The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-23
LAST Of BIG BILLS
HOUSE BEGINS THE CONSIDERA-
TION OF THE NAVAL APPRO-
PRTATION ACT.
SOUTHERN PACIFIC CLAIM.
MOTION TO PREVENT ITS PAYMENT
DEFEATED ON DIRECT
VOTE.
THE SENATE ON CHURCH SCHOOLS.
Reafiirms the Settled Policy of the
Government Against Them, But
Makes an Appropriations.

WASHINGTON, Feb 22.-The house
today passed the general deficiency
appropriation bill and began the con-
sideration Of the last of the money
bills, that providing for the naval
establishment A long debate occurred
over the propriety of the appropriation
Of $4,000 for the Southern Pacific
railroad, under the judgment of the
court of claims, but the house, by
vote of 1O2 to 1873, refused to strike it
out. The members who favored the
appropriation for the repayment to
members of the last congress of salary
withheld from them on account of alb
sence, carried their fight into the house,
but they were beaten, Sc to 1872 Six
teen Of the forty-eight pages of the
naval bill were completed. The at
tempt of Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep., Ohio to
secure an amendment to retain session
employees on the roll after March 4 I'M
til March Is, when the extra session
would begin, drew from him, when
pressed, as to whether he was Eau
thorized" to officially proclaim an ex-
ira session, the good natured admis-
sion that he was authorized to assume
there would be an extra session.
" Mr.. Savers, in discussing the South
ern Pacific claim, when the deficiency
bill was taken up, at the beginning Of
the session, said that for ten years
congress had resisted the payment of
this claim. It had been fought over
and over again. The validity of the
judgment was admitted. But, mas
much as the stockholders and directors
of the Southern Pacific and Central Pa
cific were largely the same, and as the
Central was insolVent and largely in
debted to the government, he contend
ed that congress would be derelict in
it's duty if it paid to this Southern Pa
cific corporation, which was practically
identical with the other, the $1,310, 900
pending a settlement with the Central.
Mr.. Northway Rep., Ohio said that
he favored the payment of this claim
Of the Southern Pacific. The road
bound itself to carry the mails. 1t had
performed it's duty and the nation was
in honor bound to discharge it's part
of the contract. If it withheld this
money, it might as well refuse the
payment of outstanding bonds when
they fell due.
w A. Stone Rep., Pa.) devoted him
self to a legal argument as to the
validity of the claim. Mr.. Dockery
Dem, Mo- supported the Savers mo-
ton to strike out the appropriation and
recounted the alleged manner in which
the traffic Of the Central was diverted
to the Southern by &C. P. Huntington
and others" In conclusion, he said
that it was but fair that this money be
withheld until G. P. Huntington had
effected a settlement of the 60,0C0,0 900
which his other corporation owed the
government.
Mr.. Grosvenor Rep., o. advocated
the payment of the claim, and paid G.
P. Huntington a high tribute for his
genius and enterprise. Mr.. Mcguire
Dem, Cal) vigorously attacked the
claim. The Southern Pacific was or
ganized and had existed, he declared,
as conspiracy against the govern
ment 1t had been largely successful
IL it was recognized as a corporation
with no liability for the debts of the
Central, its triumph would be complete
After some further remarks by Mr.
Blue Rep., Pa-) in favor of the appro-
priation, and Mr.. Bowers Rep., Cal)
against it, Mr.. Savers closed the de-
bate for his side. Mr. Cannon then
made closing appeal for the appropri-
alton, after which the vote was taken
ON Mr. Savers motion to strike it from
the bill, with the result stated.
An amendment was adopted to pay
Alexis Benoit, who contested Mr.
Bcatner's seat, $4,000 for expenses of
his contest. The speaker laid before the
house two pension vetoes, which were
referred The house then entered upon
the consideration Of the naval appro-
priation bill.
The conference report on the bill ap-
propriating $250,000 for closing the Gre
vase at Pass POutre on the Mississippi,
was agreed to. A resolution was adopt
ed requesting the secretary of the in
terror to furnish congress the report
of the inspectors on the pine and agFi-