The record-union., 1898-05-01

| WASHINGTON, April 80 - To-day'S
session of the House was devoted chief
| ly to consideration of the conference
report upon the naval appropriation
bill presented yesterday by Chairman
| Boutelle. The report was rejected after
three hours of debate, and further con-
ference will follow The only ground
upon which the fight against the report
was made was found in the Senate
amendment to compensate naval off,
GERS for Government use of their in
ventions, and authorizing them to have
their claims for such compensation ad-
judicated in the Court of Claims. Bou-
telle led the support of the amendment,
and Cannon and Sayers the opposition.
A resolution, introduced by Cannon, in
sisting upon eliminating the amend
ment, was adopted-11S to 42-and the
naval bill was again sent to confer
ence.
Boutelle (RO of Maine called up the
conference report on the naval appro-
priation bill as soon as the House met
to-day.
The Speaker announced that the
House adjourned yesterday pending the
disposition of a point of order made by
Cannon (R) of Illinois, that the con-
ferreeS had exceeded their jurisdiction
by introducing into the report matter
which was in difference between the
two houses. The Speaker recognized
Cannon.
Cannon said his point of order was
based upon the provision inserted by
the conferrees providing for additional
officers, on-commissioned officers and
/ 1 EtbD man in the marine cOrpS.
Boutelle said he was anxious to Sc
cure the earliest possible action upon
the bill, in order to equip and support
| to the utmost the forces the country
had sent to war, to the end that the
earliest success to our arms might be
accomplished Accordingly, he was not
inclined to insist upon technicalities
that might delay the passage of the
bill, but was willing to make any red
sonable arrangement that would give
the House a fair opportunity to con-
slider the amendment in question
After seme discussion Boutelle made
a request for unanimous consent that
the report be rejected, with the right
to move to reconsider reserved, pend
ing which motion the House should pro-
ceed to the consideration and debate
Oh the report, Sdcu Slue " oCCupy OiiO
hour and half.
Boutelle's request was agreed to, and
then Sayers>D.) of Texas had read the
Senate amendment directing the Sec
retary Of the Navy to use, when neces-
sary inventions of naval officers, and
authorizing such officers to prosecute
claims for compensation therefor in the
Court of Claims.
Cannon presented a resolution de-
claring it the sense of Congress that
officers of the navy were not entitled
to compensation for the use of inven-
tions made while in the service of the
navy, and that the laws should be so
amended as to prevent such compensa-
ton.
Sayers spoke in opposition to the
amendment relating to compensation
for inventions, declaring that the in
ventor officers We're educated and en-
ployed at the expense of the Govern
ment, and the latter was entitled to use
without expense the inventions of such
officers.
Walker Of Massachusetts addressed
the House in support of the amend
ment, insisting that the Government
had no right to appropriate without
compensation the invention of it's naval
officers.
Bromwell of Ohio spoke for the
amendment, and Moody Of Massachu-
settts followed in Opposition, declaring
that the Government took its naval Off
GERS almost from the cradle and carried
them to the grave, and should be enti-
tied to their inventions
Dockery of Missouri opposed the
amendment. 1t would give a monopoly
to certain officers. Proceeding, he said
it was a most unusual feature to be in
troduced into an appropriation bill,
and it looked as if there was something
wrong in the opposition, and that an
effort was being made to force it under
the stress of circumstances incident to
war time.
Cannon withdrew the resolution Of
fered by him, and offered instead a res
olution instructing the House conferrees
to insist upon the Senate amendment
being stricken out He warned the
House against persons who were ready
to take advantage of the excitement
and patriotic fervor incident to war to
get through legislation that ought not
to be enacted. He opposed the amend
ment in question on the ground of no
merit, and further because it was en-
tirely out of place in an appropriation
bill 1t was plainly new legislation.
without any connection with the appro-
priation of money.
Proceeding to discuss the amend
ment. Cannon declared that it was, in
his opinion, "a wicked and corrupting
piece of legislation
Boutelle of Maine, speaking for the
amendment and closing the debate,
criticised sharply the objection to the
amendment. and characterized it as in
excusably haggling while the navy and
the country waited in sore need of those
war essentials for which the bill pro-
vided.
At the conclusion of Boutelle's speech
vote was taken upon the Cannon res
olution insisting on striking out the
amendment in conference The resolu-
ton was agreed tolls to AZ.
Upon the motion of Boutelle the
House asked the Senate for further
conference. Conferrees on the part of
the House were named in the persons Of
Messsrs Boutelle, Hilborn and Cum
mings.
Cannon, from the Committee on Ap-
preparations. reported back to the
uouse the sundry civil hill with Senate