The Portland daily press., 1898-03-05
sent TO The PRESIDENT.
Two More Appropriation Bills
Completed Yesterday.
BIG WAR CLAIM BILL SPECIAL
ORDER FOR FRIDAY.

Measure Involves Appropriation of Over a
Seized During the Wharf.-The Alaskan
transportation Bill Passes the Senate.
Washington, March 4.-This was a
private bill day in the House. Before the
regular order was demanded, bill was
passed granting right Of way through
the naval station at New London, Conn.,,
to the Norwich and Worcester railroad
company. The conference report ON the
pension appropriation bill was agreed TO.
Mr.. Hill, chairman of the committee
on foreign affairs, presented the report OF
consular appropriation bill. 1t recon-
mended the adoption of all the Senate
amendments, which was agreed to. Both
the pension and diplomatic bills now go
to the President.
The House then took up the considera-
tion of bills OF the private calendar.
The first bill taken up was to pay the
heirs Of the Sterling L. Austin S59, 2s7,
the proceed of the sale of threes hundred
bales Of cotton soized by the military au.
thorities of the United States. The bill
was favorabiy acted upon by the commit
tee Of the whole.
A special order was then made by
unanimous consent setting aside next
Friday for the consideration of the bill to
of claims under the provisions of the
Bowman act. The bill carries approPria
tions aggregating $1,000. 900. These
claims were included in the general de-
f1ciency bill vetoed by President Cleve-
land in the last Congress.
During the debate on relief
bill, Mr.. Handy, Democrat of Delaware,
k< hn
promises made by President Mckinley in
his inaugural year ago, today with their
fultillment, was called to order for not
speaking to the question before the COM
mittee.
MI. Payne sustained the point of order
and an appeal was taken. An interest1ng
parliamentary discussion followed, in
whioh the effect of recent ruling, OF
Speaker Reed on this subject and its
effect on debate in the House was con-
tested. The Democrats protested that the
practice had always been to allow the
widest latitude in committee OF the whole
and Mr.. Mcmillan declared that this and
kindred rulings markedtthe gradual deca-
dence in the right of speech in the e>Idouse.
Mr.. Dingley, the Repubi.an 1oor leader,
in reply said that MIR. Reeds recent
rulings Ind been misunderstood. He
drew cle.rly the distinction between the
House in committee of the whole con-
sidering d simple bill appropriatin q
money and the House in committee OF
the whole on the state of the union CON
ssdering appropriation or revenue bills.
Isl the latter case it had always been t1e
Ecu5tom and was still to be the practice
under the Speakers rulings, to allow the
greatest freedom in debate. The enforce
meut Of rule against irrelevant debate In
the House and in committee OF the whole,
he said, as necessary to correct growing
evil and to expedite the public business:
On the appeal the vote was 81. to 81. Mr..
Payne, who was in the chalr, announced
the result.
"The vote is tie,'' said he, "and the
Chair votes in the affirmative so that the
decision of the Chair stands as the de-
oision of the House, daughter and
jeers on the Democratic side
Mr.. Handy was then allowed to proceed
sin order and under cover of speaking
to the bill he managed very adroitly to
comment upon some of Mt. Mckinley 6
utterances. to the intense amusement OF
the Democrats.
On motion of Mr.. Dingley, it was
agreed that when the House adjourn to-
day it be to meet on Monday next.
Mr.. Mahany, Republican of New York
rose to question Of privilege to reply to
an attack made upon him by New York
paper The paper had denied certain state
ments made by him on the floor and he
reiterated them today. Before he con.
nluded the hour of O'Clock arrived and
under the rules the House recessed until
eight O'Clock, the evening session to be
devoted to private pension bills.
At the night session thirty-two pension
bills and nine relief bills were passed.
At 80 the House adjourned till Mon
day.
IN THE SENATE.
The Alaska transportation Bill PISSED
Upper Branch Yesterday.
Washington, March "A resolution
was passed by the Senate today authoriz
ing the printing of $1,000 copies OF
| pamphlet by Commodore George W. Mel
Vile on the commercial, military ano
strategic advantages to the United States
of the NicaragIan canal and of the Ha
| waiian Islands.
| Mr.. Allison, chairman of the committee
on appropriations, announced that az
would ask the Senate to take up tht
District of Columbia appropriation bill
| IN less the A laska bill could be disposed o!