The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-02-07
HOUSE.

ADJOURNED.
HOUSE.
Washington, Feb. 4.-The Omnibus
war claims bill was considered in the
house today. Some preliminary business
preceded the presentation of the special
order.
The conference reports upon the forti-
tications and army appropriation bills
were adopted.
Bills were presented to authorize tie
Arkansas and Northwestern railway to
construct road across the Indian Terri
tory; to authorize the governor of Alaska
to appoint justices of the peace.
Mr.. Catchings, from the committee on
rules, then introduced a special order
for the consideration of the omnibus war
claims bills. 1t gave the day to The
consideration of the bill, with provisions
for vote at o'clock. Under its terms
any items in the bill not favorably report
ed from the claims committee should be
subject to point of order.
Mr.. Mahon (Rep., Pa) questioned the
right of the committee on rules to bring
in such rule.
Mr.. Beethoven Dem., Pa.) made an
indignant speech against the rule. He
characterized this as an attempt OF the
rules committee to ride rough shod over
q majority of the war claims committee.
He appealed to the speaker not to hold
that such a rule was in order.
Mr.. Catchings in reply warmly declared
that every item in the bill had been found
due by the court of claims AM had been
favorably reported from the committee on
war claims. The omnibus bill to which
Mr. Beltzhoover had referred, on the
Jrher hand had contained claim OF
S1,00O,0O0,000 by certain citizens OF
Pennsylvania which had never been IA
yorably acted upon by the court OF
claims. Addressing himself to the merits
of the bill, Mr.. Catchings said that only
$4,000 had been appropriated for war
claims despite the public impression that
the sum was greater.
After some further debate on the point
of order, in the course of which Mr..
Herman Rep., Ore.) protested against
the method of legislation proposed by
this order as an usurpatiOn of power by
the committee on rules, the speaker over
ruled the point of order.
Mr.. Catchings then demanded the pre-
yious question. On rising vote 1t was
ordered, 81 to 73, but Mr.. Mahon made
the point of no quorum, and Mr.. Catch-
ings demanding the yeas and nays, the
roll was called.
The previous question was ordered,
12S to 90.
Under the rules, 10 minutes was then
allowed on a side for debate.
Mr.. Sayers, chairman of Fhe apropria,,
ton committee, took a decided stand
against the adoption of the order and the
passage of this bill
Mr.. Herman (Rep., Ore) advocated
, the adoption of the order.
After some further debate Mr.. Mahon
closed for the opposition, contendlnS
that all classes of claims reported from
the court Of claims should be treated
alike and an appropriation should De
made on a basis which the condition OF
the treasury warranted to lie applied 10
ali, instead Of as this bill proposed, after
a debate of an hour, to pay claims or a
certain class for a certain section lie
submitted that this was unjust. d,
Mr.. Catchings, in reply, deprecated
tho cry of sectionalism. These claims
for stores taken from loyal citizens dur
;nr tho war came naturally from the
Sontb because this was the theatre OF
tbe war. This cry might as well have
been raised against the payment oil inc
Indian depreciation claims. Ihey, t ui
came from q section. Inc ciallns nau
"a been found to be just and due ny 'he
court of claims. A., r1,,.
vos then taken. The result of The, ron
ooii was 95 to 14S, which defeated the
odontion of the rule by large majority:
and showed q pronounced reversal OIL
sentiment since the vote on the previous
quWv Mr.. Cultivate Dem, o. presented a
,,,on;ol order from the committee on rules
ff pr Tho consideration of the new currency
In III ~ The rule gave them Wednesday I'M
~ . o'cIock for general debate and there
oF until 4 o'clock p. m, Thursday, when
AZ vote should be taken for the consider
o o of the bill under the hve minute
iuN Mr. Outhwaite's argument that his rule
was satisfactory to all factions q the
house. aroused the ire of Mr.. Hatch lDem,
NIissouri) who Indignantly declared tnat
# represented only the banking ana cur
rency committee and that committee IL
presented only the banks. ,a.a4o
Mr.. Hall Dem., Mo- resented the STATE
ment denouncing it as absolutely lai9 Sc
0Jf the gentleman does not know thal nc
should. He knows nothing about the GULL
mittee." +h ~ Mr.
Halls remarks. He agreed to wltndra! tH
what he said if the gentleman could cue
single bill reported by the committee on
banking and currency IN the interests VI
the people. ,,o5 5oeont1,, turning
10 Mr. Hall, "that the gentleman's lang
uoge is not such as he could dare to use to
mo- off the floor of the house"
Instantly the house was in great con,
STARVATION and the members crowdeu
sbout. expecting q possible repetition, OF
the row on Friday, but the speaker order
ed the sergeant-at-arms to see that the