The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-04
HOUSE NOW IN A BIG HURRY.
EVERY EFFORT BEING MADE TO
PASS THE APPROPRIATIONS.

Galleries and the Party Leaders
on the Floor NervOusly Energetic.
All the Proceedings in Continue
ton of the Legislative Day of
Tuesday-COnferencc Reports Fol-
low Each other in Quick Success
sion.
Washington, March S.-The crush of Wis
itors to the inaugural ceremonies in the
| galleries and corridors. and the nervous
haste and energy displayed by the leaders
of the House in the Management of the big
appropriation bills still remaining undis-
posed of, spoke even more plainly than
words to-day of the near approach of the
close of this congress and of the admins
tration. All the proceedings to-day were
in continuation of the legislative day OF
| Tuesday, and it is probable that no adj
| journment win be taken until adjourn
ment sine die, is announced tomorrow
| al noon.
| When the House re-assembled at 1880
o'clock, Mr.. Sherman, rep, of New York,
called up the conference report on the In
dian appropriation bill, which the Senate
rejected yesterday. A like fate awaited
it in the House. the Senate amendment
transferring the Usage Indian lands in Ok
lahoma to the Indian Territory provoking
the greatest opposition. Later in the day,
partial report showing that the Senate
had receded from that amendment was
agreed to. When the House took a recess
| at Gao O'Clock, IL was understood that the
| conteFees had agreed as to all the amend
| ments except two.
| A holly contested fight was made to Sc
cure concurrence in the Senate amend
ment to the general deficiency bill provid-
| ing for the payment of Bowman act claims
| for supplies furnished the Union army
adjudicated by the court of claims, but it
| failed. 1t was led by Messrs. Mahon, rep,
| of Pennsylvania, Richardson, dem, of
Tennessee and Wellington. rep, of Mary
| land. By more than two-thirds the House
voted to non-concur in all the Senate
amendments, ana threw them into confer
ence. In his remarks upon this PROPOSE
ton, Mr. Cannon, rep, of Illinois, chair
man of the committee on appropriations
stated that the House, being within less
than twenty-four hours of final adjourn
ment, seven of the appropriation bills
were far from being in shape to go to the
President for his approvaI-the Indian
District of Columbia, naval, postoffice, for
tifications, sundry civil and general def
| ciency
In the course of the afternoon, however.
final agreement upon the postoffice and
fortifications bills was reported and APP
proved by the House: also progress upon
the District of Columbia bill
In accordance with the arrangement
made yesterday the House considered
President Clevelands vote of the immi-
grafton bill and by vote of 1893 20 81 de-
cided 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
| forfeited smoking Oriupa m AZ ha
navigation laws and to revise and amend
the patent laws.
A conference report on the naval appro-
priation bill was presented recommend
ing Inconvenience with the Senate on
several amendments, chief among which
was that reducing the price of armor
plate from 500 to $500 per ton.
Mr.. Hopkins of Illinois moved that the
House concur in the Senate amendment
as to armor plate.
Mr.. Hopkins advocated his motion and
Messrs. Boutelle and Cummings antago-
nized it. The attendance upon the House
was small and the vote on Mr.. Hopkins
motion was: Ayes, 60; hayes. AZ. The
point of no quorum was made by Mr.
Robinson, rep, Of Pennsylvania but af-
ter some consultation it was agreed to
take a vote at O'Clock.
At $40 the House took recess until 8
o'clock.
The House re-assembled at $50 o'clock in
| the presence OF galleries CROWDED almost
to suffocation with throngs of people Gu
5 rious or interested in the proceedings of
the closing hours of congress. The crowds
in the galleries added materially to the
confusion prevalent In the chamber which
necessitated frequent requests for order.
Speaker Reed was forced in his efforts to
secure quiet and obedience to the rules
to request the sergeant-at-arms to en-
e force order.
The House then by vote of 1sl to 80
$ concurred in the Senate amendment to
) the naval appropriation bill limiting the
average price of armor plate to $500 ton.
Upon the announcement of this vote, Mr..
Boutelle, chairman of the committee on
naval affairs, stated that for himself he
did not feel justified in further delaying
the congress by insisting on disagree
ment TO the remaining amendments OF the
Senate, those providing for the construc-
ton of three torpedo boats and a small
= practice vessel for the naval academy.
Z He therefore moved a reconsideration of
. the vote by which the House insisted on
: its disagreement and asked a further con-
v ference. This was agreed to. He then
= moved that the House concur In the Senate
amendments and this was agreed TO ana
thus Unexpectedly the naval appropriation
!, bill was completed, ready for the approval
J of the President.
d The third conference report on the IN
e dian appropriation bill was presented.
T. The conferees had reached agreement
e on all items of difference but two-the
e paragraph authorizing the use of sectar-
a ian contract Indian schools 20 the extent
( Of 40 per cent OF the appropriations for
| 1895, and the proposition TO repeal the law
| giving preference 10 certain settlers upon
; | mineral lands. The report was agreed TO.
To test the sense of the House on the
sectarian school question, Mr.. Sherman
Z, | moved that the House concur IN the
\ amendment of the Senate, and this was
agreed 10.
The same action was taken in respect
Z ! of the mineral lands amendment, and
: this disposed OF the Indian appropriation
4 | bill.
! Mr.. Grout, rep. Of Vermont. reported
\ the finaI agreement OF the conferences OF
J | the District of Columbia appropria tlof
| him. The House conferees recommend tina
Z the House agree 10 the Senate amend
= ments, making direct appropriations e
charitable and benevolent institutions N
the district and putting OFF for another
wear the execution OF the declaration OF
N i a..