Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-02-05
TUESDAYS CONGRESS
Revised Statutes Altered to Over
come the Treasury Difficulty.
FORTIFICATIONS BILL CONSIDERED.
Diplomatic Appropriation Bill in the House
Miner and Relter Defended By Their
Friends-HItt Defends the state
Department.

department.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-When the Sem
ate met yesterday the House bill to
amend section $50 of the Revised Stat
utes, in reference to the temporary
designations to fill vacancies in case Of
death, sickness or absence of heads Of
departments, was reported back with
substitute amending the three sections
of the Revised Statutes on the subject,
and limiting to thirty days the period
of such designation, except where the
duties are exercised by the Assistant
Secretary, in which case there is no
limitation.
Mr.. Hale preferred the simple bill
passed by the House to the more COM
pick substitute reported back from the
Finance Committee, while Mr.. Morrill,
explained and defended the action Of
the Finance Committee, and after some
further discussion the substitute was
rejected and the House bill passed.
The consideration OF the Notifications
bill was then resumed. The first item
that attracted notice was one appro-
priating 1000, 900 for the purchase Of
oil tempered and annealed steel for high
power coast defense guns Of 8, 10 and
12-inch caliber. The Committee on APP
preparations recommended a reduction
of the amount to $500, 900, and Mr.. Cor
man moved still further reduction to
$3.50, 900. After long discussion as to
whether or not the United States could
successfully resist a foreign foe in case
of a declaration of war, Mr.. Germans
amendment was rejected and the COM
mittee amendment was agreed to-ayes
SO, nays 7-Messrs. Chandler, Cullom,
Dolph, Frye, Hawley, Stewart and
Teller.
After some further discussion the bill
was laid aside and several minor bills
passed.
The Military Academy appropriation
bill was reported, and after a discus
sion the Senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Feb. AFTER the ap-
proval of the journal yesterday the
House disposed of various matters Of
private business on the Speakers table,
referring the measures to appropriate
committees or sending them to confer
ence
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole on the diplomatic and
consular appropriation bill, when Mr..
McKenna, of California, replying to Mr..
McCreary's criticism few days ago Of
the Rarrundia case, defended the action
of Minister Miner in the matter. II
he (McKenna) understood Mr.. Miners
situation he was supported by every
publicist of repute. Mr.. Miner was
his personal friend; he knew him in
timately. He was gentleman Of
character of ability and Of eour-
age. He had as strong a regard for
the flag and as tender a sensi-
tiveness towards it as any gentleman
on the floor. He had risked his life on
the plains of Mexico. He had acquired
a soldiers love for it and all It symbol
lied and from the time of the Mexican
war until now not for single moment
had he wavered in his allegiance to 1t
or his pride in it; and he (McKenna) as
serted that in his situation at the post
in Guatemala he did himself honor and
his country honor. Applause.1
Mr.. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania came to
the defense of Commander Reiter. In
due time he proposed to submit some
remarks in support Of these PROPOSE
tions: first, that the Secretary of the
Navy had no right under the law to
administer public reprimand to Com
mander Reiter as he had done, by the
insulting letter published in the press;
second, that Reiter and Miner had fol-
lowed the international law as practiced
in the last fifty years in the countrys
history. :
Mr.. Hit, of Illinois, made an elo-
uuent defense of the State Department
He reviewed the case at some. length
and said in closing: GOD grant that
no man of any party shall ever be Sec
retsrv of State who will not disavow
the act of a Minister who orders the
surrender of a political victim who
trusts to our protection and the acts Of
, commander who sits supreme with
Two warvessels at his back and permits
such bloody tragedy and disgracetc
our national name" Applause.I
After speeches by Mr.. blanchard. Of
Louisiana, and Mr.. McCreary, Of KEN
lucky, in support of the action Of the
Secretary of State and of the Secretary
u the Navy, the committee, without
aisposing Of the bill rose and the