in the prosecution of
any person in the mining region for cut
ting, for mining or domestic purposes any
short or scrubby timber unfit to be sawed
or hewed into lumber of commercial value.
1t was agreed to.
Mr.. Call offered an amendment appro-
priating 100000 to be expended at the dis
erection of the Secretary of the Treasury
for the recovery of property of the United
States now held in adverse possession to
the Government, and spoke of the infor-
nation recently laid before the Senate on
that subject.
Mr.. Sherman opposed the amendment
and spoke of the hope of recovering prop
erty which had belonged to the Confeder-
ate States as an Elusive one. The debts
Of those States were a lien upon their prop
erty. The proposition was to give to some
gentlemen pleasure trip to Europe. The
recovery of Confederate property by the
United States Government might be at
tended with responsibility for their debts.
Mr.. Cockrel spoke of the fairy tales of
The wealth of the defunct Confederacy as
being only equalled by the stories of the
immense wealth stored in England belong
ng to American heirs. He gave an ac-
count of the suit brought in the name of
he United States against Frazer, Tren-
holm & Co., and read from the report
made by the Secretary of the Treasury to
he House of Representatives in 1857 on
he subject of that and other similar suits.
In conclusion Mr.. Cockrell said that the |
appropriation would be simply |
n absolute waste of so much money and |
night complicate the United States Gov
The bill went over and the Senate adj
burned.
HOUSE.
When the House met yesterday the
Jerk laid before it a letter from the /
peaker announcing his enforced absence
-om the city for few days on account of
Important business, and upon motion of
[r. Mills, of Texas, Mr.. McMillin, of Ten
essee, was elected as Speaker pro tenn.
nd took the chair amid applause.
Mr.. Mills then asked unanimous consent
nat August be assigned for the consid-
ration of bills reported from the Commit
,e on Labor with the exception of the
onvict Labor bill. Mr.. Spinola, of New
ork, objected to this exception and |
n. Mills stated that unanimous con-
mt could not be procured unless the |
Hception was made. Mr.. Spinola replied
lat in that event the labor bills should die |
lst where they were. The State of New |
ork had already taken steps toward
convict labor and he was op-
osed to allowing the State of Pennsyl-
mia to food his State with convict-made |
,ods. The request was not granted.
Mr.. Dibble called up the conference re- 1
,rt on the Omaha Public Building bill. :
S it was originally passed by the Senate /
limited the cost for site and building to
,2OO, 900. The House amended this by
ding the limit for the site at S4Oo, 900 with
making any provision for the building.
agreed to in conference the bill provided h
INIT of 81 1000 for the building and $
,, with the further provision that the 0