Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-03

dering Of nifty mortars. equal In ever,
respect to the steel guns now contracted
for. at less than half the present cost.
The conference report was agreed TO
and q further conference was ordered or
the smendment which had been dlsa'
greed to.
After brief executive session. the Sen
ate. at $50. adjourned until Monday.
House of Representatives.
The Pacific railroad refunding bill is
dead. After three days discussion In
the House It was recommitted to the
Committee on Pacific Roads. Mt the close
OF n somewhat exciting session OF over
six hours to-day, by the decisive vote or
Ia 10 los. Several attempts were made
to secure additional time In which TO de-,
bate the bill. but they were all objected
to by friends OF the measure. who, like
the opponents. until the decisive vote
was taken, were OF the opinion GENERALS
that the bill would pass by small ma
jority.
The argument that seemed 10 be most
effective In influencing members to vote
against the bill was that advanced by
Mr.. Mcguire Oemocrao, OF California,
that It's practical operation would be to
relieve the railroads Of the entire amount
OF the principal of their debt to the gov
eminent and require them to pay a
sum equal to the interest thereon at 3
per cent. calculated for period or
fifty years.
This argument was attacked by Mr.
Reilly DemocraD. OF Pennsylvania, In
charge OF the bill, and Mr.. Hendrix Oem,
ocraO. OF New York, who insisted that
the companies would be obliged to pay
the full amount of their indebtedness az
the present time with per cent. inte-
rest.
Several amendments were made TO
the text OF the bill, but as the measure
was finally disposed of adversely their
details are without value.
After the bill had been reported to the
House from the Committee Of the Whole,
in accordance with a special rule, unsuc>
cessful efforts were made by Mr.. Boat
ner Democratl. of Louisiana, 10 get his
proposed substitute before the House for
action, and by Mr.. Meikeljohn Republi-
CAM, OF Nebraska, TO secure the same
standing for his proposed amendment In
behalf of the Sioux City. O'Neill and
Western railroad.
MOTION TO RECOMMIT.
Mr.. Boatner thereupon moved to recon-
nit the bill without instructions. which.
81 carried. would be equivalent to killing
It. A point OF order was made against
tne fnOtiOn Us nOt DtibS lnCiuufu Witilii
the rule. but Speaker Crisp held that 1t
was in order
Before 1t was submitted. however. Mr..
Turner DemocraO, OF Georgia. moved
to amend by instructing the committee
to report bill directing the Secretary
OF the Treasury TO accept 100000 from
the railroads. IL rendered within six
months. in full satisfaction of the gov
ernment's claim against them. This was
rejected-lc9 TO li2.
The motion TO recommit was then
agreed to. on a division of the House
Ill to ST.
The yeas and nays being demanded.
they were called. with the following re-
suit: Yeas. IN: nays, LOG.
The announcement of the vote was re-
ceived with loud applause by those who
had opposed the bill.
Before coming to consideration of the
refunding bill the House passed the
Senate bill reviving the grade OF lieute-
nant-general of the army for the benefit
of Major-General Schofield. commanding
the army of the United States.
Less than fifty members were present
when the House met at II o'clock. The
journal OF yesterdays proceedings. which
contained no mention of the Breckin-
rldge-Heard fracas, was approved.