The herald., 1897-02-16
IN THE HOUSE
The Coup Succecis-The Sundry Civil Bill Is
Passed

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The coup
arranged by the house leaders for the
passage of the sundry civil appropria-
tion bill under suspension of the rules
was complete success, and this big ap-
preparation bill carrying S5O,644, 74S, was
passed without opposition or amend
4 ment, just as it came from the commit
tee. The main opposition was directed
against the river and harbor items In the
bill. The house made the best of the
fact that today was suspension bill day,
and quite a number of bills were passed
of more or less Importance, among them
the senate bill appropriating $250,0OO foH
closing the crevasse at Passe lOutre.
on the Mississippi to equip the National
guard with uniform Springfield rifles,
As caliber; and the senate resolution TO
authorize the secretary of the navy to
transport the contributions of the Paci-
f1c coast states to the famine sufferers IN
India. The report in the contested cleo
tion case of Benoit vs. Boatner from
Louisiana confirming the latters title
to the seat was unanimously adopted.
. The conference report on the diplomatic
and consular appropriation bill was
adopted and the agricultural Dill was
sent to conference. Owing to the brief
time of this session yet remaining, eS-
4. ira night sessions will be held, begin
ulDS tonight, lOT tie COHSluei dtioIA VI
private pension bills, of which many nun
dreds still remain on the calendar.
This was suspension day, and the
f; speaker recognized Reeves, Republican,
of Illinois, to move the passage, under
suspension of the rules, of the substitute
for the senate bill appropriating $250,0O0
for closing the crevasse in the Missis-
sippi levee a. Pc So iOutre, La. The sub
stitute, appropriating the same sum,
to be deducted from the sum due under
Eads' contract, in case the courts should
decide he was liable. for repairs under
his contract with the government. The
bill passed.
Then came the coup arranged by the
house leaders. Cannon. chairman of the
appropriations committee, moved to
suspend the rules and pass the sundry
civil bill. General debate on this meas
ure, carrying slightly in excess of $780,,
000, 900, closed Saturday, and to save time
and avoid risk of adjournment this plan
of passing the bill without debate under
the five-minute rule was adopted. The
bill consists of Ill pages. w. A. Stone,
Republican, of Pennsylvania, asked that
the reading be dispensed with. Sayers,
Democrat, of Texas. essayed to make
explanation why he did not think it
necessary to pursue this unusual course,
but Cannon protested against debate,
whereupon Turner, Democrat of Geor-
Sld, OUJecttu " ulSptIlSlilb " llfr the iOT-
NAL reading of the bill, and the reading
proceeded.
The reading of the bill was completed
at 1870 p. m. Under the rule twenty
minutes on q side were allowed for de-
bate. Mr.. Sayers of Texas, Democrat,
the leader of the minority of the appro-
priations committee, took the floor and
briefly stated his reasons why the bill
should not be passed under suspension
of the rules. He agreed that the con-
tents of the bill were not improper, and
said that with the exception of the river
and harbor items the bill in his opinion
could be scrutinized without finding an
item which could.be met with legitimate
objection.
Mr.. Pearson attacked the bill on the
ground that the river and harbor items
contained therein could not stand or
their own footing and were included in
this bill with indispensable appropria-
tions in that they might escape the ex-
ecutive veto.
Before the house divided Mr. Pearson
appealed to the other side to give him q
record making vote, but only SO members
seconded his demand, and the speaker
declared the bill passed under susper-
sion Of tn z rules.
The house non-concurrel in the senate
amendmen IS to the agricultural bill, and
sent the bill to conference.
Mr.. Cathihgs of Mississippi, Demo-
crat, moved the passage under suspen-
sion OF the rules of bill opening for en-
try and use and occupation the reser-
voir sites re served by the geological,
survey.
Mr.. Cannon vigorously opposed the
bill. He decl ared that under the bill
alert individually s. could secure these sites
at no great tXpense, worth perhaps
hundreds of thousands of dollars, and
hol6 them in per, ,petuity.
MIR. Mondell OF Wyoming, Republican,
favored the bill, and Mr.. Terry of Ar
Kansas. Democra t, and, Mr.. Dockery of
MISSOURI, Democr at, opposed it. Owing
TO the opposition it was decided to post
pone the bill untp Friday.
Mr.. Johnson OF Indiana, Republican,
then called up Gle contested election
case OF Boatner vs.. Boatner from tha
Fifth Louisiana d. strict, and upon his
motion the report. which was unani-
mously in favor OF the sitting member
was adopted.
Mr.. Marsh moved to supend the rules
ana pass bill to exchange all the rifles
of the National gu ard for SnrinpfieIG
rifles of 45 caliber.
Mr.. Marsh said it was important that
the guard have a un iform rifle. both as
to metal and caliber. The return of
some 10000 Springfie Lob rifles to the new
government, owing to the adoption of
the new magazine iBun for the regular
army, with those nbw in the hands of
the ordinance department., would en-
able this exchange Ito be made without
the manufacture or purchase of new
Springfields. Thre were about ion 0oo
members of the National guard who
would be armed with this gun. The hin
was passed.
Bllls were also passed under susnen-
sion or the rules (senate) to re-enact
the existing law (Which expires by linn
ltatloh) by which commissioned officers
OIL the volunteer services are considered
10 nave been mustered into the service
py the United States; to authorize the
loan or tents to the mayor of Buffalo to
pe used during the G. A. r. encamumen+
in that city; to create a new judicial dis
trlct OF the eastern district of Arkansas
and (senate) to authorize the secretary
OF the navy to transport the contribu.
tions made by the Pacific coast states
for the relief of the suffering peonIe of
India. p-e VI
A Joint resolution to Uovide for an
aoJustment OF the long standing un-
settled accounts between the United
States and the state of Tennessee en-
countered opposition, and it was de-
1eated, 55-4l, tWo-thirds not voting in
favor. -
Joint resolution was passed to aa-
nit free of duty needle work and similar
articles imported by the New York AS
sociation of Sewing Schools for eyhfbi-
tion purposes.
At p. m. the house took recess Until
8 o'clock, the evening session to be de-