The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-28
FRENCH SPoLIATIoN FUNDS.
THE HOUSE FINALLY VOTES IN "a
VOR OF PAVING Up.

ar. CannoS of Illinois Speaks in OPP
position TO the Proposition on the
Ground That Collateral Heirs of
the Original Claimants viii BE
the BeneGciaries-OnIy sI,25O.OoO
Of the s5.OOO.OOO Received by the
Government Paid out as Yet.
Washington. May 27.-In the House to-
day a feeble efort or two 30 obtain unan-
.m0us consent for the consideration Of
private bills withered and died under the
objection Of AR. KEN. pop, OF Nebraska,
and AR Lacy. rep, of-Iowa, called up the
conference report on the bill TO relieve
settlers Oh the Northern Pacific railroad
indemnity lands. and ii was agreed to-
Mr. Cannon. rep, of Illinois called up
the general deficiency appropriation bill
and addressed the House i'm opposition to
the motion made steriay by Mr.. Ma
hon. rep. of Pennsylvania, TO concur in
the Senate amendment apprOpriatins
money TO pay the French spoilat.on and
war claims. He said that early In the
session there was passed a deficiency bill
carrying about 100000. The pending bill,
as IL passed the House, carried total OF
S5793.oJ0 To this the Senate added $685.
90. This. Mr.. Cannon asserted. was al
together
he had known in his experience in con-
gress He argued that the placing Of
these French spoliauon and war claims
upon the bin was in violation Of the rules
of the Senate and House alike. and ought
10 be rejected. While speaking Of the
spoliation claims. Mr.. Cannon spoke Of
some Of them being due TO collateral
heirs" Of the original claimants. Where
upon Mr.. Grosvenor, rep. Of Ohio asked:
If the government keeps on refusing to
pay its debts. won't all Of them be paid
finally TO collateral heirs?'
Mr.. Mahon. rep. of Pennsylvania, ad-
vocated the amendment asserting that II
was only by such methods as lhls thal
the claims could be paid. Ihey were just
equitable and legal and should De pau
There was plenty of money TO pay an the
claims the government owed. Inat they
were not paid was not due 10 lack OF
money, bue because OF the plunderlng OF
statesmen in this House, in the Senate,
and at the other end OF the avenue.
Mr.. Sayers. dem, OF Texas, opposed the
payment especially Of the trench spolla-
lion claims, on the ground that they were
not a legal claim against the government
Mr.. Richardson, dem, Of tennessee, ad-
Vocated the payment of the claims as dlq
also Mr. GrOsevnor. The latter ridlculed
the contention that the spoliauon claims
were not a legal debt against the govern
ment because war existed at that time
between the United States and France.
He said he would as soon vote not 70
pay a government bond as to vote against
the payment of these claims in a time OF
ability 10 pay them.
MT. Adams, rep, of Pennsylvania, said
that by the treaty of 1888 the United states
had received S5OOO.000 to meet these claims,
which is still held as trust fund. or
that money only Sl,250,000 had been paid
on account of them. After a stirring APP
peal by Mr.. Cannon to turn down" this
Irregular method of legislation, the vote
was taken on Mr.. Mahon's motion to con-
cur in the Senate amendment, resulting
yeas. Ill; nays, 81. The announcement was
received with applause.
On motion by AIR. Cannon the House
asked a conference with the Senate on
the remaining amendment of the bill.
Mr.. Cannon then called up
the supplemental conference report
upon the sundry civil bill, an agreement
being reported upon all matters but
the items appropriating for sundry public
buildings. The statement accompanying
the report showed that the Senate added
to the bill amendments aggregaung St.
57l 257, the House had concurred in amend
ments aggregating s.. 4S7, CPS, and the Sem
ate receded from 5000, 45O, leaving S1,OS6. =
179 still in dispute.
Without completing the consideration OF
the report, at $50 o'clock, the House al
Journed until tomorrow, Mr.. KEN, pop,
of Nebraska, having made the point OF
no quorum.