Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-26
IN THE SENATE.
sundry Civil Bill Passed. With S150.0O0
for Purchase Of Blaine Residence.

washington. Feb. 25.-The Senate took
I'M the sundry civil appropriation DILL anu
considered the committee amendment APP
,ronriatinp $50 600 for the purchase OF
tbe RIaine premises in Washington, ana
d;recting the interest in the lease given
hv Nrs Blaine to be purchased or con-
de,ned George dem }, of Mississippi,
moved TO amend the amendment 10y max
inc the payment depend upon Mrs.
Rio;pe,s conveying "a complete and per-
feet title to the United States, instead
of conveying her own interest In the ltie
(which is subject to a lease OF 80 years.
4 point of order was made against tine
paragraph.
A protest from Mr. Albaugh, assignee
of the lease. was presented by Palmer
Dem. of Illinois, and read. Mr. Al
haurb asserts that there is no need or de-
mand or any reasonable probability OF
any need or demand for the property for
the use of the government, and asks to be
allowed to proceed in the erection OF an
opera house. In the course OF the DIS
cl,ssion Hale (Rep of Maine, said that II
Georges amendment was adopted, re-
ouiring "a perfect title to be conveyed
nv Mrs. Blaine, he would not, as q law
yer. advise Mrs. Blaine to sell the property
at all.
Vest asked Hale whether he had any
reason to believe Mrs. Blaine could not
give such title. Hale replied in the neg
ative. He would advise her rather to fall
back on the lease by which she would
have $4,000 year for 80 years and $4,000
year for 60 years. George argued that
after the payment of $780, to Mrs.
Blaine the trouble and expense would only
begin. After the condemnation of the
lease by the government lessee, she would
have the right to demand damages from
the lessons.
Infthat connection it was stated 10y
Gallinger Rep of New Hampshire, that
Mr.. Albaugh's claim would be very largely
in excess of $50, 900 and might be probably
as large as the purchase money. THAT
shows" said George, Into what doubt
full and eXtrayagant sea we are about TO
launch our bark This business will cost
the government not less than 81, 200, 600.
Gallinger opposed the proposition and
gave it as his opinion that to enable Mr..
Albaugh to settle with the building con
tractors and theatrical and operate troupes
would cost as large sum as to be PAID
for the property. SO the government would
be fortunate if it got out of the business
at cost of $500, 600, sum for which the
Corcoran art gallery property could he
bought, including the building and nearly
twice as many square feet.
The question being taken on George S
amendment requiring complete and
perfect title it was defeated: yeas, %;
nays, 90.
At this point the conference report on
the post office appropriation bill was pre-
sented and agreed to, leaving one amend
ment in dispute. and on this further con-
sideration was asked A conference COM
mittee was ordered on the Indian appro-
priation bill.
The discussion of the amendment as to
the Blaine property was resumed. Palmer
dem. of Illinois, commented upon the
fact that according TO the terms of the
amendment the attorney general was not
charged with the duty of investigating IA
title to the property so the government in
acquiring the property would have to
walk by faith and not by sight. He asked
whether any senator would buy property
in that way. White dem of California,
offered a substitute for the amendment for
condemnation" of the property. Re
jected: yeas, 30; nays, 30. The commit
tee amendment somewhat modified, but
not in any important particulars was
agreed to: yeas 81 nays, %. The dis
cussion occupied about four hours.
In addition to the amendments for
lighthouses, an item of $50, 900 was in
serted for lighthouse at Smiths Point,
Chesapeake bay, Maryland The COM
mittee amendment appropriating $780,
900 for two new steam tenders for the
lighthouse service, was agreed to without
objection. The committee amendment
appropriating $4,000 for revenue
steamer of the first class for service on the
Pacific coast, and authorizing contract
for building it, at a total cost not exceed
ing STE, 900, led to an hours discussion,
and went over without action till tomor
row.
Two amendments providing that United
States treasury notes of larger denomina
tion than those cancelled or retired, shall
not be printed, was agreed to without
question. After disposing of 80 pages of
the bill, the Senate went into executive
session, and at s. so took recess till
p NJ.
The evening session began with less
than 90 senators present; no objection
being made as to lack of quorum.
The consideration of the sundry civil bill
was resumed. The first amendment which
led to discussion was the one changing
the arrangement of the offices of the as
sistants in the coast and geodetic survey.
The House made an appropriation for "a
assistants, the committee amendment
provides for AZ. and the discussion was
on which should prevail, the committee
amendment being most vigorously
pressed by its supporters.
McLaurin (Dem. of Mississippi, thought
it was very strange that when the super
intendent of the coast survey made an
estimate for the appropriations necessary
for his bureau, to increase the estimate,
as the amendment did, by slS,S00. He
protes ted against it.
Allison tRep } of Iowa, said the amend
ment was in consonanee with the estimate
submitted by the secretary of the treasury,
the responsible officer and the superintend-
ent Gen. Duffield) should not have APP
peared in the committee rooms and
tr ed to override the omnipotent power of
the secretary.
All but one page of the bill was con-
sidered. There the German amendment
for the issue of 3 ner cent certificates IN