The Portland daily press., 1898-02-22
Congress Votes to Pay One Of New
berry College.
CLAIM STRONGLY OPPOSED BY
DINGLEY AND OTHERS.
Motion to Adjourn Over WashingtOn's
Birthday Proves Failure-Motion Di-
recting Committee 10 Investigate
Maine Disaster Adopted In Senate.

Maine Disaster Adopted in Senate.
= Washington, February 2I.-This was
private bill day in the House. But little
was accomplished owing to the fact that
passage of private pension bills coming
over from the Friday night session three
weeks ago. The feature cf the day was
the spirited contest over the bill to pay
Newberry college, a Lutheran institution
in South Carolina, 900 damages sus-
tained by it while used as barracks by
federal troops shortly after hostilities
in the late war ceased. 1t was strongly
opposed by Mr.. Dingley. and Mr.. Dalzell,
who announced their antagonism to war
claims of this character, but Mr.. Cooper
of Texas, who championed it on the
Democrat side was supported by Mr.
Mahon OF Pennsylvania, Mr.. Walker OF
Massachusetts and other Republicans,
and it was finally passed.. On motion
of Mr.. Bailey, the Democratic leader, the
Ho1se voted 5S-35 to observe Washington
birthday by adjourning over tomorrow.
but Mr.. Dingley raised the point of no
quorum and before further action could
be taken, the House recessed under the
rule until O'Clock. The Republicans
desire to go ahead with the sundry civil
appropriation bill tomorrow.
After these pension bills, 81 in number.
had been passed, the House went into
committee of the whole Oh the private
calendar.
The first bill to appropriate $4,000 for
damages, sustained by Newberry College,
South Carolina, while occupied by New
York regiment as barracks in 1865. af-
ter Lees surrender, was opposed by Mr..
Dingley, Mr.. Dalzell, Republican of
Pennsylvania, and other prominent Re-
publicans They maintained that the
damage sustained by this college was in
cident to the war an had no legal status.
The Supreme court had held that the
war did not close until 1865. Mr.. Dali
zell declared 1t was an attempt on the
part OF the Democrats and Southern Re-
publicans to rob the treasury.
MIR. Cooper. Democrat of Texas, and
Mr.. Lattimer, Democrat of South Caro-
lima, warmly championed the bill. The
had not technically closed in 1865, hostili-
ties had ceased, The bill had been unani-
mously reported, said Mr.. Cooper. He
inveighed against the spirit of sectional
ism which still prevailed in certain quar-
ters.
Mr.. Mahon, Republican of Pennsyl.
vania, Mr.. Walker, Republican of Massa-
chusetts and other Republicans, Joined in
the appeal to the House to past the bill
and it was favorably acted upon without
division.
Two other minor relief bills were laid
aside with favorable recommendations
Mr. Bailey, Democrat of Texas, moved
that the House observe Washington's
birthday by adjourning over tomorrow.
Mr. Dingley opposed the motion, but
it was carried 52-35.
Mr.. Dingley made the point of no quo
rum, which the Speaker sustained.
At this moment the hands of the clock
pointed to O'Clock and the Speaker an
nounced that under rules the House
was In recess until s O'Clock tonight.
Mr.. Bailey protested that the House
could not recess without quorum, but
the Speaker overruled the point and the
recess was declared.
At tonight's session the private calen-
dar was cleared. Thirty y-eight pension
bills and two bills removing charges of
desertion were passed. Among the pen.
sion bills was one granting a pension of
$50 per month to Margaret Custer Cal
houn, sister of Gen. Custer. This bill
has already passed the Senate. Three of
the pension bills carried $50 month.
At 1890 the House adjourned until to-
morrow.