Evening star., 1896-03-31
THE HOUSE.

ceded the resumption Of the consideration
of the sundry civil appropriation bill in the
House today. Several resolutions presented
by Mr.. Hooker chairman Of the rivers and
harbors committee, were adopted, as fol-
lows: To direct the Secretary of War to SUBJ
NIT estimates for the Improvement, to the
depth of thirty feet, at mean low water. of
Portland harbor, Maine; to direct the Sec
retary of War to submit estimates for a
channel 400 feet wide through Providence
river and Narragansett bay, and to author
ize the expenditure Of $4,000 of the unex-
pended balance Of the appropriation for the
cascades Of the Columbia river for the con-
strrction of protecting walls necessary to
the opening of 'he canal to navigation.
The House disagreed to the Senate amend
ments to the legislative executive and judi
cial appropriation bill, and agreed to con-
ference. Messrs Bingham Pa.), Mccall
Cenn.) and Dockery (Mo) were appointed
&C nferees. The consideration Of the sundry
civil bill was then resumed.
Freezing Out Prof. MendenhaH.
During the consideration of the items un-
der the head Of coast and geodetic survey"
Mr.. Cannon took occasion to criticise sharp
ly the administration for freezing out"
Prof. T. c. Mendenhall, the predecessor of
Gen. Dumeld, the present superintendent
He described Prof Mendenhall as the most
competent man who ever had presided as
superintendent, and a man whose scientific
attainments were recognized all over the
country. He referred to the present SUPER
intendent as a new discovery" but said he
did not desire to reflect in any way on his
competency or ability. The appropriation
for field work on the Atlantic coast was in
creased $4,000, on motion of Mr.. Miles (Md.)
Silver Men Aroused.
Mr.. Adams Pa.) took advantage of the
latitude allowed in debate on appropriation
bills to arouse the ire of the silver republi-
cans from the west by bringing up the
question Of the current reports about the
Washington conference between several Of
the silver republicans and some Ph:ladel-
phia manufacturers, which was the subject
of formal meeting of the manufacturers
of that city last night. He referred to the
false and misleading reports in the papers
OF an alleged compact between the free
silver republicans and the manufacturers,
by which, he said. it was even proposed to
yield the great doctrine of protection. He
called attention to the fact that one of the
western states South Dakota) had only a
few days ago rebuked her Senator by de-
claring for protection and sound money.
Last night, he said, the Manufacturers
Club of Philadelphia had responded by the
passage of strong resolutions denoulcing
and repudiating this alleged compact He
had the resolutions read at the desk.
Mr. Hartman (Mont) and Mr.. Allen
Utah), both free silver men, replied ind;g-
nantly to Mr.. Adams.
Mr. Hartman's Statement.
Mr.. Hartman CMont.) said he was glad
of an opportunity to say On the floor what
should have been said several days ago.
He agreed that the reports printed broad
cast by the press regarding the so-callel
Washington conference had been false and
misleading. But the silver men were in no
wise responsible for those false reports.
The plain truth was that some manufac-
turers of Philadelphia had requested a
conference. The invitation had been
accepted, and twenty-eight manufac-
turers had tome over from Philadelphia
and a three hours consultation was had
The report of that meeting had been pre-
pared by Senators Mantle, Carter Cannon,
Dubois and himself. It was absolutely
true. There was no suggestion of any
agreement. In fact, it was distinctly stated
that no conclusions ':ad been reached.
But" said he. Indignantly, for the pur-
pose Of breaking down and villifying the
republicans who had the hardihood to
stand up for silver the gold press de-
nounced us. No more willful falsehood and
SANDER was ever circulated in the public
press. They coined a lie and attempted to
force 1t down our throats.''
Mr.. Allen supported what Mr.. Hartman
had said, and declared that q cause tha,
had to be bolstered up by such methods
as the gold men pursued, must be inner
eEtly bad.
Mr.. Stones Amendment Defeated.
The DEBATE then recurred to the coast and
geodetic survey items. Mr.. c. W. Stone
Pa.) moved to restore the salary Of the
superintendent to $1,000, and in closing re.
PEELED the insinuations as to Gen. Duf1ield
He referred to Gen. Duf1elds gallant ser.
vice in the Mexican and civil wars, and his
brilliant record as an engineer. The amend.
ment was defeated.
Landed Her Cargo. in Cuba.
The Treasury Department has evidence