The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-02-16
LARGEST CIRCULATION NORTH CAROLINA PAPER

OF Benoit VS.. Eoatner from Louisiana,
conferring the satter's title to his seat
was unanimously adopted. The confer
ence report on the diplomatic and consular
appropriation bill was adopted and the
agricultural bill was sent to conference.
Owing to the. brief time of this: session
yet remaining; extra night sessions were
given, Beginning tonight, for the con-
slderation of private pension bills, of
which many hundred still remain ON the
calendar
The reading of the sundry civil bill
was completed at 80 p. m. Under the
rules, twenty minutes on side were
allowed for debate. Mr.. Sayers Dem..
Texas) the leader of the minority of the
appropria tions committee, took the floor
and briefly stated his reasons why the
bill should not be passed under suspen-
sion of fhe rules. He agreed that the
contents of the bill were not improper,
and said, with the exception of the river
and harbor items, the bill, in: his opinion,
could l5e scrutinized withouS finding an
item which would meet with legitimate
objection. He believed that If the House
was given an opportunity to consider the
bill in detail it would reject most of the
river and harbor items. He thought the
House should be allowed .to pass upon
each item and assured the majority that
no Gactious opposition wonld come from
his side.
Mr.. Pearson (Rep., Norfh Carolina) at
tackled the bill on the ground that the
river and harbor items contained therein
could not stand on their own footing and
were included in this bill with indisper-
sable appropriations in order that they
Mr.. w. A. Stone (Rep., Pennsylvania
followed with defense of the motion to
pass the bill under suspension of the
rules. and then Mr.. Cannon, chairman of
the appropriations committee, took the
floor He expressed ais qualification at
| the testimony Mr.. Sayers had brought
to the proper character of the bill. He
| said he had helped to prepare many APP
preparations and he had never had charge
of a bill, the items of which had been
| more carefully scrutnized. With regard
t othe river and harbor items, S3,000,000
of which, some menlbers thought should
go in, had been omitted. The time for
| debate having expired the vote was taken
viva Yoce.
Before the House divided, Mr.. Pear
| son demanded yeas and nays. He APP
peaied to the other side to give him a
| record making vote, but only got 33 mem
bers to second his demand AS SO was
less than one-ffth of those present, the
demand was refused and the Speaker
declared the bill passed under suspension
Of the rules.
The House non-concurred in the Senate
| amendments to the agricultural appro-
| priation bill ana sent the bin to confer
ence.
Bills were also passed under suspension
Of the rules to authorize the following
aids to navigation appropriation stricken
out) the removal Of Cape San Bias light
station. Fla, to Blacks island; to build
a light Keepers dwelling at Edgemont
| Key light station, Fla; to reconstruct the
front beacon of Alapachicola bay, Fla.
to establish IA light station at Saint
| Joseph Point, Fla; range lights in Choc-
taw Hatchee bay, and to repair the wharf
at Key West; to authorize homesteaders
living in the counties of Alachua, La
Fayette, Levy, Suwanee, Bradford
Baker and Columbia Fla, at the time
Of the storm, September %, 1896, to sell
timber fellad by said storm and use the
proceeds for the improvements of their
homesteads.
A joint resolution to provide for an adj
justment of the long standing, unsettled
accounts between the United States and
the State of Tennessee, encountered OPP
position and it was defeated-55 to III
two thirds not voting in favor.
At 5 p. m., the House took a recess,
under the order previously adopted, until
o'clock, the evening session, to be de-
voted to- private pension legislation.