The herald., 1894-03-20
.SJN08y CIVIL APPROPRIATIONS
Consideration of the Bill Not
Yet Concluded.
The Bland seigniorage Bill Sent to
the President.
a Dull nay 10 the ssnate--rhs Senate
Tarin Bill strl Undergoing
Amendment-Othsr Dolngs
at Washington.
Rn M. AasooIntnd press.

BY ths Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, March 19.--An attempt
was to have been made today by Mr..
Joseph, the New Mexico delegate. to
pass the bill for the admission Of that
territory to statehood, under suspension
Of the rules, but it being apparent that
the Democrats did not have n quorum
present, he decided not to make the at
tempt.
without transacting any routine busi-
ness, the house went into committee OF
the whole and the consideration Of the
sundry civil bill was resumed. The par
agraph appropriating $3.50, 600 to be ex-
pended under the direction OF the Mis-
Bouri river commission was then pend
ing discussion.
Oatchings continued for q brief time
his argument against parceling out by
restriction portions of the river ana
harbor appropriations made under the
continuing contract system.
Hermann (Rep.) OF Oregon eulogized
the contract system for the waterways
of the country, the Inauguration Of
which, he said, was one of the grandest
achievements of the Fifty-frst con-
gress.
Loud of California criticised the in
Justice OF the system to those 'who are
not in on the proposition" No man was
better able to defend the system than
Mr.. Catchings nor to second it than
Mr.. Hermann, both of whom had their
projects in which they were interested
in the system. His objections to the
river and harbor improvements were
that they we're not made to benefit the
whole country but to satisfy certain
interests.
Hainer OF Nebraska criticized severely
the work of the Missouri river commits
sion, OF the $4,000,000 appropriated,
$500, ,0O0 had been used on the same
reach OF IA miles at Jefferson City. At
the present rate it would require $780,
100000 and 120 years to reach Sioux
City. The Missouri river commission
proposed to expend over $600,00 of the
sum carried by this paragraph In the
first reach OF the river above Kansas
City. Not one dollar was to be used for
Omaha, Atchison, Leavenworth and the
other cities on the river where the Mis-
souri, was making great encroachments.
Pickler of South Dakota advocated an
amendment to divert 100000 of the Rp-
propriation for the Missouri stretch oil
1900 miles above Sioux City.
Heard defended the Missouri river
commission and the money expended at
Jefferson City.
Mercer of Nebraska advocated his
amendment to set aside $50, 900 of the
Missouri appropriation for the removal
of snags and obstructions above Sioux
City, and $l50,000 for the construction
and repair of revetments. dikes and
works between the south line of Ne
braska and Sioux City.
After a few closing words by Catch
ings, warning the house against demor-
alizing the systematic wasts s,s d. uortion.
of the appropriations. action was had on
the pending amendment.
The first was Broderick'a to set aside
$50, 900 to strengthen the dikes at Atchi.
son and Leavenworth, Kan. 1t war
lost.
The Pickler and Mercer amendments
were also lost.
The next and last paragraph in the
bill was that relating to soldiera' homes,
against two clauses of which, placing
the disbursing officer of the homes un.
der bonds and requiring an annual 10.
port on the conditions of the homes to
the secretary OF war, Black OF Illinois
huN AainOu q POAhO Vi OIucEs DlacK, VINO
is one Of the members of the board oil
the national homes, opposed the two
clauses referred to, because congress had
dealt munifcently with this board.
Over 10000. GOO had been apportioned
and not one dollar had been lost. Suits
forsrecovery were pending against Cen
eral Buffers estate in Massachusetts,
and recent treasurer in Wisconsin.
Some $4,000 old soldiers were main
tanned at these homes. de was op-
posed to the change as proposed by the
bill. 1t might handicap the managers.
Cannon of Illinois advocated the
change. An agreement was reached
that further debate on the pending par
agraph be terminated in 80 minutes,
after which the committee rose.
Outhwaite, chairman of the COM
mittee on military afairs, presented the
army appropriation bill. and then at
$3.50, the house adjourned.