The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-16
FIFTY MILLI0NSIN 1T
sUNDRY OWL APPROPRIATION
. BILL PASSES THE HOUSE.

BILL PASSES The HOUSE.
Main Opposition Directed Against the
River and Harbor Items-House Votes
in Favor of Carrying Relief Contribu-
lions to India-Boatner's Title to His
Seat Confirmed Beginning of the Clos
ing Rush-Night sessioas-senator Nor
gan and Vice President Ste venson Have
CIash-House and Senate Committees
Washington, Feb. 15-The coup ar
ranged by the house leaders for the pass
age Of the sundry civil appropriation bill
under suspension of the rules was CON-
plete success, and this big appropriation
bill, carrying $50 ga, 743, was passed, with
out opposition or amendment. just as it
came from the committee. The main OPP
position was directed against the river
and harbor items in the bill. the house
made the best of the fact that today was
suspension day, and quite number OF
bills were passed of more or less import
ance, among them the senate bill appro-
priating $3.50 900 for closing the crevasse
al Pass L'Outre, on the Mississippi; 10
equip the national guard with uniform
Springfield rifles, 45-calibre, and the SEN
a te resolution 10 authorize the secretary
Of the navy to transport the contr1ou-
tons of the Pacific coast states TO the
famine sufferers of India. The report In
the contested election case of Boatner vs..
Beroit, from Louisiana, confirming the
formers title 10 his seat, was unanimous
ly adopted. The conference report on the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
biz was adopted, and the agricultural bill
was sent to conference. Owing 10 the
brief time Of this session YET remaining
extra night sessions viii be held, begin
ming tonight, for the consideration of
private pension bills, many hundred Of
which still remain on the calendar.
CLOSING RUSH BEGINS.
Washington, Feb. 15,-The general rush
Of business which marks the closing
days Of congress was brought home TO
the members Of the house today by the
adoption of a special order for night ses-
siOnS tonight and tomorrow night for the
consideration Of private pension bills.
BY the terms Of the order these sessions
VIII terminate at 11:30 p. m.
On motion of Mr.. Hit, the house con-
CURED in the senate amendments to the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill.
This was suspension day and the speak
er recognized Mr. Reeves CRep., Ills.) 10
move the passage, under a suspension OF
the rules, of a substitute for the senate
bill appropriating $250,000 for closing the
crevasse in the Mississippi at Pass L
Outre, La The substitute appropriated
the same sum TO be devoted from the sum
due under the Eads contract in case the
courts should decide that he was liable
for the repairs under his contract with
the government. The bin was passed.
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL PASSED.
Then came the coup which had been
arranged by the house leaders. Mr. Can
non, the chairman of the appropriations
committee. moved TO suspend the rules
and pass the sundry civil bill. General
debate on this measure, carrying slightly
in excess Of $4,000, 900, closed on Satur-
day and to save time and avoid risk of
amendment this plan of passing the bill
without debate under the five-minute rule
was adopted. The bill consists of Ill
pages, and as the clerk began to read it,
Mr.. w. A. Stone Rep., Pa asked that
the reading be dispensed with.
Mr.. Sayers Oem., Tex.) essayed to
make an explanation Of why he did not
think it was necessary to pursue this I'M
usual course. but Mr.. Cannon protested
against debate, whereupon Mr.. Turner
dem, Ga) objected TO dispensing with
reading proceeded.
The reading of the bill was completed
at l:3 y. IN. Under the rules twenty
minutes on a side We're allowed for de
bate. Mr. Sayres (Dem., TeX.) the leader
OF the minority on the appropriations
committee, took the floor and briefly stat
ed his reasons why the bill should not be
passed under suspension of the rules. He
agreed that the contents of the bill were
irflnvoFnr nd ha+ r,-;4I II
ception Of the river and harbor items the
bill, in his opinion, could be scrutinized
without finding an item which would
meet with legitimate objection.
Mr.. Pearson rep, y. c. attacked the
bill on the ground that the river and har-
Dor items contained therein could not
stand on their own footing and were in
cluded in this bill with indispensable ap-
Preparations in order that they might es-
cape the executive veto.
Before the house divided Mr.. Pearson
appealed TO the other side 10 give him
record-making vote. but only got twenty
three members to second his demand and
the speaker declared the bill passed under
suspension Of the rules
Tn house non-c0ncurred in the senate
amendments 10 the agricultural appro-
priation bill and sent the bill TO confer
ence.
Mr.. Catchings Dem.. Miss.) moved the
passage under suspension of the rules Of
bill opening for entry and use and oc-
cuDation the reservoir sites reserved by
the geological survey.
Mr.. Cannon vigorously opposed the Dill.
He declared that under the bill alert in
GiV!dna.s could secure these sites at great
expense and worth perhaps hundreds OF
thousands of dollars and hold them in
lereptGity.
Mr.. Mondell( Rep, Wyo) favored the