Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-23
THE 54'TH CONGRESS.
PROCEEDINGS or 10Th HOUSES OF
THE FEDERAL LEGISLATURE.
WASHIEGTOES FAREWELL ADDRESS
IL Is Read in the senate by Hon.
John w. DanieI--Condemnati OF
CIeveIand-Pacifc Railroad Din
culfx-Armor-PIn Matter.
Clcye1antl-Paci6c

ftntttfs
WASHINGTON. ID. c., February e.
The annual senatorial observance OF
Washington's Birthday by hearing his
Farewell Address read by one Of the
leading elocutionists Of the Senate took
place to-day. in the presence OF a large
audience, Mr. Daniel DemocraD. Of Vir-
ginia, being the reader chosen for the
occasion. The remainder OF the day
was occupied in the consideration Of the
Indian appropriation bill, which was not
concluded at the time of adjournment.
Another Of President Cleveland's We
toes Of private pension bills drew out
from several senator's u rather virulent
condemnation Of the President-Mr.
Morgan OemocraD. Alabama, contrast
ing the small aggregate amount of all
the private pension bills passed at this
Congress with the large sum paid to the
bond syndicate" and Mr.. Hallinger (Re-
publican), Of New Hampshire, charac-
terizing such vetoes as trivial and fool
ish" The veto was referred to the Com
mittee on Pensions.
Just on the eve Of adjournment for the
day, the Loud bill Ito amend the postal
laWs) was reported back from the POST
Office Committee by Mr.. Chandler (Re-
pubiicam, of New Hampshire, with
amendments, including one for l-cent let
ter postage. The bill and report were
antagonized by two Populist senator
Butler. Of North Carolina, and Stewart,
of Nevada. There is no chance OF def
10
A resolution was adopted liking the
daily hour Of meeting on and after We'd
nesday next at IL A. M.
The Senate at 6 =. vi. adjourned.
House OF Representatives
A few weeks ago only the House was
the scene of prolonged debate, full Of
bitterness and personal accusation, con-
corning the Pacific railroad refunding
bill. To-day. another opportunity for a
display of temper and recrimination on
the same subject was given, in the con-
sideration Of a paragraph In the deficiency
bill. appropriating Sl,S0o,Oo0 to pay
Judgment OF the Court of Claims in favor
OF the Southern Pacific, but the matter
was considered In a rather dignited man
ner, with merely a suggestion or feeling.
Mr.. Savers OemocraO, of Texas, led
the opposition to the appropriation,
taking the ground that the southern
Pacific controlled the. Central Pacihc
road and should not be paid any money
while the latter stood so deeply indebted
TO the government. The House, In Com
mittee of the Whole, refused to strike
out the paragraph in question: ana also
declined to make some minor amend
ments designed 10 curtail the benefits
conferred by the bill on the Pacific rail-
roads Later on, Mr.. Savers endeavored
to have the deficiency bill sent back 10
the Committee on Appropriations, with
instructions 10 strike out the Paclhc
railroad paragraphs, but was defeated
on a yea and nay vote.
The deficiency bill was passed, with few
changes I'm its provisions. The appro-
priation Of $1,000 to refund to members
sums deducted from their salaries for alb
sence was eliminated, as We're likewise
items providing for the payment or an
nual salaries 10 the special employees
conceded the Democrats by the majority
A conference report on the bill appro-
priating S25O.O0O for closing the crevasse
at Pass a TOutre, La, was presented
and agreed to.
Mr.. Boutelle. the chairman Of the Naval
! Committee. succeeded In getting up the
naval appropriation bill before adjourn
mont and after he had explained It's
principal provisions, considerable progress
in it's reading was made before the end
of to-days session, which came at go
o'clock.
NO HONOR DONE WASHINGTON.
No exercises in celebration of Wash
ington's Birthday took place in the House.
In his explanation Of the naval appro-
priation bill. Mr.. Boutelle referred to the
| armor-plate question, and told how the
| committee had arrived at its conclusions
regarding the plate. Congress had pro-
vided al its last session that no contracts
should be made for armor for the three
battIeships then authorized until the Sec
retarv of the Navy could investigate and
make a report on the cost OF manu-
| featuring armor
That report had been made at this
session, and the Committee on Naval Al
! fairs, by providing that the total cost
| OF armor for the three ships should not
| exceed 800 a ton. had followed the report.
n was fair TO say that the manufacturers
of arnor-plate did not agree with the
secretary's conclusions. But the Secre-
tarv said he had given his best judgment,
/ and the committee, without attempting
TO fix the price themselves, had most
wisely accepted the report OF the Secre-
/ cary OF the Navy, as coming In the ma
/ ture of n department estimate.
Concerning the action OF the committee
in leaving out an appropriation for new
| ships. Mr.. Boutelle explained that that
| omission represented in no possible sense
any laxity on the part OF the committee
| in pushing forward the building of the
navy. The committee had done so out
of consideration for the national finances,
primarily; out Of consideration for what
| IL believed to be the present temper OF the
/ House. and on account Of the inability "a
obtain armor for three battleships now
on the stocks.