Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-15
DIVIDING THE SPACE
Rooms Vacated by the Congressional
Library.
4 JOINT COMMITTEE CONFERENCE
Secretary Longs Recommendations
on Naval Affairs.
sUBCOMMITTEES SELECTED

A joint meeting of the committees on
public buildings and grounds of the House
and Senate was held this morning to con-
sides the disposition of the rooms in the
Capitol vacated by the Congressional Lii
brary. The various plans which have been
proposed were discussed. It was decided to
appoint subcommittee of three members
from each committee to report bill
1t is understood that the probable dspo-
sition will be an equal division of the space
between the House and Senate, to be used
for committee rooms. The idea Of a joint
restaurant was met with the objection Of
the Senators. The addition of committee
rooms will enable an extension of the
quarters of the House restaurant
AT subsequent meeting Of the House
committee on public buildings and grounds
the following subcommittee were ap-
pointed:
No. 1-Messrs. Mercer, Hicks, Bankhead-
General legislation, District of Columbia
and states of Nebraska, Pennsylvania and
Alabama.
No. 2-Messrs. Hilborn, Bartholdt, Bur-
leigh, Broussard Brantley-States of Cali
fornia. Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Idaho,
Montana, Maine. Utah, Colorado, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming
Georgia and territories of Arizona and New
Mexico.
ell, Skinner, Little-States of New York,
New Hampshire, Vermont Rhode Island
Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware.
No. 4-Messrs. White, Howell, Dorr,
Jersey. West Virginia, Virginia. Maryland
South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida,
Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky.
No. 5-Messrs. Hicks, Bartholdt, Bur-
leigh, Little Broussard-States of Missouri,
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Min
nesota, Iowa. Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana
and territory of Oklahoma.
Dry Dock Plans Discussed.
The Senate committee on naval affairs
today discussed informally the plans of the
Navy Department for the increase of the
number and the Improvement of the exist
ing dry docks on the lines of the bill re-
Gently introduced by Senator Hale, but
took no action beyond authorizing Senator
Hale to confer with the House naval COM
mittee with the view of securing joint ac-
tion of the two houses on any line OF ac-
ton that might be decided upon. There
was general expression of opinion favor
able to the increase Of the country's dock
ing facilities. The present indication is
that legislation in this direction will be
attempted ON the naval appropriation bill.
The committee also discussed at some
length the question of armor plate, and
decided to invite Secretary Long to appear
before the committee at any early date and
eApidlu Tie STATUS the departments ef-
forts to secure lower prices on the manu-
facture of plate.
Pay of Naval Officers.
Secretary of the Navy Long has recon-
mended 10 the House committee on naval
affairs that section 1871 Of the Revised Stat
utes be amended SO as to remedy what the
department regards as an injustice in
checking the pay of naval officers when de-
tached from sea duty. He urges an amend
ment providing that the fact that an officer
Is sent temporarily TO hospital on shore
or TO temporary duty on shore as q men,
Der of a court or board, or otherwise, shall
not be regarded as a detachment from sea
service unless SO specified in the order.
subcommittee Chufrmen.
Chairman Boutelle of the House commit
tee on naval affairs has appointed the fol-
lowing Chairmen of subcCmmittees:
Appropriations for the naval establish
nenr, Boutelle Of Maine; organization rank
and pay, Foss of Illinois; ordnance and
navy yards HiIborn of California; con-
structicn, repair and steam engineering,
Boutelle Of Maine; navigation, equipment,
supplies and miscellaneous, Bull OF Rhode
Island; Naval Academy and Marine Corps,
Bull OF Rhode Island; private bills, Dayton
of West Virginia