The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-08-23
AN THE nOUSE.
Considering the River and Hsrbor IN
Committee.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22-In the House
this morning the conference report on the
bill making an appropriation for additional
clerical force to carry on the dependent
pension law was agreed to.
The report of the committee recommend
ing non-concurrence in the Senate Rnend-
ments to the river and harbor bill, and
agreeing to the conference asked for, was
presented.
Mr.. Kerr of Iowa raised the point Of
order that amendments must first be con-
sidered In committee of the whole, so the
House began consideration in committee.
The Senate amendments were read
Serfatini. Several motions to concur and
to amend were voted down, and non-con-
currence in the Senate amendments was
agreed to without serious opposition until
the amendment was reached for the pur-
chase of the Portage Lake and River I'm
provement Company canal and the Lake
Superior Ship Canal Railway and Iron
Company canal.
HOLMAN WANTS DIRECT VOTE.
Then Mr.. Holman insisted that non-con-
currence in this amendment should not be
OF mere formal character, but should be
emphasized by direct vote of the commit
tee. In this view he was seconded by Mr..
Kerr of Iowa, while the amendment was
advocated by Mr.. Cutcheon of Michigan,
who protested against any vote taken to-
day, and contended for free water aud
deep water. The amendment was nom
concurred in,
The Senate amendment striking out the
| clause appropriating S350000 for the i'm
provement of Harlem river and requiring
high bridge, to be constructed across that
river was another item that provoked a
long debate, and it went along with the
others-not concurred in.
After non-concurring in about half of
| the Senate amendments the committee
rose.
ABUSE OF THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.
Mr.. Mason of Illinois, rising to question
OF privilege, said that some days ago a reso-
luton had been adopted alleging that a
certain gentleman had been fraudulently
using the mails to create q sentiment in
favor of the Conger lard bill, and calling on
the postoffice department for information
| on the subject. The resolution had been
sent to the department with a request that
the papers in regard to the matter be
transmitted promptly. This had not been
| done. De had called at the department
| three or four times, and had been informed
that probably the papers would not be sent
up until Saturday. Then they would be of
| no use, as the previous question on the bill
was ordered at 4 o'clock tomorrow after
noon.
IMPROPER INFLUENCE.
He charged that improper influence had
been brought to bear on a department of
the government to retain certain papers in
its possession. Influence, social or political,
had been brought to bear to withhold from
| the members of the House in-
formation in regard to pending leg
islation. The chief clerk of the post
office department had denied him
access to the papers for the purpose of max
ing copies of them for uss in the debate. He
wanted the facts brought before the House,
and he moved that a committee of three
members be appointed to wait upon the
Postmaster General and ask that the papers
be furnished in time to be used in the debate.
Before any action was taken the hour OF
5 o'clock arrived and the House took re-
cess until o'clock.
| At the evening session the House passed
the bill granting pension of $50 month
tn Caroline n. White, widow Of G.. b.
| White, late chief of the bureau of yards
and docks.
Thirty-two other private pension bills
were passed and the House at 1890 ad-
| iourned