The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-01
NAVAL BILL SENT BACK
SENATE AMENDMENTS REJECT
ED BY THE HOUSE
Three Hours of Debate Devoted to
the Question of compromising
Naval Officers for the Use of Their
Inventions with the Result That
the Conference Report Was Not
Accepted-0ne Bill Passed.

WASHINGTON April 30.-Todays
session of the house was devoted chief
ly to the consideration of the confer
ence report upon the naval appropria-
ton bill, presented yesterday by Chair
man Boutelle The report was rejected
after three hours of debate, and fur
ther conference will follow.
When Mr.. Boutelle called up the con-
ference report on the naval bill the
spsaler announced that the house had
adjourned yesterday pending the deci-
sion OF point of order made by Mr..
Cannon (Rep., HID that the conferees
had exceeded their jurisdiction by in
Producing into the report matter which
was not in difference between the two
houses.
Tbs speaker then recognized Mr.. Can
non. Mr.. Cannon said his point was
based upon the provision inserted by
the conferees providing for additional
officers, non-commissioned officers and
1900 men in the marine corps. Mr..
Eoutelle said he was anxious to secure
the earliest possible action on the naval
bill, and was not inclined to insist
upon technicalities, but was willing to
make any reasonable arrangement that
would give the house fair opportun-
ity to consider the amendment in
question.
Mr. Boutelle made a request for
unanimous consent that the report be
rejected, with the right to move to re-
consider reserved, pending which mo-
ton the house should proceed to the
consideration and debate of the report,
each side to occupy one hour and a
half.
Mr.. Boutelle's request was agreed to.
AT the request of Mr.. Sayers Dem,
TeX) the clerk read the senate amend
ment directing the secretary of the
navy 10 use, when necessary the in
Ventions of naval officers and authoriz-
ing such officers to prosecute claims for
claims
The amendment was debated on at
some length. Mr. Boutelle led the
support of the amendment and Messrs.
cannon and Savers the opposition.
MI. cannon offered a resolution in
structing the house conferees to insist
upon the senate amendment being
stricken out. Proceeding to discuss the
amendment. Mr. Cannon declared it his
opinion "a wicked and corrupting piece
of legislation
Mr.. Boutelle (Maine), speaking for
the amendment and closing the debate.
criticised sharply the objection to the
amendment, and characterized it as
1nexcusable haggling, while the navy
and the country waited in sore need
or those war essentials for which the
Dill provided. intimating that members
who had been first in forcing the
country to war" were acting improp-
erly in now opposing the bill.
MIR. Boutelle brought Mr. Henry
(Miss) to his feet. Does the gentle
man from Maine throw that charge
against us simply because we oppose
that amendment. which we do not
think wise?" asked Mr. Henry.
L mean to say that gentlemen are
delaying the whole bill with it's war
provisions by insisting upon opposing
small and unimportant amendment
which the senate placed upon the bill,
as 1t had right to do"
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Boutelle's
speech, a vote was taken upon the
Cannon resolution, insisting upon
striking out the amendment in confer
ence. The resolution was agreed to,
118 to Az
Upon the motion of Mr. Boutelle, the
house asked the senate foS further
conference. E0nferees on the part Of
the house were named in the persons
of Messrs. Boutelle, Hilborn and Cum
mings.
Mr.. Cannon, from the committee on
appropriations, reported back to the
house the sundry civil bill with senate
amendments, with a recommendation
that the house nGn-concur The house
non-concurred, and, upon motion Of
Mr.. Cannon, it was agreed to ask the
senate for a conference. The speaker
named as conferees upon the part of
the house MeSSrS. Cannon, w. A. Stone
and Savers.
The house passed the bill providing
for the organization of a naval bat
TALON to consist of not more than four
companies in the District of Columbia.
At 4:29 p m, the house adjourned.