Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-13
The Gorman Amendment to the Bill
Finally Tabled.
SHARP DEBATE BEFORE VOTING
Contested Election Case Occupies
the Houses Attention.
d is c U SION STILL ON

The river and harbor bill was taken up as
soon as the Senate convened TODAY. the
agree ment being that the final vote Ina
taken at 3 pm. The pending question WAS
Mr. Gormans amendment directing the
Secretary of War TO so apportion contract
appropriations that not more than 10000
ooo be expended contracts in any one
year.
Before proceeding Mr.. Vest Niol gave
notice of a minority report on the filled
cheese" bill by himself and Senators Wal
thall (Miss.), Harris CTennD. Jones CArkl
and White (CalD
The bill was passed for the appointment
OF guardians for pensioners in the District
OF Columbia found to be ''squandering pen-
sion money by drinking vicious habits"
The German Amendment.
Proceeding with the river and harbor bill
Mr. Vest opposed The German amendment,
declaring that it would permit the Secre-
tary of War to nullify the river and harbor
bill and to substitute his opinion in lieu
Of that of Congress. He did not believe
there could be a paI tisan in the chamber
who would give such autocratic power to 4
cabinet officer. He had never known a Sec
letary Of War 10 whom ne would extend
such vast power. While he was demo-
CIat and knew the expenditures would be
made by democratic officials up to March
3 next, yet that was not factor TO be
considered he opposed any such abdi-
cation of power by Congress and its trans
fer 10 one official.
Mr.. Gorman's Reply.
Mr.. German insisted that this was not
an abdcation of power. the Secretary of
War had always controlled the amounts Of
an appropriation that could be profitdbly
spent. This was merely a Limitation of the
power of the Secretary of War, 50 that not
more than ten millions would be spent an
n ont 1Far1
vIsion, said MIR. German, ia view Of the
fact that this is the first time in the his
tory of the government that we have gone
into the wholesale business of authorizing
contracts"
The debate took a wide range under tho
five-mnute rule which had been agreed on.
An amendment by Mr.. Gray was accepted
making the SloVhgJ restriction apply spe-
officially to contracts, and not to direct ap-
preparations.
Mr.. Allison proposed an amendment fix
ing the limitation on contract expenditures
at sl2,"oo,"Jo annually.
Mr.. Gorman's Proposition Tabled.
Mr.. Vest moved TO table the German
proposition snd all amendments, winch mo-
tion prevailed, yeas 40, nays p, as follows:
epublicans-Aldrich, Baker, Bur-
rows, Cameron, Cullom, Dubois, Elkins,
Frye, Gallinger, Lodge. Mcbride. Mantle,
Mitchell (Ore), Nelson, Perkins, Pettigrew,
Platt Quay, Sewell. Sherman, Shoup.
Squire, ThurSton, Wetmore, Wilson. -;
democrats, Bacon, Berry. Blackburn, Caf-
fiery, George, Jones Ark.), Mills, Pasco.
Pugh, Vest, Walthall and White, L.; pop
ulists Butler, Jones (NevD and Stewart, 3.
Total, 40.
Nays-Republicans-Alli Brown, Cham
jler, Gear, Hawley, Proctor, 6; democrats,
Bate, Brice, Cockrell, Faulkner. German,
Gray, Harris, Hill Lindsay, Martin, Mitch
ell tWis), Roach, Smith and Villas. IL; pop
ulists, Allen, PETER and Kyle, 3. Total, %.
The Sabine Pass, Tex, appropriation
was reduced from 81, ,403,0ac 10 Sl,oo,ooo,
on motion of Mr.. Frye.
Mr.. Lindsay's Amendment Tabled.
Mr. Lindsay (Ky) offered an amendment
directing the Secretary of War TO 50 ad-
just contracts that noi more than 20 per
cent of any cne appropriation would be
expended in any one year. Mr.. Smith
IN. j. said he hoped some amendment
limiting expenditures woull pre"ail The
aggregate of the bill, including contracts,
reached about S1UpmEsto, an amount un-
III ecedented and double that IN the best
times of ,he cpant"y.
Considering the business condition Of the
country and of the treasUry-part of the
government money being raised by bonds,
Congress was not justified in appropriatins
a greater amount than ever before in the
history of the government.
On motion of Mr.. Frye, the amendment
OF Mr.. Lindsay was tabled, yeas, 81; nays,
is; the detailed vote being substantially
the same the previous one.