The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-25
WANT TO BE READY FOR WAR.
THE HOUSE SHOWS ITS WILLING
NESS TO VOTE MONEY.

Appropriation to Care for Unused
Machinery at the Springfield Ar
senaI Notwithstanding of the
Enactment of National Quaran-
tine Law Under Debate in CoDnec-
ton With the Appropriation to BE
Voted for the Use of the Quaran-
tine Service in Case of an Epi-
demic.
Washington, Feb. A.-The House devo-
ted itself strictly to business to-day and
disposed of thirty additional pages of the
sundry civil appropriation bill.
The fact that the government is prepar-
ing for contingencies was recognized in
the House to-day when Chairman Can
non, who has been laboring to keep down
appropriations, accepted without a word
of protest an amendment to increase the
appropriation to care for the unused ma
chinery at the Springfield arsenal.
Mr.. Gillette explained that necessity for
using this machinery might occur at any
time.
Resolutions which were objected to a
few weeks ago for the appointment of
two extra naval cadets to positions in
the engineer corps of the navy were also
adopted. One of them will fill a vacancy
caused by the death of Lieut. Merritt of
the Maine.
Mr.. Sayers, Dem, of Texas, criticised
the item in the bill, placing only the mex
pended epidemic funds of past years at
the disposal of the quarantine service. He
thought 500, 900 additional should he APP
proprlated.
Mr. Cannon said that the largest amount
expended in previous year was SIS, 900 in
1894. Last year but 1874, 900 was spent. On
Feb. !, 1893, there was a unexpended ball
ance of $4,000. In his opinion that Was
sufficient.
Mr. Bailey Dem, of Texas, declared his
belief that the matter of quarantine regu-
lat.ons should be left to the states. He
was opposed not only to the additional ap-
preparation proposed by his colleague, but
to the use of the unexpended balance FRO
Vided for in the bill.
Mr.. Sayers pointed out that In the
event of the recurrence of the yellow
fever epidemic this summer after Con-
gress adjourns, $4,000 might not be suf-
hcient 10 cope with it. He said he did
not want to be held responsible for the
failure of funds in the event of an cpl
demic.
The discussion soon drifted into the ad-
visibility OF the enactment of national
quarantine law.
Mr.. Carmack, Dem, of Tennessee, ad-
vocated such a law. He said forty-fve
different systems in as many different
states created chaos.
Mr.. Williams, Dem, of Mississippi,
thought it unfortunate that this great
question Of a national quarantine had
been precipitated in connection with this
appropriation. The people of his state and
the board of health of his state believed
the United States should have exclusive
JURISDICTION of maritime and coastwise
quarantine and were willing to give the
federal authorities exclusive and para
mount control But once an epidemic got
a foothold inside the state he insisted that
the state should contro,
Mr. Underwood opposed exclusive con-
troll by the Federal government.
Mr.. Sayers moved to increase the an
preparation $500 co.,
Mr.. Love, Dem, of Mississippi, advocat-
| ed the amendment
The Sayers amendment was lost.
Ihe following proviso was ruled out on
point of order raised by Chairman Lacey
| of the public lands committee on tho
ground that 1t was new legislation: Thar
| hereafter no public moneys shall be ex
| pended for the survey of any portion or
| the public domain embraced within any
| forest reserves of the United States. ex
| cept FOR such surveys as may be neces.
| sary 10 designate the exterior boundaries
oil such reserves, and of such lands with
| such reserves as may be embraced within
or covered by legal claims initiated prior
to the date of the proclamation of the res
| ervation.'
ON motion of Mr.. Devries, Dem. of Cal.
| ifornia, an amendment was adopted ap-
proprialing $500 for the Yosemite Ma
| tional Park, California
After completing thirty pages of the bill
the committee rose.
me senate Dill to prohibit the passage
of local or special acts by territorial legs
latures and 10 limit territorial indebted
ness was passed
Al 5l5 o'clock the House adjourned.