The Portland daily press., 1896-06-03
BILL SHOULD PASS.
Presidents Objections to River and
larber Bill
ARE HELD TO BE NOT VALID BY
THE HOUSE.

Bill Passes Over Veto by an Overwhelming
vote-Committee Denies Presidents
Charges in Toto-Bond Bill Passed by
Senate.
Washington, June 2.-In the House.
Mr.. Henderson reported from the CON-
mittee on rules and orders making the
hour of meeting for the remainder Of the
session II a. M, and 1t was agreed to.
Mr.. Cannon. Republican of Illinois,
chairman of the committee on appropria-
tions, stated that in his Judgment there
was no possibility that the present
session of Congress would end before
Wednesday of next week, probably not
before Friday or Saturday.
The report of the committee ON rivers
and harhors recommending the passage
of the river and harbor appropriation
bill, the objection of the President not
withstandiag, was presented by Mr..
H ooker, chairman, and read. The re-
port states that of AT items of appropria-
tions contained IN the bill, ali except q
aro. for the projects contained In bills
heretofore become laws, and are for the
Investigation and examination of i'm
provements to which Congress has re-
peatedly committed itself.
1t appears that by far greater num-
bar OF projects appropriated for in this
bill were appropriated for in the bill of
1890 and are not yet completed.
The bills of 1890 and 1892 wereapproved
by President Harrison and the bill of
1894 was permitted by the present execu-
tive to become law by limitation.
The committee impeaoh the Presidents S
declaration that many objects for which
money is appropriated are not related
to public welfare and show that the
statement that many Improvements have
been so unpfovidently planned thas
after an unwise expenditure Of millions
of dollars ne q experiments for their
accomplishments have been entered up-
on, is untrue.
They also assert that there is no foun-
| dation for the Presidents statement
that the bill carries appropriations for
| work, which private parties have actual
| ly agreed with the government to do, in
| consideration of their occupancy OF pub
| lie property.
| The committee shows the President to
| be wrong in his statement regarding
the amount OF immediate cash outlay
called for in the bill.
| The committee deny the Presidents
charge OF extravaganza, and approves OF
the contract system as being less ex-
pensive.
| The report adds that no good reason
has been assigned by the President why
the House should recede from its action
with regard to the measure. 1T must
not be forgotten" tls report concludes,
'sthat If this bill should fail there are
hundreds of useful projects of improve
ments that have been in process of COM
pletion for number of years, and
against which the most captious critic
| could urge no objection, which would
be suspended whereby great waste would
be incurred and great loss sustained"
A vote on ordering the previous ques-
tion was taken. 1t resulted ayes 17S;
noes, 60. The votes was taken in the
passage of the bill over the Presidents
veto. There were 220 yeas and 80 nays.
More than two thirds having voted in
the affirmative, the bill was declared
passed.
The contested election case of Mitchell
Republican, VS.. Walsh, Democrats of New
York, was disposed of by unseating
Walsh.
Mr.. Boutslle presented q supplemental
conference report upon the naval appro-
priation bill. 1t was agreed to- 1t
showed agreement upon all items say Q
those relating to the number of new
battle ships and details Of the construc-
tion Of the ships. A further conference
was ordered. The Ho,se adjourned at
$50, there being no quorum.