Evening star., 1897-03-04

rival of the hour for the House to recon-
veEe put end to the concert.
When the House convened at $40 O'clock
last night, after recess of a couple Of
hours, there a prospect of a stormy
debate oyer the naval appropriation bill.
A contest was pending over the price of
armor plate for the navy The Senate had
reduced the price to $500 a ton by an
amendment. This was vigorously opposed
by some members of the House. the House
naval committee having recommended $4(W
a ton.
After brisk debate of half an hour the
House agreed to the $500 rate by decis-
i've vote. There were still several Senate
amendments pending, however. to which
the House had refused to agree. Principal
among them were the items for the three
torpedo boats and practice vessel for the
Naval Academy.
After the vote was taken on the armor
plate item Chairman Boutelle of the naval
committee moved to reconsider the pre-
vious action of the House and to agree to
all Of the Senate amendments This was
done. ard the naval bill was cleared away
before 9:30 o'clock.
The Indian appropriation bill conference
report then came in. There was a vexa-
tous item in that bill, relating to the use
of an unexpended balance of the appropria-
ton for 1895 for the training of Indian
children in sectarian schools, the fund to be
equally divided among the several denom-
nations. There was opposition to the
amendment from those who have been
fighting the sectarian appropriations in the
indian and the District of Columbia bills
but the amendment was agreed to never
theleSS.
The District Bill
The District of Columbia appropriation
conference report was then brought in by
Mr.. Grout. He announced that a final
agreement had been reached upon all of
the items in dispute. The Senate conferees
had abandoned the free public library
amendment, the Lydecker aqueduct tun-
mel amendment and the item relating to
concentrations under the highway act.
On their part the House conferees had
yielded to the Senate on the charities
amendment, the item relating to electric
lighting and the amendment concerning
the collection of taxes. Mr. Grout said he
mad yielded with great reluctance to the
senate In the matter of charities and cleo
trlc nghts, but that he deemed it neces-
sary to do so in order to secure the pass
age OF the bill at this session. The House
conferees had insisted upon their disagree
ment to the Lydecker tunnel item because
me tne appropriations committee had no es
Inmates or information about this work.
ana could not consent to the appropriation
| ton.
Mr.. Dockery said the Senate had added
sl,DO.O0O to the BILL and the House con-
ierees had succeeded in cutting this down
TO 5000. He considered this a pretty
good showing as far as money was con-
cerned. He was averse to yielding to the
Senate on the electric light and charities
items. but was compelled to do so to save
the bill e
After some further talk of a desultorv
character Mr.. Grout demanded the prev
ious question. and the conference report
was adopted.
Thus when the hour of 1870 arrived. the
House found that 1t had cleared away
three big appropriation bills that had ap-
peared ominous earlier in the day. re-
cess OF half an hour was then taken to
permit the conferees on the sundry civil
bill to bring in a report.
When tae House reconvened the Senate
amendments were adopted to the bill pro-
viding for reassessment of water main
taxes.
EnlnrgfnE Federal Jurisdictfon,
The conference report on the bill author
izing the United States Supreme Court to
issue writs of certiorari to the District
Court Of Appeals was then brought up.
Mr.. Bailey of Texas opposed the con-
ference report, claiming that the commit
tee had gone outside Of its province In
drawing UP the report.
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa said that as the
conference committee had completed the
bill. 1t puts the District of Columbia in the
same category with each of the nine cir
cults of the United States and permits
writ OF certiorari to issue here. as it does
in those circuits.
Mr.. Updegran Of Iowa asked Mr. Hem
derson IL this bill would not permit the ap-
peal of q case in which Judgment had al.
ready been entered.
Mr.. Henderson said it would II tho act Of
March 3. 1891. creating the Court Of APP
peals. would permit It
Then Mr.. Updegraff asked IL this bill
would not permit the appeal Of the Chap