The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-09
PUBLIC BUILDING BILLS.
A LARGE NUMBER COME UP BE-
FORE THE HOUSE.

Congressman Blount Raises the Point
of Order That the Committee on
Buildings Has No Power to Recon-
mend an Appropriation - Compul-
sorry Attendance of Witnesses.
WASHINGTON, March Sin the House
to-day Mr.. McCreary of Kentucky, from
the committee on foreign affairs, reported
a resolution requesting from the President
any correspondence with the Mexican gov
ernment in regard to the employment in the
regular army Of the United States Of In
dian scouts for the purpose of pursuing
hostile Indians in their raids in the terri
tories of the United States, and any cor
respondence in regard to the proposed trans
fer Of the Apache and Chihuahua Indians
from Mount Vernon barracks, Alabama, to
Fort Sill, Indian Territory. The resolution
was adopted.
The morning hour was consumed in dis
cussion of the bill providing for the COM
pulsory attendance Of witnesses bs ore
registers and receivers of land offices, which
was passed.
The House then, in committee of the
whole, resumed consideration of public
building measures. The first bill called up
was that increasing from $3.50 900 to $780,
00O the limit of the cost of the public build
ing at Newark, n. j., and making an appro-
prlation Of $780, 900 increase.
BLoUNTs POINT OF ORDER.
Mr.. Blount of Georgia raised the point of
order that it was not within the power of
the committee on public buildings and
grounds to recommend an appropriation.
MIR. Milllken Of Maine expressed his will
Iinguess to strike out the appropriation
clause; but Mr.. Blount would not agree to
/. IS, insisting that the question was an i'm
portant one, and should be decided upon the
point of order. Mr.. Blount argued that
tae committee on public buildings and
grounds had no jurisdiction over the matter
of appropriations, and that to give it such
jurisdiction would be to tear down the bars
which had hitherto protected the treasury.
After lcng discussion the chairman over
ruled the point of order. The appropriating
clause was stricken out and the bill, as
amended, was laid aside with a favorable
recommendation.
The next bill called up was the Senate bill
appropriating $500, ,000 Tor public build
ing at Cedar Rapids, La. 1t was laid aside
favorably after having been amended by
striking out the appropriating clause and
reducing the limit of cost to $150,000.
OTHER BILLS FAvoRABLY RECOMMENDED.
Other bills favorably recommended were
increasing to $3.50 900 the limit of the cost
of the public building at Scranton, Pa, the
Senate bill for public building at Chester,
Pa, ,(amended SO as to reduce
the limit from to 100000 to $4,000
and to strike out the appropriating
clause, increasing from $500, 900 to $500, 900
the limit of cost Of the public building at
Troy, N. Y; for a building at Columbus.
Ga, at limit of 100000; authorizing the
Secretary of the Treasury to extend the
public building at Dallas, Tex, at cost of
$500, 600; the Senate bill for building at
Atchison, Kan, at a cost of 100000,
amended by striking out the appropriatiDg
clause; for building at Alexandria, La, at
a cost of $50, GOO; for building at Haulton,
Me-, at cost of $4,000 In opposing
this bill, Mr.. Cannon of Illinois
criticised some of the figures given in the
report, which called forth a remark from
Mr.. Boutelle that the figures were correct.
They were Maine figures; there was not a
cent of Dragging in them. For building
at Lynn, Mass, at cost of S125, 700; in =
creasing by $4,000 the limit of the cost of
the public building at Springfield, Mo. the
Senate bill for building at Lafayette, Ind. +,
amended by reducing the limit of cost from
$l00,0 to $S0000; for a building at Baton
Rouge, La, at a cost Of 100000; for a pub
lie building at Fremont, Neb., at cost of
$4,000.
The committee then arose and reported
the bills to the House, which Immediately
found itself in small deadlock. There
was no quorum to pass bills, and the friends
of the measures would not consent to an
adjournment. Finally, the previous ques-
tion was ordered on all bills, and it was
agreed that they be considered Tuesday
morning, twenty minutes debase to be al
lowed on each bill.
The House then, at ESQ o'clock, adjourned.