New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-01
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS-.
THE REGULAR REPORT.
NAVAL. APPROPRIATION BILL SENT BACK
To CONFERENCE

|
TO CONFERENCE
Washington April 2o-The House was the only
branch OF Congress In session to-day. the Senate
| having adjourned until Monday After the read
| ing OF the Journal Mr. TAYLOR Rep. Ohio)' OF
! Elections Committee No I. filed and asked I'M
mediate adoption OF report In the case OF Wills
against Handy. from Delaware favorinG the SIT
| ting member. Mr.. Willis having apan"ohen '"o
contest The report adopted
Mr. BOCTELLE Gaep. Me- called up the con-
| ference report on The Naval Appropriation bill
| The Speaker announced that the House ADJOURNED
| yesterday pending the disposition OF point OF
| order made by Mr. CANNON Taep, ND that the
conferrecs had exceeded their jurisdiction by IN
PRODUCING into the report matter which was not IN
difference between the two houses The Speaker
| RECOGNIZED Mr. Cannon.
Mr. Cannon said his point was based on the pro-
vision Inserted by tho conferrees providing for ad-
! ditiona officers not commissioned. and 100 men
in the Marine Corps. lie was willing he said re-
serving his point Of order, TO withdraw his objec-
| lion, the end that proposition might no SUD-
| mitcd &c reject the conference report and then
| consider the particular amendment In question, IN
| order that the House might pass on II. ana tnen
instruct the conferree. in line with the action OF
! the House
MR. BOUTEIIE PLEADS FOR ACTION
Mr.. Boutec said he anxious TO secure the
quickest possible action the Naval bill. IN order
TO equip and supper; to the utmost the forces the
| country had sent 20 war. TO the end that the
earliest success might be accomplished. Accord
! ngly. he not inclined 70 insist on 'cchnlcal'-
ties that NIGH: delay the passage OF the bill. but
willing 10 make reasonable arrangement
that would give the House a fair opportunity to
consider tho amon dmert in question. lie proposed
| that. by unanimous consent, the amendment DC
read and discussed reasonably and voted on
Should It be rejected Of course disagreement 10 the
report would follow. Should II be adopted. the re-
| port would be accepted
| Mr.. SAVERS dem. Tex suggested that the
| House might he prccluded by such an agreement
from discussing other features Of the report which
some members might question.
| Mr. Cannon insisted that the proper course would
be for the House TO disagree first. conference
would then follow necessarily, and in the mean
time the House could consider and pass on the
! amendment to which he had made objection.
Mr. Boutelle finally made request for unanimous
consent that tho report 10 rejected with the right
| 10 move TO reconsider reserved, pending which
motion the House should proceed TO consideration
and debate OF the report each side occupy an
! hour and half This request agreed TO. and
with this solution Of III" ~ranele as to procedure
the House proceeded 70 consider tho report
Mr.. Sayers had read the Senate appointment d-
| rcctlng tho Secretary OF the Navy to use. when
necessary. Inventions Of naval officers. and author
ling suck officers prosecute claims for compen-
sauon therefor m the Court ~ Claims
INVENTIONS BY NAVAL. OFFICERS.
Mr. Cannon presented resolution declaring II tho
scnsc OF Congress that officers Of tho Navy were not
1 entitled 10 compensation ior the OF inventions
mad" while IN tho service. and that the laws should
be 80 amended as 70 prevent such compensation.
Mr Savers spoke in opposition to the amend
mont declaring that the inventor officers were
educated and employed NJ tho expense % the Gov
eminent. and the latter was entitled to use without
expense tho invention - such officers
M sHAFROTH ,Sil Rep Col) spok' IN opposl-
don to n" amendment. and In tho cours' OF an In
! tcrrgp'Ol Nj Cannon pointcd ont that tho amend
ment cont mplatod only officers OF the Ndyy. and
| made no mention - other cmpioycs.
Mr.. WALKER rep, Mass spoke in support ~
me Amendment. Insisting that tho Government hal
no more night to appropf.qt" without comp"n ton
tho nvcnof' - ne naval III '"rs than 20 deprive
them wIthou remuneration 81 icNc's thcy might
nnI while In tho service llc attacked the resolu-
tiol Of Mr. cannon. and declared that the private
employer had az much night 20 use without paw hs
employees invention - tho Government had TO use
without pay "a" Inventions < IT, officers.
Tho law" inter- pied Mr. Cam N. rs that 4 an
empoy'. using tho tools time and materia. Of his
employer. in,en's something. The employer Is en-
| Titled 10 = ptrt ~ tho invention"
That Is ony whore tho - employed 20 IN
won't" declared Mr Walker ana then added The
gentleman from Illinois is entirely OF in h7 law
have patented ana know something ~ the patcn.
| law"
Patent la~yers are generally poor oncs" replied
Mr. cannon and SIR Walker concurrcd amid
| laughter.
MIR BROMWELI oRep. OhloD spoke FOR the
amendment ana Mr.. MOODY IRep Mass) fol
Lowell In opposition. declaring that tho Governmen,
took l's naval officers almost from the cradle md
carried them e. the grave and should be entitled
to their inventors he rcfuted the contention tina,
tho amendment would stimulate invention among
naval officers reflection on thor patriotism.
Inventor Officers shoH'd and would bc contcn; with
| hs OF he
Mr.. DOCKEPY Dcm. MOI opposed the amend
mcnt. II would give "A monopoly to certain officers
He said Il wa most unusual feature To hc intro
duccl into an appropriation BILL and It looked a. II
there was something wrong IN tho proposition nd
an effort was being made to force 1, through under
tho stress ~ circumstances Incident 70 war time
No would not permit himself 10 be driven 70 sup
port an unmeritorious proposition because the
try was AZ war
Mr. HEPBURN Hcp. Iowa advocated the
smendmert and reviewed 1t TO show Tint the com
pcnsaton proposed 10 be given the of1cer was
TO he purely equitable and the Court OF Claims In
determining the amount due consider all
circumstances connected with the making Of the
Invention or discovery, including especially ali IA
cilites In originating and pcrfectlng the invention
enjoyed by the officer by OF his official po-
9ltlOn. Mr. Hepburn said that officers now might
secure compensation for inventions used by the
Government but To do SO they must Con-
gross and have their claims passed upon at once
referred to tribunal for adjudication. and tho
chief accomplishment OF the proposed amendment
would be the fixing OF certain tribunal 10 which
officers could go direct with their claims. without
waiting upon the pleasure OF Congress in each
particular
After some further discussion Mr. Cannon with
drew his resolution and offered instead "A resolution
instru"tIng tho House confcrrccs to insist that the
Senate amendment be stricken out. He warned
the House against persons who were ready to take
advantage OF the excitement and patriotic fcrvor
incident 10 war TO get through legislation that
ought not 10 be enacted. He opposed the amend
fIa of and .
was entirely out Of place In an Appropriation bill.
II was plainly new legislation. without any con
ncction with the appropriation OF money. Pro-
ccedlng to discuss the amendment, NJ cannon de-
ctre1 1t In his opinion "a wicked AM .orrupng
piece OF legislation that Its immediate passage
was not necessary. and II was folly for members TO
Insist that before the war appropriations should
| DIES this nmnndmnnl shoml be Adoniel. cmbo1X