The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-02-05
FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-Among the peti
lions and memorials re,ented and referred
was one from the banks of New Orleans,
deprecaling any further discussion of the
Tree coinage scheme.
House bill to amend section 1870 Of tht
| Revised Statutes in reference to temporart
designations to fill vacancies in cases ol
death, sickness or absence of heads of de
partmenis, was reported back with a sub
silule. The substitute amends those sec
| rionS of the Revised Statutes on that sub
ject and limits To thirty days the period o!
such designation, except where the duties
n'p exercised 10y the assistant secretary, i'll
which case there is no limitation.
Senator Hale preferred he simple bill OF
three lines as passed by the house to th'
substitute reported back from the finance
coniu tee.
senator Morrill, explained and defended
the ucJiOn OF the finance committee. After
some fur her discussion the substitute was
IT j c;ed and the house bill passed.
The consideration of the fertilization bill
was then rPSnmed.
The first item that attracted notice was
one appropriattng 81 OI0,lU0 for the pur
chase OF oil. tempered and aHnealed stt ii
for high power coast defense guns of 8, H.
and J.! iuCh Caiibrp. The cumm!tlee OH
appr4 4pIiations recommended u reduction
| II the amount 10 $SU0, ,0W The amount WAS
agreed to yeas 80, nays (Messrs. Chand
rer, ul,om Dolph, Frye, Aawley, Stewart
and Teller)
rhr next amendment reported by the
COmul!Itre on appropriations was to insert
th. following paragraph:
| For b each loading sea coast mortars.
cast iron, hoop Il with steel of II inch cal
| ibre. four hundred thousand dol ars. Pro-
| v,ded that contracts may he made for not
| more than one half of the mDrtars herein
| Ut pvided fO, aud Ie constructed Oh tho
Paciuc coast in he discretion of the seCre.
tacy Of war. Tue amendment wa' dis
&, ssed at much length but no action reaLh'
ed.
Senate pill 20 confirm certain entries on
noe and Missouri reservation land 10
! Kansas and n, bra >ka was passed.
| Senate bill authorizing the secretary OF
| Wsr tu have u suitable site seivc I'd for
mi! arv post and harbOr detenses al San
| Diego, Uai., aud TO rep ,rt the cost thereof
| tC congress. WAS passed.
| The senate conGurr"d in the house amend
men, 10 senate bill for puoiic building al
| 81, Paul, MiaE ., making the amendment
! S-0,UJ The bill how goes to the presl-
dent.
| I he military academy appropriation bull
was reported, and afler executive session
tne SENATE aGjUurned.
HOUSE.
After approval OF the journal the house
| proceeded 10 dispose uf various ma ierS uf
| pnvaIe bu>inesA on the speakers tsbe, re-
| !errns MEASURES 10 appr"p late committees
or eEuIng them to conference.
The senate bill 10 prohibit the sale of to-
| oacco to minors under 10 years of age il
the District of Co!umGia Was pasStd.
UI motion OF ME. Grain of TeXa', the
| Henale amendments Were Coucurred III to
he house bill TO promote the cUnstrciiuon
n safe deep Water harbor on the coast Of
| Texas.
Tue house then went into committee OF
the whole Oh the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill, and, without dlspUslng
II lhr measure, the cUnLlillee rose aud the
hOUse adjourned.