The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-04
THE DAY IN CONGRESS-.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-In the senate the
house bill to amend the section of the re-
vised statutes IN reference to temporary
designations to fill vacancies in case of
death, sickness or absence of heads of de-
partments, was reported back with a sub
stitute. The substitute amends three sec
tions on the subject and limits 70 thirty
days the period of such designation, except
where the duties are exercised by an assist
ant secretary, in which case the:e is no
limitation. After some discussion the sub
stitute was rejected and the house bill was
passed. Consideration of the ratification
bill was then resumed. The first item that
attracted notice in the bill was the one ap-
propriating $1,0OO,0O for the purchase of
oil-tempered and annealed steel for high
power coast defense gums of eight, ten and
twelve inch calibre. The committee on ap-
preparations recommended a reduction of
the amount to $500, 900, and German moved
a still further reduction to $250,Oo0. After
a long discussion Germans amendment
was rejected and the committee amendment
to, yeas thirty nine, nays seven.
Chandler, Cullom, Dolph, Frye, Hawley,
Stewart and Teller voted against it. The
next amendment reported by the commit
tee on appropriations was to insert: "For
breech-loading sea-coast mortars, cast-iron
hoped with steel, of twelve-inch caliber,
$400, 900, provided that contracts may be
made for not more than one half of hemto
be constructed on the Pacific coast, in the
discretion of the secretary of war;" No &C
ton was reached. The senate concurred in
the house amendment to the senate bill for
a'public building at st. Paul, Mimi, reduc-
ing the amount from $500, 600 to $500, 900.
| After approval of the journal the house
proceeded to dispose of various matters of
private business O. the speakers table.
The senate bill to prohibit the sale of to-
bacco to minors under il years of age in
the District of Columbia was PASSED: also
the senate bill granting to the Umatilla
Irrigation company the right of way
through the Umatilla Indian reservation,
Oregon. The senate amendment to the
house bill granting Il pension to the widow
of the late Gen. Noyes was passed; also the
house bill to promote the construction of a
safe deep water harbor on the coast of
Texas. The house then went into commit
tee of the whole on the diplomatic and con-
sular appropriation bill. McKenna. of
California, replying to McCreary's criti-
cism a few days ago of the Barrundia case,
defended the action of Miner in the mat
UCl l. \uASiASL1iSJ eso?CA Ihub ia La
situation at his post i'll Guatemala,
Miner did himself honor and his
country honor. Applause. Dalzell, of
Pennsylvania, came to the defense of Com
mander Reiter. In due time he proposed
to submit some remarks in support of these
propositions:
First, That the secretary of the treasury
had no right under law to administer a
public reprimand tc Commander Reiter, as
he had done by the insulting letter pub
lished in the press:
Second, That Reiter and Miner followed
international law as practiced in the last
fifty years IN tho country's history.
Hit, of Illinois. made a most eloquent
defense of tho state department. He re-
viewed the case at length and said, i'll clos.
ing: God grant that no man of any party
shall be ever secretary of state who will
not disavow the act of a minister who or
ders the surrender of a political victim wht
trusts to our protection, and the act of
commander who sits supine with two wa,
vessels at his back and permits such
bloody tragedy and disgrace to our nation.
al NAME" Applause.