The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-21
FOR FORTIFICATIONS.
The Senate Getting at the End of tn
appropriation Bus.

The Senate Getting at the End of the
appropriation Btus.
WASHINGTON, D. c., May 20.-The
last but one of the general appropriation
bills-the one which provides for fortitca-
tons and other works of defense-occupied
the attention of the Senate to-day and was
passed before adjournment. 1t carries
nearly Sill 600, 000-about $1,000. 600 more
than it carried when it passed the House.
The principal item of increase is one of
So, 115,0 900 for gun and mortar batteries.
There was little or no controversy over
any OF the provisions contained in the
bill, but rather important discussion was
precipitated by an amendment offered to
the bill by German of Maryland. This
proposes to authorize the issue of $100. 000.-
600 OF treasury certificates of indebted.
ness, bearing per cent interest, in order
to meet the expenditures Gale d for by the
appropriation bills OF the present session,
the aggregate OF which German puts at
5000 900, 600.
The amendment was opposed by Shel-
man of Ohio, who declared that never be-
fore had such proposition been made to
meet the current expenses of the Govern
ment in time of profound peace, and
who argued that the proper course for the
Senate to pursue was to take up the tariff
bill passed by the House in the early part
of the session, leave off the free-silver
amendment which the Senate had at
tached to it, and then pass it, with such
additions as might be deemed wise, in
Guiding tax on tea and coffee. He said
that he would tear up all the appropria-
ton bills rather than make such con-
fession of bankruptcy.
German argued that the deficiency in
the treasury could not be met in any other
way than that which he proposed.
At the close of the discussion the
amendment was laid on the table by a
vote of AZ to 9.
EARLIER in the day a conference report on
| the river and harbor bill was presented by
Frye of Maine, and an effort was made by
him to get immediate action on it. That
was resisted, however, by Bacon of Geor-
gia, who had learned that the appropria-
ton for the harbor at Brunswick, Ca, had
been struck out in conference, and who
wanted time to argue the matter before
the Senate. And SO Frye rather reluc
family consented to have the report go over
till tomorrow.
The only question that was not settled
in conference is the one relating to the
deep sea harbor in Southern California. In
the preliminary discussion there was some
sharp criticism at the disposition of the
Senators to adjourn Congress without at
tending to the grave and important ques-
tions requiring action.
The fertilization appropriation bill as it
passed the House appropriated $5,s45. 1877.
As reported from the Senate committee
the amount is $40, 1853, 1888, the increase be-
ing made up by these items: Gun and
mortar batteries S., lis, 600; sites for FORTH
cations and coast defenses, S250,000; steel
for eight 10-inch and one 12-inch guns.
$160, 900; carriages for same, $I95, 900; Steel
for 12-inch mortars. S21O, 600; carriages for
same, 1000; payments for guns under
contracts heretofore made, $500, 551; ma.
chine guns, $4,000; board of ordnance
and Notifications, $4,000; construction
and test of Howell and Emery gun car.
riages, $4,000; construction and test Of
Gatlin gun and carriage, 5000; total
81 Q24 XXI