The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-04
THE NATIONAL LAWMAKERS
Appropriation Bills Considered in the
House and Senate.
BLUNDERS ON CUBA MATTER
prOceedings Marked BY the Absence OF
Oratory-The Sixth Appropriation
Bill Passes Both Houses s-Othsr
Washingtou Topics.

Washington, March 3.-The principal
subject before the senate today was
the agricultural appropriation Dill
carrying appropriations to the aggre-
gate amount Of So, 262, ,652. 1t was passed
with very little opposition or discus
sion, and IS the sixth regular appro-
priation bill that has passed both
houses. The only other appropriation
bill that has been received from the
house is that for the Indian department
and II is now in the hands or the COM
mittee on appropriations.
Somebody having blundered In the
formal message notifying the senate OF
the passage of the Cuba resolutions In
the house-the message indicating en-
tirely independent action by the house'
instead of the fact that the house res
olutions were passed as a substitute
for those Of the senate-the mistake
was corrected today by the withdrawal
OF that message and the substitution
Of one making the correct announce
ment. The matter was then referred
to the committee on foreign relations
The only other important item in the
proceedings in the senate today Tin ad-
dition to the passage of several bills)
was a motion submitted by Mr.. Cor
man (Dem., Md, for a reconsideration
Of the vote Of yesterday passing bill
authorizing the enlistment Of addition
al men in the navy. The motion Is
privileged one and may be taken up at
any time.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Today's session of the house was al
most wholly devoted to a discussion Of
the amendment proposed to the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropria-
tion bill to make the offices of district
attorney and United States marshal
salaried ones. instead of paying the in
cumbents by fees. 1t was advocated by
several members, and opposed by none.
But Messrs. Hartman (Rep.. MontO
and Gardner (Rep., N. j. attacked the
inequalities in the bill, which they as
serted Disseminated unjustly against
the officials named in those states. The
matter Will be further considered to-
morrow under the five-minute rule,
when amendments will be In order.
A mistake having been made in the
message conveying the Cuban resolu-
tions passed yesterday to the senate,
whereby they We're described as house
concurrent resolutions. instead of
substitute for the senate resolutions, a
resolution was adopted on motion by
Mr. Hit (Rep., ill) asking n return
of them in order to make the necessary
corrections. They were shortly re-
turned in accordance with the request.
Senate amendments to the house bill
regulating anchorage of vessels in st.
Mary's channel were agreed to.
The house committee on merchants
marine and fisheries today favorably
reported the bill Of Mr.. Hopkins, of
Illinois, to improve the merchant ma
rine engineer service and increase the
efficiency of the naval reserve
1t requires the engineers and assist
ant engineers of American steam ves-
sells to be either native born or fully
naturaliZed American citizens, and pro-
vides that they be subject to draft into
the United States navy in time of war or
other emergency. While so serving in
the navy, such officers are to receive the
same pay and emoluments as naval Of
ficers performing similar duties.