Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-01
SAMOAN RESOLUTIONS IN THE SENATE
Naval Longevity Pay Discussed.
MATTERS OF DISTRICT INTEREST.
The Oklahoma Bill Passes the House.
The Senate.

to any incident of military service" Mr.. Platt
said he might have some remarks to submit on
the subject.
The House amendments to the Senate bill for
the admission of South Dakota as a state were
non-concurred in, upon report of the COM
mlttee on territories, and a conference asked.
Senators Platt Cullom and Butler were ap-
pointed conferees on the part of the Senate.
BILLS PASSED.
The following bills were reported and passed:
The House bill apprOpriating $1,000 to keep
open the Potomac river during the winters Of
1889 and 1890.
The Senate bill for an American register to
the Canadian steam yacht Nautilus, now
owned in New York.
A SAMOAN RESOLUTION.
Mr.. Salisbury offered resolution (Which
was agreed toy instructng the committee on
foreign relations to inquire into the condition
of affairs in the Samoan Islands, and to report,
at an early day, what measures are necessary
and proper to protect the interests of American
citizens therein and to discharge any obliga-
tions OF the United States to the people of
these islands in the maintenance of their own
local government from the interference of any
foreign power, and to secure the Just rights
and interests of the United states in the future
control and government of these islands.
MIR. Platt offered a resolution (Which was
agreed toy for the examination of Marinis hall
occupied by branch of the Post Office de-
partment) as to its sanitary condition and
safety.
PORTRAIT OF LINCOLN.
Mr.. Voorhees,, from the committee on the
library, reported bill appropriating $4,000
for the purchase of life-size oil painting of
Abraham Lincoln, painted by D. F. Travis.
MIR. Sherman thought the price fixed in the
bill entirely too high. He was perfectly will
ing to pay whatever sum an intelligent artist
would say the picture was worth. No portrait
painter in this or any other country charged
any such price for picture. He thought tAat
81, 900 would be an ample price.
Mr.. Voorhees, thought that if the picture was
to be procured by the government the price
should not be higgled about.
MIR. Palmer said he had never heard of
S15, 900 being charged for modern portrait.
1t might be worth S2,500 if the artist had
very high reputation-otherwise not.
After further discussion the bill was placed
on the calendar.
LONGEVITY PAY OF NAVAL OFFICERS.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Chandler in regard to the claims of officers of
the Navy for arrears of pay as to longevity
mileage, &c.,, and whether unusual and i'm
proper facilities have been allowed to attor-
neys or claim agents in prosecuting suchclaims
Cinstructing the committee on appropriations
to inquire into the matter) was taken up.
Mr.. Chandler explained his motives in offer
ing the resolution. and declared his belief
from information which he had received, that
access had been allowed to such claims, and
that the proceedings of some of the ATTORNEYS
and claim agents had been based on informa-
ton derived from the Office of the fourth
auditor.
He M entioned several very large items al
ready paid under these claims, and said that
there was an estimate before the committee on
appropriations for a further large amount
Arm nd
claims. In his judgment those claims
were devoid of real merit, and the naval
officers in whose favor they had accrued had
no equitable right to payment. The great
wrong which had grown up in the
matter was that the statute of limita-
the accounting officers of the Treasury;
and that these mileage and other claims went
back to the beginning of time. He reported
that information was obtained by attorneys
through the fourth auditors Office, and he
added that these attorneys were advers
tising all over the country for the
heirs Of naval officers who had died
ten, twenty or thirty years ago. to come for
ward and make contracts with them for the
recovery Of ''sea pay" for the time that these
navy-yard dock. Such claims were being
rushed into the fourth auditors Office in great
numbers, and Congress was to be confronted
with claims to the amount of over 81 ,0OO. .OOO
which had no real substantial equitable merit
whatever.
Mr. Hale, on behalf of the committee on an
preparations returned thanks to Mr. Chandler
for having called attention to the matter and
for having contributed valuable aid to the
committee. The committee on appropriations
had steadily resisted the food Of claims and
had endeavored to see that proper scrutiny
should be given to all of them, but it was inn
possible to guard against amendments placed
in appropriations in the House or Senate in
which some cunning lawyer or claim agent
would find ground for presenting new classes
OF claims. He gave some instances of this kind.
House of Representatives.
On motion of Mr.. TowLshend Qll.) the Sem
ate amendments were concurred in to the House
bill authorizing the Secretaries of War and
the Navy to lend flags, &C., to the inaugural
committee.
Mr.. Hatch (Mo.) submitted the conference
report on the bill to create the department of
agriculture; and it was agreed to.
THE only material difference between the
two houses was upon the Senate amendment
striking out the clause transferring the weather
bureau to the new department. The House
conferees finally receded from the opposition
to the Senate amendment, and the clause is not
retained.
The motion to table was carried-yeas, 1872;
nays, ia. The question then recurred on the
the passage of the bill.
Pending which, Mr. Hooker, of Mississippi.
entered two dilatory motions-to adjourn and
to take recess-but refrained from making
the point of no quorum and allowed them to be
voted down upon division.
But Mr.. Cheadle, of Indiana, proved more
inexorable, and brought proceedings to a stand
still by demanding the reading of the engrossed
bill. The bill was not engrossed, and the
clerks stated that it would require an hour or
more to perform the work. While various
propositions were presented to kill time and
allow the clerks to engross the bill Mr. Cheadle
relented and withdrew his demand
The bill was then passed-yeas, 14S; nays, 1O2
MIR. Clardy (Alo.) presented the conference
report on the Nicaragua canal bill. Ordered
printed and laid over, Mr.. Clardy giving notice
that he would call it up tomorrow.
The same course was followed with the con-
ference report on the bill to amend the inter-
state commerce act, which was presented by
Mr.. Crisp (Ga.)
The House then went into committee Of the
whole on the private calendar.
CAPITOL TOPICS.