The San Francisco call., 1896-05-05
SESSION OF THE HOUSE.
Passage of Sereral Bills of Minor I'm

WASHINGTON, D. c., May 4.-To-day
was suspension day in the House under
the rules, and in addition to numerous
private pension bills passed were the fol-
lowing:
Amending the time within which i'm
ported merchandise may be unloaded.
Authorizing the State of South Dakota
to select lands in the Fort Sully military
reservation for school and indemnity
lands.
The contested election case of ]. G.
Kirby VS.. J, G. Abbott, from the Sixth Dis
trict of Texas, was reported from Elec-
tions Committee No. 8, declaring Abbott
CD. the sitting member, entitled to the
seat and it was agreed to.
Boutelle (R.) of Maine called up the
naval appropriation bill and asked that
the House non-concur in the Senate
amendments and agree to the conference.
In the course of consideration of this mat
ter there was something of scene, Quigg
(R.) of New York calling Boutelle to order
on the ground that he was rejecting upon
the Senate's actions by his comments.
An animated colloquy followed between
the Speaker and Boutelle, the former ex-
planning the philosophy and necessity of
the rule and the latter contending that he
had not violated it.
Sayers CD of Texas moved to concur in
the Senate amendments reducing the num-
ber of battle-ships from four to two, and
| with the amendment pending the matter
went over until tomorrow by unanimous
consent.
Abill was passed under suspension of
the rules for the protection of American
Yacht-owners and ship-builders, and on
the vote upon resolution to set aside the
9th and 18th inst. for the consideration of
private pension bills no quorum appeared.
At 05 o'clock the House adjourned until
| tomorrow.
The following bills were passed:
Authorizing the State of South Dakota
to select about 28,O00 acres in the Fort
Sully military reservation as part of the
| indemnity and school lands granted to the
State at its admission into the Union.
Extending the time within which i'm
ported merchandise may be unloaded.
Boutelle (R.) of Maine called up the
naval appropriation bill and asked the
non-concurrence of the House in the Sen
ate amendments thereto. He criticized
the action of the Senate in reducing the
number of battle-ships from four to two
after contributing by its action as much
as any other cause to the excited condition
of the public mind that prevailed when
that bill was passed by the House.
Quigg (R.) of New York made the point
of order that the gentlemen could not criti-
ciZe nor comment upon the action of the
Senate. This was discussed by Grosvenor,
Grow and Boutelle, the latter contending
that he had right as Representative to
read from the record what had occurred in
the other body.
Speaker Reed stated that in his opinion
the point of order was well taken.
Boutelle said it seemed to him that the
suggestion contained in the point of order
| was so monstrous that he would not dig
nifty it by discussion. The infantile point,
he maintained, would preclude member
of the House from quoting from mes
J sage of the President or decision of the
! Supreme Court.
| Grow stated his views of the rule to be
that while any discussion was pending or
proceeding in either body it could not be
| referred to the other. But after it had
been printed in the Record it could be
read by any member as history, but not to
be commented upon. He moved that the
gentleman from Maine (Boutelle) be per-
mitted to proceed in order.
Boutelle stated that he did not desire to
avail himself of the privilege in that
manner. If he could not read from the
Record what Senator had said and state
how he voted on the naval appropriation
bill he did not care to address the House.
An animated and somewhat humorous
colloquy followed between the speaker
and BouteIle as to how the latter should
proceed. The former finally succeeded in
putting Crows motion and declaring it
carried. Boutelle took the floor and read
the concluding sentences of Senator Mills
speech on the Cuban question. But he
would not, he said, in Difference to the
views of the chair, having no doubt in his
own mind, however, of the propriety of
the course, state how the Senator had
voted upon the proposition to reduce the
number Of new battle-ships from four to
two. He moved to non-concur in the
Senate amendments to the bill and con-
sent to a conference.
Sayers CD of Texas moved that the
House concur In that amendment, reduc-
ing the number of battle-ships from four
to two.
This promised to cause extended debate,
and at the suggestion of Dingley CD of
Maine, in order that the day should not
be lost for suspension. it was agreed that
the matter should go over until to-mor-
row. A further conference, on the motion
of Bingham (R.) of Pennsylvania, was
ordered on the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill.
Payne (R.) of New York moved to sus-
pend the rules and pass a bill for the pro-
lection of yacht-owners and shipbuilders
of the United States, adding to the pro-
visions of section 4126, Revised Statutes,
which permit yachts belonging to a
foreign yacht club to enter or leave any
American port without clearing or enter
ing at the Custom-house or paying ton
mage tax, the provision "that the privi-
leges of this section shall not extend to
any yacht built outside of the United
States and owned, chartered or used by
citizen of the United States"
The bill was advocated by Payne and
Eourlor (P \ Of Naw Torcau onI o,-oaoI