Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-04

gued I'm favor OF the passage OF the bill
IL was OF the most vital consequence. h.
said, TO the people OF he Mississippi Val,
ley. While there were some items in N
for which he would not vote he would
not on that account strike down the in
terests OF so many OF the agricultural
people OF the country.
PETTIGREw.
Mr.. Pettigrew Republican), Of South
Dakota, said that even II he were not
IN favor Of the river and harbor bill, he
would still vote against sustaining the
Presidents veto, because he thought 1t
was based on a wrong principle and was
In violation Of the Constitution. The veto
power was a relic of the past and had no
place in a free government based upon the
fundamental principle that the VIZ Of the
majority is supreme. The Constitution
ought to be amended so as to abolish the
veto power.
Mr.. Pettigrew followed this up with an
attack upon President Cleveland's admin
is1ration Of his office.
BATE AND HILL.
Mr.. Bate DemocraO, Of Tennessee,
spoke in support OF the veto, and in OPP
position 10 the passage OF the river and
harb0r bill. lie asserted that the issuance
OF bonds was behind the bill. or else n
tariff tax that would oyertop even the
Mckinley act.
Mr.. Hill Democrat, Of New York. up
held the veto power against the criticisms
upon it, and reminded the Democratic
side of the chan Der that President Jack
son mad inauguratod the vetoing Of river
and harbOr bills having In 1892 returned
10 Congress one with his objections.
The last veto Of a river and harbOr
bill, Mr.. Hill said, was by President
Arthur I'm 1882 That bill appropriated
over SlS,000000, and Mr.. Arthur's principal
objections to it were that it contained
appropriations for purposes that were not
''for the common defence or general well
fare" or that. did not promote commerce
among the States. That veto was over
ruled In the House OF Representatives by
a vote OF 10 10 SO, and i'm the Senate by a
vote Of Al TO 16.
The veto now under consideration, Mr.
Hill said was based on the ground OF
cXpediency. laying stress on the enormous
amounts to be expended now and in the
future After painstakng consideration
Of the whole mcasure-more careful and
extensive than most senators could have
iven TO 1.-THE President had refused 10
approve the bill, and he (Mr. HID thought
that the Presidents action should be sus-
tanned, rather than overruled. AS one who
had voted against the bill on its original
passage. the message had confirmed his
convictions OF its undesirability, as
whole, at the present time.
VETO OF ITEMS.
He regretted that the Constitution did
not give the President more power TO
veto particular items i'm an appropriation
bill. Such a power had existed for many
years in New York and other States, and
there was no disposition anywhere TO
abandon IT, He introduced a joint reso-
luton proposing an amendment to the
Constitution, giving the President the
power to veto items in an appropriation
bill. 1t was read and laid on the table.
Mr. Butler POpulisD Of North Carolina.
thought that Mr.. Hills proposed amend
ment was quite consistent with that
Senator's action and vote yesterday
against the bond bill. Mr. Butler had
also proposed constitutional amendment
I'm regard 10 the veto power, giving a
majority in each house the power 20 pass
a bill over the Presidents veto.
At the close of Mr.. Buffers remarks,
the vote was taken, as follows:
VOTE IN DETAIL.
Yeas-Meesrs. Aldrich, Allison, Bacon,
Berry. Brice, Burrows. Butler, Cannon,
Carter. Chandler, Clark, Cullom, DAVIS,
Dubois. Elkins, Faulkner, Gallinger
Gear George, Gibson, German, Hale
Hansbrough. Hawley, Jones Of Arkan-
sas. Jones Of Nevada. Lindsay, Lodge
Mcbride. Mills Mitchell Of Oregon
Mitchell OF Wisconsin, Morgan, Nelson
Pasco. PETER. Perkins, Pettigrew' Piatt
Pritchard, Pugh, Quay, Sherman Shoup
Squire. Stewart, Teller, Tillman. Turpie'
Vest, Walthall. Warren, Wetmore' White'
Wilson, and Woicott-56.
Nays-Messrs. Bate, Chiffon, HILL
Smith and Nilas-5.
There was a group Of more than twenty
members Of the House standing in the
space back of the Republican seats while
the vote was In progress. They showed
a very lively interest in the matter, ana
withdrew az soon as the result of the
vote was announced.
Pending debate on the naval bill con-
ference report. Mr. Morgan asked unani-
nous consent TO offer a resolution ealing
on the President for information and ac-
ton in the matter Of United States citi-
zens CAPTURED on board the Competitor
by the Spanish authorities tried by court
martial. and sentenced to death.
ROWLAND FOR AN OLIVER.
Objection was made by Mr.. Hale (Re-
publicam Of Maine. and the resolution
was not offered.
Later on. Mr.. Hale desired unanimous
consent TO have the vote taken upon the
conference report at l o'clock tomorrow
but objection was made by Mr.. Morgan
apparently in retaliation for Mr.. Haze
objection TO his resolution about the
prisoners taken from the Competitor An
arrapeement was, however. effected py
Mr. Allison Republican,. or iowa
under which Mr. Morgan was allowed 70
offer his resolution (Which was laid on me
tablet. and withdrew his objections 70
Air Hales proposition to have the vote
an the conference report taken tomorrow
AZ p. NJ.
uOrsE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
rho somewhat noted contested-election
coee of Murray VS.. Elliott, from the
Cbarleston Is. c. District. was the lrih-
.t,.at ,,atter Of business before the House
TO-DAY Elliott's election from that as
trict has been contested three uines-iil
me Fiftieth, Fifty-hrst, and fltty-lourth
Congresses. The contestant In this cas-
was elected to the Fifiy-third Cohs'ess'
the majority report of the committee I'D
cborge of the case recommended the
seating OF the contestant, and was al
,,aca,ed by Mr.. Overstreet Repubiicanl,
- Indiana. The minority report 1ound
that Elliott was entitled to retain ms
seat and their view was urged upon the
House by Mr.. Jones DemocraO, oil
virginia without disposing OF the case
The House. at $50 o'clock. adjourned. a
vote will be taken the first thing to-mor-
row. .,,on,
Quite a contest preceded the considera-
ton OF the election case over the appro-
priation in the general deficiency Dili ~, 10
nav the amounts TO victims Of the Ford
'rheatre disaster. decided on by con
eressional commission. which investigated
The claims. They were added in the Sen
ate and Mr.. Saycrs Democrat OF
To,as moved TO strike out the names