The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-12
PACIFIC FUNDING BILL FAILS.
THE MEASURE DEFEATED BY IO2
AYES TO 10S NAYS.

The House Begins the Slaughter by
Killing the Bell Substitute In
crensing the Interest Rate to Per
Cent-HarrisOn's Substitute Meets
the Same Fate-Mr. Powers Moves
That the Bill lie Sent Back to Cotn-
mfttee.
Washington, Jan. 11.-Fate overlook the
Pacific railroad funding bill in the House
to-day. 1t was defeated by majority of
&c votes, and its supporters were even pre-
vented from sending it back to the com
mittee for reconsideration.
The motion on which the decisive blow
was dealt called for the engrossment and
third reading of the bill. When the roll
had been called and the result was an
nounced. the opponents Of the measure in
dulged in some housekeeping, but made
no attempt at a more noisy demonstration.
The final vote was l6S nays to 1O2 ayes.
A fun attendance of members was an
evidence of the interest taken in the fund
ing bill, which came up under a special
order Immediately after the reading of the
journal. The speaker stated the first
question to be upon the amendments
adopted III the committee of the whole,
and they were agreed TO without division.
The next vote was taken on the substi-
tute offered by Mr.. Bell, democrat of Tex
as, fixing the rate of interest on the bonds
to be ssued at 3 per cent. instead of 2
per cent, as provided in the bill
The substitute was defeated-ayes, ITO;
nays, 1856.
The question then reverted to the
amendment offered by Mr.. Morrison, dem,
Of Ia.
the Treasury, the Secretary of the Inte-
rior and the Attorney General a commits
sion, with full power to settle the debts
of the bond aided Pacific railroads upon
such terms and in such manner as may be
agreed upon, the approval of the Presi-
dent being necessary. If unable to reach
an agreement with the owners of the roads
the commission to recommend to congress
what legislation they deem necessary to
protect the interests of the government
and to force the prompt collection of the
debt.
This substitute was also defeated-ayes.
So; nays, PA. and the ayes and nays were
ordered on the engrossment and third
reading of the bill
The vote resulted, ayes, 1902, and nays,
1863 and the bill as defeated.
Immediately upon the announcement of
the vote by Speaker Reed there was some
applause from the opponents of the bill
sentence required, that the House declined
to order the engrossment and third read
ing OF the measure, and considerable con-
fusion followed caused by the exchange
of congratulations among members.
Then several members attempted to
make themselves heard, but Mr.. Babcock.
rep. of Wisconsin, managed to get the
floor to request that the District of Column
bia day be postponed until next Monday
Mr.. Powers, rep, of Vermont moved
that the bill be recommitted to the com
mittee on Pacific railroads. He said that
every member wanted something done
about the matter.
Mr.. Dockery of Missouri made a point
of order against this. He held that in
| tervening business made the motion out
of order.
After some desultory debate, Speaker
Reed disposed of the matter by saying
he would take until tomorrow to look in
to the question involved before rendering
an opinion.
bill providing that officers who served
in the regular army during the civil war
be permitted to wear the uniform of
their highest rank, was passed
The House devoted the remainder of the
day to the military academy appropria-
ton bill, and to measures brought for
ward under a call of committees. The
academy bill was passed In short order
without amendment.
Among the other bills passed was one
fixing the minimum limit of capital for
national banks in cities and town be-
tween $4,000 and 100000 inhabitants, and
another extending until Jan. l, 1902. the
time for the completion of the Blackwell s
Island bridge over the East river.
The House adjourned at Alp o'clock.
/ -s-1er-s-