The morning times., 1897-02-23
VICTORY FOR HUNTINGTON
The Deficiency Bill Carries the
Southern Pacific Judgment.
1T RENEWED AN OLD FIGHT
The Amendment TO Refund 10 Men,
bers the SI2, ZOO Deducted From
During the Fifry-third Congress
Has Been Stricken Out.

Although the House was in session yester-
day the members were not allowed to
forget its historical significance. Flags
floated from the dome of the Capitol, and
Chaplain Couden in an eloquent prayer
made patriotic reference to the Father
OF his Country, ending with stanza from
America. -
1t was the day set apart under
the rules for the discussion OF bust
ness relating To the District OF Columbia,
hut Chairman Paddock, of the District
Committee, graciousIy gave way TO Chair
man Cannon, OF the Appropriations Com
mittee, under an arrangement by which
the District business was TO come up after
the deficiency and naval appropriations
bills had been disposed of.
When the deficiency bin was taken
up in the Committee of the Whole, the
bitter fight that was waged in the House
some weeks ago over the Pacific funding
hin was renewed 10 some extent Mr..
Savers offered amendments to the para
graphs in the bill for the payment Of judg-
ments OF the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company, one OF them striking out an item
Of S1,310,427 ITO pay balance OF judg-
nent of the Court of Claims in favor of the
Southern Pacific Company
Mr. Savers said with vigorous emphasis
that this was the old fight that had been
going on since the Fiftieth Congress.
Now, the question was whether the Com
mittee Of the Whole would reverse the
action ofthe House and give TO the Southern
Pacific this 81 300, GOO. That company
had control of the Central Pacific and all
its branch lines; and, he asked, should not
this be held as an offset TO secure its
payment of Indebtedness TO the govern
ment?
Mr. Northway, OF Ohio, maintained that
the amount in the bill was legal Judgment
and should be paid.
In the course Of a short speech Mr.. Dock
cry, Of Missouri, criticised Mr.. c. T. Hunt
ington.
A vigorous defense of the Judgment was
made 10y Mr.. Grosvenor OF ohio. This mat
ter presented a simple question Of law, he
said: il was not a question Of passion or
pre- judice.
Mr. Blue. OF Kansas spoke in favor of pay
ing the Judgment. while Mr., Maguire of
California opposed payment. The latter
conteudcd that an equitable right had arisen
in the United States superior To this judg
ment, and any court would support that
right n case Of a conflict.
Mr.. Mcguire held that the lease OF the
Central Pacific. made to avoid the pay
ment of its obligations To the government,
and the Southern Pacific having entered
into an unlawful traffic arrangement. were
reasons why tie judgment should not be
paid.
Mr. Hepburn, Of Iowa. defended the item
Closiugthe deba-e. Mr. Cannon, OF Illinois,
said that for ten years the appropriation
bills in Republican and democratic Con
crosses had been devoted to payments for
services over these bond-aided roads with
out protest He criticised Mr.. Mcguire. end,
ing with the remark: God Almighty, give
him more candor or more wisdom
The vote on Mr.. Sayers' amendment was
then taken. and res llUed ayes, -; nays, 81;
SO that the judgment in favor Of the South
ern Pacific was not stricken out. The
other two Pacific Railroad amendments
were also rejected.
An item OF $4,000 to pay Alexis Een0it
for expenses incurred in his contest gdlnSt
Representative Boatner wa agreedtO.
Objections came fr@m many parts Of
the House, when an attempt was made tC
refnsert by unanimous consent the para
graphs stricken out Saturday, for the pay
ment of the special employees OF the House
A lively time ensued, while this question
was before the House. and the greatest
confusion prevailed, but Mr. Cannon finally
ended matters 10y moving that the com
Inttee rise. This was agreed to, and the
bill was reported to the House.
The first amendment on which q vote
was asked was that striking from the bin
an item OF about S12 900, to pay mem
bers ofthe Fifty-third Congress the amounts
deducted from their salaries for absence
1t resulted: Yeas, 122; nays, 96-the
House thus refusing to refund the amount,
deducted.
A motion to recommit the hill with in
structiuns to strike out the Southern
Pacific Judgment, was defcated-1o2 tC
I3s.
The bill was then passed
A conference report on the bill to pre-
vent federal officials from spcculating in
or prosecuting claims against the govern
ment, was agreed to.
The House then went into committee o
the whole on the Naval appropriation bill
Concerning the action OF the committee
I'm leaving out an appropriation for new
ships. Mr. Boutelle explained that The
omission represented in no possible senst
any laXity on the part Of the committee
IN pushing forward the building OF tn,
new Navy. The committee had done 81
out OF consideration of the national fl
nances, primarily; out of consideration
Of what it believed To be the presen
temper OF the House, and On account 0
the inability to obtain druor for the three
battIeships now Oh the stocks.
"A Joint resolution was passed directing
the Secretary Of War to deliver to til
citizens committee OF the National En-
campment OF the g a. r., at Buffalo
NY, one condemned cannon, to be use'
in furnishing memorial badges.
conference report on the bill appro
priating $3.50 600 for closing the ere
vase at Pass a I'outre, La, was agree,
TO.
The House then, at $50, adjourned unit
today.
POSTOFFICE APPROPRlAT