The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-09
THE DAY In CONGRESS.
Appropriation Bills Relating to Defense the
Principal Business.

| Appropriation Bills Relating to Defense the
Principal Business.
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.-Ip the senate the
naval appropriation and forti6cation bills
were reported with amendments. The SEN
ate bill TO remove the bar OF the statute OF
Limitation as TO certain claims for compen-
sations for property lost on the service of
the United States was reported from the
committee on military affairs. Stewart Of
fered resolution for the appointment OF q
select committee Of seven In the irrigation
and reclamation OF arid lands, 10 consider
| the subject Of Irrigation and the best mode
| OF retaining the arid lands Of the United
States, with leave to sit during the recess.
The bill TO quiet the title OF settlers on
Des Moines river lands, passed after dis
| cussi0n. Paddock introduced n bill de-
| claring the provisions or the civil service
act shall not be construed as embracing
within the scope Its officers and employees
| Of the railroad mail service.
The Senate then resumed consideration
| OF the legislative appropriation bill. The
amendment To increase the clerical force
| OF the civil service commission was re-
jected and the bill passed. The pension
| appropriation bill, as TO which there was q
| motion 10 reconsider pending, was amend
| ed in relation 10 checks for pensions and
| to payments for portions OF q quarter up
TO the death OF the pensoner. The bill
| again passed.
| THE senate then resumed consideration
| OF the Union Pacific funding bill the pend.
ing question being on Mitchelps motion TO
| recommit the bill, with instructions TO In
elude within Its provisions the Central Pa
cific railroad company, and Mitchell pro-
ceed with his argument in support OF his
motion. He declared the Thurman act
| had been, In every essential particular, an
absolute failure. He compared with the
| Thurman act the bill reported by Senator
Matthews and SAID that including the in
i terest on the investment, the amount OF
the sinking fund Feb. 1, 1889, under the
Matthews bill would have been Ss5, ,0O0, 900
as against less than 81, 100000 under the
| Thurman act
Mitchell yielded TO have the conference
report on the South Dakota bill presented
| The report was that after full and free
conference the committee had failed u
/ agree. The senate further insisted upon
It's disagreement anc the conferees were
reappolnted.
Mitchell then proceeded with bis argu
| ment, and In conclusion said that mas
much as the original legislation for ths
great transcontinental railroads had beer
comprised in one act, and as In all subse
| Qutnt ltElsltuOn tne subject nh1 Dett
treated as one subject, his motion 10 recon
nit the bill with instructions 10 include
the whole controversy In one measure
should be welcomed by the committee, anc
should receive the favorable action OF the
senate. The bill went over without action
The senate then took up the private pen
sion bills on the calendar aud passed hfty
two OF them. and then adjourned I'LL 10
morrow.
THE HOUSE.
After routine business the house wen
into committee OF the whole on the arm,
appropriation bill.
The pending question was the point o
order raised by Randall against the claus
appropriatinR $500, 900 for the purchase o
movable submarine t0rped0es. The chai
sustained the point OF order on the groun'
that the item for t0rpedoes belonged 10 Oh
fertilization clause, and II was stricken 0ul
on motion Of Townshend an amendmen
was adopted appropriating $50, 900 for th
purchase Of guns OF musketry calibrs
Morrow offered an amendment appropr
atlng s250,0O0 for the purchase Of fOu
pneumatic dynamite guns 10 be placed 1
San Francisco harbor. Ruled out on
point OF order. The committee then r,
ported and the bill passed.
The agricultural appropriation bill wa
then taken up and passed, and the hous
took recess, the evening session TO be Il
! the consideration OF private pension bill