The San Francisco call., 1896-06-05
Further Conference Ordered on
the Proposed Appropriations
for the Navy.
GEAR AND THE FUNDING PLAN
An Unsuccessful Attempt Made to
Secure a Hearing of the Oh.
nox;ous Measure.

WASHINGTON, D. c., June 4.-Very
early and marked progress was made ID
the legislative work of the Senate to-day.
The conference report on the naval appro-
priation bill was disposed OF after discus
sion which did not occupy more than an
hours time. The motion to recede from
the Senate amendment reducing the num-
ber of battleships from four to two was de-
feated: yeas q, nays 80,
The conference report was then agreed
to and further conference ordered. This
was ordered by the conference report on
the Indian appropriation bill, the contro-
versy over the report being on the propo-
sitioh to impose citizenship on the Indi-
ans of the five civilized tribes. The report
was agreed to (yeas %, noes 2O) SO that
when the Indian bill becomes law those
Indians will have lost their relations and
will have become citizens. But lnasmuch
as the conference has not reached an agree
ment on the school question further con-
ference was>ordered.
An effort was made by Gear OF Iowa,
chairman of the Pacific Railroads Com
mittee, to have the Pacific refunding bill
set down for consideration on the eighth
legislative day of the next session, and
then to be continued as unfinished busi-
ness, but the proposal met with so many
objections that before it could be acted
upon the morning hour expired and the
filled-cheese bill came up, displacing
Gears motion, which is to be renewed to-
morrow.
The flled-cheese bill was discussed for
couple OF hours. All the amendments
that were offered to it were voted down,
and the bill passed (37 to 13) just as it
came from the House, so that it only
needs the approval of the President. The
conference report (fnal on the general
deficiency bill was presented ana agreed to.
An effort was made by Lodge of Massa-
chusetts to have the immigration bill
taken up and made the unfinished busi-
ness, but it had to be abandoned in the
face of obstruction tactics on the part of
the Democratic Senators.
The consideration OF the resolution
offered by Morgan (D.) of Alabama as to
the Competitor prisoners In Cuba was
postponed till tomorrow.
The conference report on the naval ap-
preparation bill was taken up, the ques-
ton being on the motion of Quay (R.) of
Pennsylvania that the Senate recede from
its amendment reducing the number of
hattle-ships from four TO two.
German complimented Secretaries of the
Navy Whitney and Tracy for their wise
action in IN aking the liberal contracts with
the Bethlehem and Carnegie works. He
believed that those were wise contracts,
although unquestionably liberal.
Chandler, member of the Committee
on Naval Affairs, asserted from informa-
tion before the committee that the cost of
production of armor-plate at the Bethle-
hem and Carnegie works was less than
$500 ton, and that, by a combination,
the price charged to the Government was
$3.50 and $500 ton. He asserted that
every dollar which they had put in their
plant haa been paid back to them in
profits from these contracts. In addition
there had come to them contracts for the
Kentucky and Kearsarge, but reduced by
$50 ton.
The vote was taken on Quay's motion
reducing the number of battle-ships to be
contracted for from four to two, and the
motion was defeated-ayes II, noes 33.
The conference report was then pre-
sented and further conference was or
6ered.
The report on the Indian appropriation
bill was taken up, and without further
discussion it was adopted-ayes q, noes
20. The contest against it has been the
provision on citizenship. The effect of
the vote is to make that provision definite
and final.
Lodge (R.) of Massachusetts moved to
recede from the Senate amendment which
allows contract schools for Indian chill
dre2 to be continued until July, 1898. Re-
iected-ayes II, noes 81. A further con-
ference was ordered on that subject.
Morrill, (R.) of Vermont, chairman of
the Finance Committee, reported resolu-
ton to authorize scientific investigation
OF the fur seal fisheries, which was con-
sidered and passed.
Greer. chairman of the Railroad Com
mittee, moved that the Pacific funding
bill be taken up and postponed till the
eighth legislative day of the next session.
He stated that there was debt of $115,-
O00,o0O due to the Government by the
faclhc railroads, portion OF II falling
due next year; that the Union Pacific had
detaulted on its first mortgage bonds; that
there was suit pending to foreclose that
mortgage and that it was incum bent on
Congress to take action. He made motion
after consultation with Morgan and
other Senators who were opposed to the
bill.
Morgan said he was cordially in favor of
the settling of time for the hearing of
the bill although he was opposed to the
measure.
Teller and others objected to giving
special privileges to the funding bill. No
decision of the motion had been reached
when the morning hour expired and the
fliled-cheese bill came up as the unfn-
isned business, Gear giving notice, how
ever, that he would renew his motion to-
morrow.
Vest CD OF Missouri addressed the
Senate in opposition to the filled-cheese
bill. lie argued that it was not. as 1T pro-
fessed to be, a revenue measure, but was a
police measure and was therefore outside
OF the powers of Congress.
Sherman lR.) of Ohio, in charge Of the
bill, advocated its passage.
Mitchell (R.) of Oregon said he would
o1fer an amendment TO the bill.
White CD of California said that so