Evening star., 1894-03-02
AP PPR0PRIATI0NS
Two Measures Considered by the
House Today.
THE fORTIFICAFIONS BILL PASSED
The Pension Appropriation Bill
Then Taken Up.
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS

AT the opening of the session OF the
House this morning Mr.. Bankhead, chair
man of the committee on public buildings,
offered resolution for the appointment OF
a subcommittee to go to Chicago and in
vestigate the post Office building there with
a view TO determining the question OF its
safety, etc. Mr.. Bankhead explained the
pressing necessity for some action. The
committee had been considering the matter
for some time, and there was a diversity of
opinion on all points at issue. as to whether
! there should be a new site or a new build
ing should be erected on the present site.
| 1t was also questionable whether suitable
quarters could be obtained while the build
| Ing was being prosecuted, which would re-
quire from three to ten years. The amount
involved was large, and the committee were
| unwilling TO make a recommendation with
out personal investigation. The resolu-
tlon carried an appropriation Of $1,000 1t
was passed.
Mr.. Kilgore then presented his resolution
OF yesterday calling upon the sergeant-at-
arms for his reasons for not carrying out
the provisions OF law which require that he
deduct from the salaries of members for
such time as they are absent. Il was re-
ferred.
The Military Reservations.
Mr.. McRae called up from the committee
on public lands the bill which has been be-
fore several previous Congresses TO pro-
vide for the opening of certain abandoned
military reservations.
Mr.. Sayers. chairman of the appropriation
committee, raised the question of considera-
uon against IL. but the House decided TO go
on with the bill.
Mr.. McRae explained the provisions Of
the bin. There were eighty Of such reser-
vations. The act only applied to reserva-
5.le W. TO
be opened only to bona fde settlers, to be
paid for at not less than their appraised
value
Mr.. Wilson Oyash) stated that there were
a number Of abandoned reservations along
Puget sound of less than 5000 acres and
he thought the settlers thereon were en-
titled to the same relief granted TO resi-
| dents on the larger reservations.
After some debate the bill was passed.
Representative Grow sworn In.
Ex-Speake- Galusha A. Grow, who was
elected to the House a week ago as q MEM
ber-at-large. from Pennsylvania. was then
sworn in. Judge Holman Of Indiana. who
served with Mr.. Grow in the House before
the war. preferred the request in a pretty
little speech. Mr.. Crow" said he address
ing the Speake-. after serving as Repre-
sentative from Pennsylvania for twelve
years left the place you now so highly
honor thirty-one years ago. in the midst OF
the blood and strife of civil war After this
long period Of time he returns again 20 the
theater of public affairs, where the flag OF
the republic is honOred and -evered in aIl
| sections OF the country.
'Inasmuch his credentials have not vet
arrived ask unanimous consent that he bs
now sworn in
As Mr.. Holman finished a burst Of an
plause greeted the tall form of NJ Grow as
he stepped down the aisle TO take his place
at the bar of the House. His hair aHd
beard are white but his eyes are bright lis
form erect ana he gave no undue evidence
| weight U-h hfS
shoulders. Mr.. Holman escorted him to the
bar, where, with uplifted hand, the oath
was administered. Another round OF ap-
plause followed him TO his seat Mr. Boat
ner asked unanimous consent for the con-
sideration of the resolution to Investigate
the action of Judge Jenkins in granting the
injunction against the employees OF the
Northern Pacific railroad.
The Fortifcatiops Btll rp.
Mr.. kilgore objected. and on motion of
Mr.. Sayers. the House went into COMMITTEES
of the whole. Mr.. Cultivate Cohio) in the
chair. for the consideration Of the forttfca-
tions appropriation bill
Mr.. Livingston. in charge of the bill.
explained its provisions The total sum
carried by the bill was 81 2l96 654 upon an
estimate of Si.43s,4l3 The fortihcations
bill in the F1fty-first Congress carried
81 232, 1886. He explained the necessity for
| rigid economy.
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania. on behalf
or the minority, said he had no objection
| to urge against the bill itself but IL was
like all the other appropriations that would
follow, IL was the declaration Of depletei
treasury. The republican side OF the House
was probably TO be met with the state
/ ment that the present economy was Taade
/ necessary by the extravaganza II the
Fifty-frst Congress- and IL wouii b.
charged on the other hand that the pro-
posed unwise tariff legislation was the
source of the poverty of the treasury ana
| the cessation Of industry.
| General debate closed and the bill
was then read by paragraphs for amend
! ment Mr. Livingston offered an amend
I ment providing that the civil residents OF
1 Fort Monroe. Va. should bear half of the
expense of constructing sewer at Fort
! Monroe. Agreed 10. The appropriation for
carriages for field gun batteries was reduc-
ed from Sal.ooo to SS6o,o. and that for car
I riages for breech-loading rifled mortars OF
| l2-inch caliber was increased from SjO.o0O
| to $4,000. These were the only amend
ments.
The Pension Appropriation BfII.
The committee rose. twenty-five minutes
! having been occupied I'm fits consideration
IL was passed-T0-9. The House went back
into committee of the whole for the con-
| sideration of the pension appropriation bill
Mr.. O'Neill of Massachusetts,. in charge Of
the measure. explained its provisions.
Mr. Lochren Defended.
| Mr.. o'Nein took occasion, in the course
of his speech, TO defend the course Of Com
missioner Lochren. In reply TO Inquiries
he said that he believed the amount car
ried by the bill would meet the demands
for all just pensions.
did 1 understand you to say that there
We're many fraudulent pensioners On the
rolls?" asked Mr.. Pickler.
| You did not understand me TO say any
thing Of the kind" replied Mr.. o'Neill.
sharply.
We'll. say it," interposed Mr.. Meredith
! Va-), "and 1 win give you proof in the