The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-01
REPORT WAS REJECTED
The Naval Appropriation Bill
Goes Again to Conference.
PAYMENT OF OFFICERS
rhs HOUSE Would Not Agree to Allow
Thsm Anything for Their Inventions
Used by the 0overnment-Can-
non Lea the Opposition.

washington. April 3o.-To-day's ses-
sion Of the house vas devoted chiefly
TO consideration OF the conference re-
port upon the naval appropriation bill
presented yesterday by Chairman Bou-
teIle. The report was rejected after
three hours debate and further confer
ence win follow. The only ground upon
which the fght against the report was
made wa found in the senate amend
meat to compensate naval officers for
government use of their inventions and
authorixing them to have their claims
for such compensation adjudicated in
the court of claims. Mr.. Boutelle led
the support of the amendment M
Nessrs. Cannon and Savers the opposi-
ton. A resolution Introduced by Mr..
Cannon insisting upon eliminating the
amendment. was adopted by lis 10 ~,
and the nava bill was again sent TO
conference.
Mr.. Boutelle, rep. Me-, called up the
conference report on the naval appro-
priations bill in the house to-day. The
speaker nounce that the house al
journed yesterday pending the isposi-
ton of a point of order made py MI.
Cannon. rep. ILL.,. that the conferees
had exceeded their jurisdiction by in
PRODUCING into the report a matter
which was in difference between the
two houses. The speaker
Mr.. Cannon. Mr.. Cannon said his point
was based upon the provision inserted
by the conferees providing for addition
al officers. non-commissioned officers
and $500 men in the marine corps.
Mr.. Boutelle said ne was anxious to
secure 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 earli-
est success TO our arms might be ac-
complished. Accordingly he was not
inclined to insist upon the te~chnicalities
hat might delay the passage of the bill,
but was willing TO make n reasonable
arrangement that would give the house
q air opportunity to consider the
amendment In question.
After some discussion. Mr.. Boutelle
made a request for unanimous consent
that the report be rejected. with the
right to move to reconsider reserved,
pending which motion the u should
proceed to the consideration n debate
OF the report each side TO occupy one
hour and a half.
Mr.. Boutelle's request was agreed to
and then Mr.. Sayers. dem. Texas, had
read the senate amendment directing
the secretary of the navy to use, when
necessary, inventions of naval officers,
and authorizing such officers TO prose-
Cult Cldltnt lpi 1ttiBti'oth'h hN
in the court of claims.
MIR. cannon presented a resolution
declaring Il the sense OF congress that
officers of the navy were not entitled
to compensation for the use of inven-
tons made while in the service of the
navy, and hat the law should be SO
amended as TO prevent such compensa-
ton.
Mr.. Sayers spoke in opposition to the
amendment relative to compensation
for inventions, declaring that the in
ventor officers were employed at the
expense of the government and the lat
ter was entitled to use without expense
the inventions of such officers.
Mr.. Shafroth OF Colorado spoke In
opposition to the amendment and In this
curse of an interruption Mr.. Cannon
pointed out that the amendment con
templated only officers OF the navy and
made no mention of other employees
Mr.. Walker of Massachusetts, addressed
the house in support of the amendmeni
insisting that the government had M
right to appropriate without compensa
ton the inventions of the naval officers
Mr.. Bromwell of Ohio spoke for th'
amendment. and Mr.. Moody of Mas
sachusetts followed In opposition, de
claring the government look its nava
officers almost from the cradle and car
led them to the grave and should b
entitled to their inventions.
MIX. DOCkeTN u NltSrou1i oBBoSto III
amendment. II would give a monopol.
10 certain officers. Proceeding. he SAT-
IL was a most unusual feature to be II
an appropriation bill. and it looked a
IL there was something wrong and thR
an effort was being made to force |
under the stress Of circumstance Incl
dent to war times.
Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa advocated tn
amendment. and In doing so. reviewe
IL to show that the compensation pro
posed to be given the officers was to b
purely equitable and the court @
claims In determining the amount du
was to consider all circumstances cor
nected with the making of the inver
ton or discovery. including especial
all facilities In originating and perfect
ing the invention enjoyed by the on
Ger by reason of his official position
The chief accomplishment OF the pre-
posed amendment would be the fixin
Of q tribunal to which the officers couI
60 direct with their claims witho,
waiting upon the pleasure OF col
GresA
Mr.. Gaines OF Tennessee. Mr.. Kir
Of Utah and Mr.. Linney Of Mort
Carolina spoke against the amen'
ment, and Mr.. Southland OF Ohio. men
Der Of the committee o naval affair
Norton Of Ohio and Olmstead of Pen
~sylvania advocated IL. Mr.. Northws
Of Ohio spoke against the amen
ment.
Mr.. Cannon withdrew the resoluti'
offered by him and offered instead
resolution in%structing the hous co