The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-03
In SENATE AND HOUSE.
ROUTINE BUSINESS TRANSACTED IN
ROTH BRANCHES OF CONGRESS.
Owenby Continues His Testimony Before
the Silver Pool Investigating Com
mittee H Explains Certain Tele-
grams, But Refuses TO Give Names.


In the Senate to-day House bill to
,mend sections 47s3 and 54s6 Of the Re-
vised Statutes providing penalties for en-
bezzlement Of pensions by the qua dian
of the pensioner) was reported back and
passed.
House bill to amend section 1870 of the
Revised Statutes lin reference to temper
airy designations to fill vacancies in case
of the cath, sickness or absence OF head
Of Departments) was reported back wit
substitute The substitute amends three
sections of the Revised Statutes on thatsub
ject, and limits to thirty days the period
Of such designation except where the
duties IRE exercised by the Assistant Secre-
tary, in which case there is no limitation.
Mr.. Hale said that he preferred the bill
as il passed the House to the substitute re-
ported from the Finance Committee.
Mr.. Morrill, defended the action of the
Finance Committee.
Mr.. Evarts said that he had made a
careful examination of the clauses in the
statute book relating to the subject, and
had come to the conclusion that all that
was necessary was to enlarge the period
within which temporary authority might
be exercised.
That had been provided for by the
House bill, which simply substituted
thirty days for ten days. The House bill
was all that was needed for the present
exigency, and all that was necessary for
any future exigency.
Mr.. German expressed wish that the
bill would be let go over till tomorrow.
Mr. Edmunds said that it was impor-
tant that, while Congress was legislating
make the law perfectly clear There had
been doubt in the Attorney General
Office, in the Departments and with the
Presidents whether an Assistant Secretary
could exercise the functions of the Secre-
tary for more than ten days. Sometimes
II had been held that he could and some
times that he could not. The substitute
proposed to settle that question so that an
Assistant Secretary dscharging the duties
of Secretary, without any special desig-
nation, but by force of law, might con-
tinue to do so indefinitely.
After further discussion the substitute
was rejected and the bill passed.
The consideration Of the Fertilization
bill was then resumed.
For the item appropriating 81, 900, oOl
for purchase of oil tempered and annealed
steel for high power coast defense guns OF
=, 10 and Finch calibre, the Committee
on Appropriations recommended reduc.
ton of the amount to SS00,000.
Mr.. German moved q still further re-
duction TO s25O,000
Mr.. Dawes opposed Mr.. Gorman's
amendment and advocated that OF the
Committee on Appropriations.
Referring to Mr.. Hawley's speech Of
yesterday, as to the absolute necessity Of
coast defenses, he said the Committee on
Appropriations was in harmony with |
TO the utmost limit Of prudence; that thu
committee found itself standing "betwesr
the devil and the deep sea-"
On the one hand it found itself con
fronted by the sentiment proclaimed BY
tie Senator from Missouri (Mr. Cockrell
that there was no necessity for any forti
fications whatever, and that nobody woult
ever approach the United States in
hostile attitude however exposed tn,
coast might be; and allied with that Sena
tor was his distinguished friend from New
Hampshire (Mr. Blair who proposed ;,
turn the Notifications bill into mission
airy enterprise in Africa.
On the other hand was the proposition
of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Dolph
to appropriate at once $12l ,000, 900 to b.
expended over several years for coast for
tifications. While the committee did no
come to the same conclusion as the Sena
tor from Missouri. that nothing shout,
be done, 1t did not believe in the polio,
Of the proposition Of the Senator from
Oregon.
The committee deemed It wiser to max
the necessary appropriations year by year
HOUSE.