The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-18
FokILAND NAME SATURDAY MORNING. JANUARY

railroad laud grants may be prosecuted
by the attorney general 1t was read and
referred to the committee on public
lands.
The House went into committee of the
whole, with Mr.. Dingley in the chair on
motion of W. a. Stone to consider the
general appropriation bill under the five
minute rule.
The House committee on Interstate
and foreign commerce today, heard Ed
mund L. Baylies of New York city, in
support of the bill to establish a cable be-
tween the United States and Hawaiian
islands He spoke OF its Importance, said
the cable if allowed, will start from the
coast Of California Or Oregon, and proceed
to the Hawaiian islands, 2097 miles,
thence in a southwesterly direction 1891
miles, to the Marshall islands, themes
northwesterly 2502 miles to Yokohama
the total length of the cable being $3.50
miles, 1t is estimated when reaGy for
operation it will have cost So, 500, 600. He
SAID 1t was proposed to ask from the
United States. government to aid in
building thes cable sum which would
| equal approximately S175, 600 per year for
twenty years; during this period the
japanese government is to be asked to
contribute $500, 600 year. Mr.. Balyies
SAID II the proposed cable was laid, the
rate Tor transportation of messages would
III q short tinle be reduced from 80 to SO
per cent.
The Speaker laid before the House to.
DAY communication from the Secretary
OF War recommending an appropriation
OF $500 for the rapid Etre guns. The
guns requested are for arming fort ifica-
| tions, and the estimate for them could
not be submitted sooner, as the tests of
this type of guns was not completed by
the ordnance department..
The House Judiciary committee today
discussed the resolution of Mr.. Boatner
OF Louisiana, looking to the impeachment
of Comptroller Bowler for his action in
stopping the payment of the sugar
bounuies authorized by Congress- While
not finally acted upon, it was practically
agreed to report the matter back to the
House with request that committee
be authorized OF inquire into the powers
of the comptroller and report upon the
statute of laws which he auts.
| The committee favorably reported the
bill of Mr. Curtis, of New York to reduce
| the cases in which the penalty of death
may be inflicted, instead of death the
measure provides for imp risonment at
hard labor for life.
| Messrs. Hill and Beight two discharged
employees OF the Post Office Department.
| today appeared before the subcommittee
of the House committee on post offices
and post roads and onarged that postal
funds have been misapprapriated by be-
ing used for the employment of secret
agenUs. These agenGs were declared to be
ward politicians, used for political pur-
poses. Messrs. Hill and Beight attempted
to make general statements regarding the
alleged corruption in the Post Office De-
partment, but were stopped by Chairman
Loud. First Assistant Postmaster Gen.
Jones was present and made denial of
| their charges The employment of secret
| agents, who were sent to the various
cities to look into postal matters, he said,
was legal. They were appointed with the
full knowledge and consent of the civil
service commission.
| Among the bills introduced in the
House today was by Mr.. Towne, Repub-
| lioan OF Minnesota. declaring bicycles for
the purpose of transportation by common
carriers shall be deemed baggage, and
providing that a charge of not more than
two mills per mile be made for their
transportation.
| By Mr.. Shafroth, Republican of Colo
| rado, authorizing the Secretary Of War to
exchange with the National Guard of
states Springfield rifles Of 1894 pattern for
those now in nse.
| By Mr.. Cobb, Democrat OF Missouri.
requiring yachts, ferry boats and other
small crafts propelled by gasoline,
naphtha, ETC., to be inspected as required
of steam vessels.
The House in committee of the whole
resumed the consideration of the pension
appropriation bill Mr.. Mahon, Repub-
lican Of Pennsylvania, offered an amend
ment making pension once granted, a
|. vested right, be disturbed ouly on the
ground of fraud. This was passed over
| temporarily.
Mr.. BARTLETT, Democrat Of New York,
made point of order against the pro-
vision in the bill as reported that a
widow claimant having less than $500 a
yea1 income is, within the meaning of
the law without means of upport ether
than by labor The provision was sup
ported by several members, as not chang
ing any existing law.
| Chairman Dingley Sustained the point
of order and the provision was striken
out, and Mr.. Stone offered an amend
ment in modified form, and that was
rejected on another point of order.
| In view of these rulings by the chair
man, Mr. Mahon Withdrew his amend
ment declaring pension to be vested
| right and Mr.. Wood, Republican of
Illinois, offered an amendment to
specifically include pensioners of the late
war in the terms of the bills arguing that
failure to do SO would jeopardize the
payment of pensions to them. The
proposition was warmly discussed and
Several other proposed amendments failed
to secure a consideration, because OBJ
noxious to the rule against amendments
changing existing laws. Two or three to
| perfect the text were agreed to.
Mr.. Graft, Republican of Illinois, with
drew his proposed amendment to prevent
| red uction or withdrawal of pension
except in proceedings instituted in a
federal court. He announced that the
proposition be submitted to the commit
| tee on invalid pensions to be Incorporated
| in the bill to revise the pension laws
| The committee rose and the bill passed
without dissenting voice.
Mr.. Stone, Republican of Pennsly-
vania stated that the pension bill had
passed the House SO days ahead Of the
passage of any similar bill in the last two
congresses. (Applause.) The House
then adjourned until Monday.
| Dispatches received at the Japanese
legation state that on the mini vote taken
in the Diet, or Japanese Congress upon