The herald., 1898-03-01
IN THE HOUSE
The Sundry Civil Appropriation Bill
Disposed OF

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2S. The house
passed the sundry civil appropriation bill
today, after four days debate. The most
important action was the el1mina-
tion of an appropriation for representation
at the Paris exposition on point OF Or
der. The sudden change of sentiment in
the house which is often witnessed when
members go on record was twice Illus
trated today. On Friday last the house,
in committee of the whole, where there is
no record of the vote. knocked out pro-
vision in the bill to pay those Who fur
nished the government with information
leading to the conviction OF violators OF
the internal revenue laws, and today in
committee an extra months pay was voted
to the employees of the house. Both these
propositions commanded a very respect
able majority in the committee, but when
the members voted on roll calls in the
house both of them were overwhelmingly
defeated. Several minor bills were passed
after the sundry civil bill was disposed Of.
Bromwel (Rep.) of Ohio introduced the
following:
Resolved, That the secretary of the
navy be and is hereby authorized, when
ever in his judgment it shall become ex-
pedient for the best interests of the coun-
try to do so, to secure options upon and
consummate the purchase of such battle
~
other form of naval vessels as are of the
most modern type and ready for immediate
use together with the necessary armament
and equipment for the same. as in his judg-
ment are necessary to place the naval
strength of the country upon a proper foot
ing for hostilities with any foreign power
with which the same may be threatened,
and for the purchase and consummat1ng
such purchase there is hereby appropriated
tlo nj goo 0(A C00 he Immediately
available"
The resolution was referred to the naval
committee.
Mr. Bromwell said he introduced the
resolution to call the attention of the naval
committee to the necessity for providing
such a contingent fund in the naval appro-
priation bill. If the committee does not in
clude such a provision in the bill when it
is reported, he will offer it as an amend
ment in the house.
The sundry civil appropriation bill the
considerable of which was resumed in the
house today, displaced the regular Dis
trict of Columbia day, which, by consent
was postponed until next Monday. Before
the house went into committee of the whole
Mr.. Bull (Rep.) of Iowa, chairma1S of the
military affairs committee, asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration of a
Joint resolution providing for the investi-
CATION by joint committee of the house
and senate of the expenditures for river
and harbor work at Savannah since Janu-
ary !, 1892.
Mr.. Cox (Dem.) of Tennessee called at
tention to the fact that this whole subject
was being investigated by the court mar
tial now sitting in the case of Capt. Carter
The reputation of civilians was involved
as well as that of an officer of the engineer
corps, and until the court martial returned
its findings he saw no necessity for con-
gressional inves ugation. He therefore OBJ
jected~ and the resolution was referred to
the military affairs committee.
When the sundry civil appropriation bill
was taken up, the pending amendment
appropriating $500 for building road from
Natchez to the National cemetery, was
adopted.
An amendment requiring the clerks of
federal courts in Arizona and New Mexico
to report their fees and emoluments annu-
ally was also adopted unanimously
Mr.. Lewis (Dem) of Washington offered
an amendment which was ruled out on a
poInt Of order, designed To prohibit the i'm
arisonnssnt by United States Judges Of per-
charged with contempt of court until