Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-04

 jected yesterday. A like fate awaited it in the house, the senate amendment transferring the Osage Indian lands in Oklahoma to the | Han Territory, pro- voking th5 greatest discussion Later in the day partial report showing that the senate had receded from that amend ment was agreed to. When the house took a recess at $40 o'clock, it was under stood that the conferees had agreed as to all the amendments except two.
 A hotly contested fight was made to se- cure concurrence in the senate amend ment in the general deficiency bill pro- vfding for the payment of Bowman act claims for supplies furnished the Union army adtudfcated by the court of claims, but it failed. It was led by Messrs. Ma hon. trep. of Pennsylvania); Richard son, (dem. of Tennessee), and Yelling ton, (rep. of Masyland). By more than two-thirds the house voted to non-con- cur in all the senate amendments and threw them into conference. In his re- marks upon this proposition, MT Can non, lrep. of Illinois,, chairman of the committee on appropriations stated that the house being within less than twenty four hours of final adjournment, seven of the appropriation bills were far from being in shape to go to the president for his approval-the Indian, District of Columbia, naval, postofiee, fortlfica- tions, sundry civil and general deficiency.
 In the course of the afternoon, how ever. final agreement on the postoffice and fortification bills were reported and approved by the house; also progress on the District of Columbia bill
 In accordance with the anrange ment made yesterday the house considered President Clsvelands veto of the immi- grafton bill and by vote of 193 to 37 decided to pass the bill, the objections of the president notwithstanding.
 Final concurrence was had upon the bills to amend the tariff law so as to au- thoriZe the sale to the highest bidder of forfeit smoking opium, to amend the navigation laws, to revise and amend the patent laws.
 A conference report on the naval ap- propTiation bill was presented rscom- mending non-concurrence with the senate on several amendments, chief among which was that reducing the price of armor plate from $400 to $500 per ton.
 MT. Hopkins, of Illinois, moved that ths house concur in the senate amend ment as to armor plate. Hopkins advo- ca'ted his motion and Mr. Boutelle and MT Cummings anta gonized it. The at tendance upon the house was small and the vote on Hopkins motion was: Ayes, 60; nays, AZ. The point of no quorum was made by MT Robinson Gep., Penn.), but after some consultation 1t was agreed to take a vote at 9 o'clock.
 At $40 the house took a recess until 8 o'clock
 NIGHT SESSION.
 The house reassembled at S:30 o'clock in the presence of galleries crowded al- most to suffocation with throngs of peo- pie curious or interested in the proceed ingS of the closing hours of congress. The crowds in the galleries added materially to the confusion prevalent in the cham Der which neceSSitated frequent requests for order. Speaker Reed was forced in his efforts to secure quidt and obedience to the rules to request the sergeant-at- arms to enforce order. The house then, by a vote of 131 to 52 concurred in the senate amendment to ths naval appro- priation bill limiting the average price of armor plate to $500 ton. Upon the announcernent of this vote MT. Boutelle chairman of the committee on naval af- fairs, stated that for himself hs did not feel justified in further delaying the con- gress by insisting on disagreement to the remaining amendments of the senate those providing for the construction of three torpedo boats and a small practice vessel for the naval academy. He thers- fore moved a reconsideration of the vote by which the house insisted on it's dfsa- greement and asked a further conference. This was agreed to. He then moved that the house concur in the senate amend ments and this was agreed to. And thus unexpectedly the naval appropriation bill was completed, ready for the approval of the president
 The third conference report on the h.
 
 The conferees had reached an agreement on all items of differences but twO-the paragraph authorizing the use of stcta- rian contract Indian schools to the eX- tent of 40 per cent. of the appropriations for 1895, and the proposition to repeal the law giving preference to certain settlers upon mineral lands. Th= report was agreed to- To test the sense of the house on the sectarian school question MT. Sherman moved that the house con- f.11r fr. tHea m of tho SSn1te nd this was agreed to.
 The same action was taken in respect of the mineral lands amendment and this disposed of the Indian appropriation bill.
 MT. Grout Tep., Vt.) reported the final agreement of the eonferees on the Dis trict of Columbia appropriation bill The house conferees recommended that the house agree to the senate amendments making direct appropriations to charita- ble and benevolent institutions In the the execution of the declaration of con- gress in the bill for the present year that no funds shall be voted to sectarian in stitutions. The report was agreed to which ended consideration of the bill
 This disposed of all the appropriation bills except the sundry civil and the gen. eral deficiency; and the house at 1920 took a recess until Il o'clock to await the action of the confere=s on these bills.
 During the recess of the house which
 
 led by Representative Henderson, of Iowa, entertained the galleries by sing ing patriotic songs and popular airs. The singers were grouped in front of the speakers desk and at the conclusion of each selection they were loudly ap- plauded.
 Down in Dixie was greeted with cheers and Marching Through Georgia" was cheered to the echo.
 Prominent among the singers were members of the New York delegation Messrs.. Towne, of Minnesota; Danforth, of Colorado;. Howard, of Alabama, and Mercer, of Nebraska
 Conference reports were agreed to on bills for the better protection of copy rights--the senate provision that it shall not apply to matter previously imported being adopted-and granting right of way through Oklahoma to the Galveston and Great Northern Railway company.
 MACHINE WORKS BURNED
 Columbia, S. C.. March SA special from Spartanburg, S. C.. to the State says: