The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-26
Considerable Tackled On to Pay
the French Spoliation
Claims.
BUFFERS BOND RESOLUTION.
An Unsuccessful Effort to Cause Fur.
Their Consideration of the
Measure.


lastot the general appropriation bills, the
deficiency bill, engaged the attention OF
the Senate to-day. As reported 1t covers
Items ag2regating 100000, about twice
the amount it carried when it came from
the House. In its progress through the
Senate the aggregate was still more in
creased by the appropriation OF over a
million dollars for providing IN the French
spoilation claims of over half million
dollars for findings of the court OF claims
under the Bowman act and STA, 445 for the
Choteau claim in building an iron steam
battery in 1864
AT the close of the routine morning
business Hale Or. of Maine moved to con-
slider the deficiency bill-the last OF the
general appropriation bills-and 1t was
taken up. Among the amendments re-
ported were the following: To pay $3.50
TO the widow of the late United States
Minister TO Mexico, Isaac P. Gray; appro-
priating $6517 for all outstanding claims
against the Worlds Columbian Commits
sion; appropriating $45, 600 for the leasing
OF suitable building and equipment for
the sampling and assaying of imported
silver ores and other ores containing lead;
appropriating $2566 to compensate tue
owners of the Norwegian steamer Peter
Jebsen for damages from collision with
the United States revenue steamer Rush
in San Francisco harbor in March,
1896; appropriating Si,542,979 to pay
transportation claims OF the Southern Pa
cific; $i59, 600 for three deaths and for the
injuries of Government employees at the
Ford's Theater disaster in June, 1893;
$1235, for payment for interior finish OF
courthouse and postoffice at Denver, Colo.
SIS, 600, for road near the National Gene.
terry in Pulaski County, H.; increasing
the appropriation for the survey of lands
IN California from S20 900 to $4,000.
AT P. NJ. the prohibitory bond bill came
up as the unfinished business. An appeal
was made to Butler (Pop.) of North Gallo
lima, author OF the bill to let it go over
until the appropriation bill was finished.
That was refused, and then efforts were
made to have an hour fixed on Wednes-
day or Thursday next for taking the vote
on the bond bill.
Objection was made by Palmer, who
stated very positively that no such agree
ment could be made. Finally unanimous
consent was given that the bill be pro-
ceeded with.
At P. NJ. the consideration of the de-
ficiency bill was suspended and the bond
bill was laid before the Senate as the I'M
finished business, but Butler finally
yielded so far as to allow the deficiency
bill to be proceeded with.
The bill as passed by the House appro-
priated 81, 793, $50 and as reported by the
Senate committee, $8,9S6, 29S. The Senate
amendments, having been all disposed of,
the bill was open to general amendment.
An'amendment TO one of its items, Ford's
Theater disaster, offered by Pugh CD of
Alabama, provoked long discussion and
was eventually defeated-ayes 20, noes %.
An amendment to insert an item to pay
the claim of John Roach. the sh ip-builder,
was offered by Mitchell (R.) of Oregon,
and was after long discussion ruled out.
An amendment to pay $500 to Mr..
Dupont for counsel fees, time and ex-
penses, in prosecuting his right to seat
in the Senate, and $500 to the three coun-
sci engaged in opposition to him, was
offered by Mr.. Mitchell and agreed to.
An amendment appropriating 81 ,027, 314
for findings of the Court OF CLAIMS in BAL of
the French spoilation claims exclusive of
insurance claims) was offered by Warren
(R.) of Wyoming as a report from the
Committee on Claims. and was, after dis
cussion, declared to be in order by a vote
of 80 to IA. Various other amendments
for claims found due under the Bowman
act were effected and agreed to. Several
OF these amendments having been offered
by Cockrell CD of Missouri it was sug-
gested by Chandler (R.) of New Hampshire
GENEROUSLY that Cockrell's object was to
| load down the bill with private claims, so
| as to make it odious and cause all of them
to be thrown out.
Cockrell declared that If he were to be
on the conference committee the Senate
would not recede. He would rather keep
Congress in session till the 4th of March
| next.
Chandler twitted Cockrell with having
shown a want OF temper and with not act
ing with his known judgment. Cockrell
retorted that the Senator was showing a
want OF balance and resentful feeling
and that the Senator's inslnuation was
unworthy of him and one which he ought
never to have made and never would
have made if he had kept his temper.
Laughter.
Hill, In humorous vein, offered an
amendment appropriating $4,000 for 3d.
GOO copies of the United States Red Book
published by James B. Lyon at Albany,
n. I. He said, in answer to inquiries,
that the book gave the likeness and BIZ
ography of all the Senators-the finest
body OF men in the country. Laughter.l
A point of order was made by Hale, and
Hill expressed the hope that "the good
humored Vice-President would do with it
as he had done with the French spoliation
amendment, and submit the question OF
order 10 the Senate. The Vice-President
promptly submitted the question, and the
Senate ruled the amendment out of order.
Finally the bill was passed.
The conference report on the sundry
civil appropriation bill was presented, and
ordered printed.