The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-16
sUNDRN CIVIL BILL SAFE.
House Passes 1t Under Suspension
of the RuIeS

of the Rules.
Washington, Feb 15.--ln the House to-
day, a resolution was adopted providing
for evening sessions tonight and tQ-mor-
row for the consideration of private pen
sion bills. Amendments of the Senate to
the diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill were concurred in. The bill now goes
to the President.
The House substitute for the Senate bill
appropriatng $250,000 for closing the ere
vase in the Mississippi river at Pass
IOutre was passed.
This being suspension day, Mr.. Cannon.
rep. of Illinois, moved that the rules be
suspended and the sundry civil bill be pass
ed.
An effort to dispense with the formal
reading of the bill being unsuccessful the
clerk proceeded with the reading.
When the reading of the bill had been
completed, Mr.. Sayres, dem, of Texas,
criticised the passage of the bin under
the suspension, containing, as it did, large
appropriations for rivers and harbors, of
which sufficient information had not been
furnished and upon which a separate vote
should be had
Mr.. Pearson. rep of North Carolina.
made a sharp attack on the river and har-
Dor items. He criticised particularly the
fact that every member of the committee
had in the bill an appropriation of about
$40OO01 for some Improvement in his state,
and Mr.. Sherman of New York had taken
care of his district by an item of 1898, 25S
for Dunkirk Harbor, N. Y.
Tended the bill. IT had been under con-
sideration in committee since the begin
ming of the session. and he cited prece-
dents where appropriation bills had been
passed under suspension of the rules and
tainted the democrats with having passed
the Wilson tariff bill, not even under sus-
pension OIL the rules, put under special
order.
The sundry civil bill was then passed,
its opponents not being numerous enough
to secure vote by yeas and nays.
Senate amendments to the agricultural
appropriation bill were non-concurred in
and sent to conference.
Resolutions reported from elections
committee No. declaring Charles j.
Boatner, the present incumbent, elected,
and Alexis Benoit, contestant not elected
70 the present congress from the Fifth
district OF Louisiana, were agreed to.
Under suspension of the rules the fol-
lowing were passed.
The Senate bill giving the supreme court
OF the District of Columbia power to ap-
point district attorney for the District
OF Columbia when vacancy occurs-the
appointment to last only until the Presi-
firms.
To supply the national guards of the
various states and territories with mod
ern Springfield rifles of 45-caliber in ex-
change for their present rifles.
Authorizing. certain homesteaders in
Florida to sell the timber on their lands
felled by the storm of September last.
- The Senate resolution authorizing the
Secretary of the Navy to furnish naval
tain supplies donated by western states
for the relief of the starving poor of that
country.
Relating to lighthouses. etc, in Florida
completing the removal of Cape San Bias
light station to Blacks Island and build
ing liSht-keper's dwelling at Egmont
Keys; reconstructing the front beacon of
the Apalachicola Bay range light station;
establishing a light station at st. Joseph
point; establishing range lights to mark
the channel over the bar, entrance to
Choctawhatchee Bay; repairing wharf and
buildings. of the depot at Key West.
The bill providing for the adjustment of
claims of the United States against the
state of Tennessee and the claims of Ten
nessee against the United States was de-
feated--yeaS, 80; nays, 4l-two-thirdS be-
ing necessary to pass the bill.
AT o'clock a recess was taken until s
o'clock. the evening session to be devoted
to private pension bills.
One hour and forty minutes were wasted
at Tonight evening session of the House
before a quorum was secured. The House
was in a facetious mood, and amused itself
in its own fashion during the long wait.
o roll cali disclosed the presence of
179 members.
While the House awaited the arrival of
the six absentees whose presence was
necessary the members crowded into the
area before the presiding officers desk and
begSed that certain of their colleagues
should be excused, principally upon the
ground of illness. A score of excuses were
accepted when Mr.. Poole of New York
asked a similar privilege for his colleague,
Mr. Mahany. A member in a spirit of fun
objected and Mr.. Poole made his request
in he form of motion. The chair put
the motion, and it was defeated, amid
shouts of laughter, by vote of 81 to 70.
Even more decisive was the vote against
eXeusing Messrs. Terry of Arkansas and
Alien of Mississippi. When Mr.. Mahany
came in a little later he received a round
of applause. Similar demonstrations were
made in favor of other late arrivals, until
quorum was established by the presence
Mr. Hart of Pennsylvania, when the
House settled down to business.
The net result of the session was that
ten bills were laid aside with favorable
recommendation and at 1870 o'clock the
House adjourned.