The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-15
BIG SOUTHERN WAR CLAIM
Occasions Debate Which is a Feat
ure in the House,

Jan fit was the III
tention of the house managers to pro-
coed with the diplomatic and consular
bill today, but owing TO the excited
condition of affairs in Havana and the
wildly exaggerated reports afioat they
| decided to avoid the possibility of open
ing up a Cuban debate by relinquishing
the day to the committee on claims in
charge of bills on the private calendar.
Before this order was entered upon the
agricultural bill was passed. Most of
the day was consumed in a flibuster
against bill to pay the publishing
house of the Methodist Episcapol
church, South, at Nashville, Tenn,
| s238, 900 on account of seizure and use
of the property of the corporation dur
ing the war. This took up the time I'M
til o'clock, when the house adjourned.
Washington, jar. 14.-The house
managers decided not to proceed with
the consideration of the diplomatic and
consular appropriation bill today, but
| to give the day for the consideration Of
private bills. This was doubtless done
to avert the possibility of precipitating
a sensational Cuban debate during the
consideration of the appropriation bill.
Infiamnatory speeches during the pres
! ent critical state of affairs in Havana
would, the conservative leaders believe
be particularly unfortunate.
When the house adjourned last night
| the amendment to the agricultural bill
providing for the publication of anoth-
er edition of the Horse Book was
pending. Today the friends of the
| amendment compromised with the ap-
preparations committee by agreeing to
a reduction of the number to be print
| ed from 10000 to $4,000. AS amended,
the amendment was adopted and the
bill was passed.
The resolution accepting the invita-
ton of the government of Norway to
participate in the international fisheries
exposition at Bergen was called up by
Mr.. SimDkins (Rep., Mass).
Mr. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
| priations committee, said he thought
on the exposition uestion congress was
running wild. We had had domestic
| expositions at Philadelphia, Chicago,
| Cincinnati, Atlanta and Nashville, and
were now about to have one at Omaha.
We have participated in the expositions
| at Vienna, Paris, Berlin and Brussels.
| The anxiety Of would-be commissioners
| to have the honor and glory of our
country represented at these foreign ex
| positions was agonizing. Now came
this exposition at Bergen, $40, 900 to be
| appropriated now. II this resolution
passed congress would be called upon
! to foot the bill for a deficiency of $780,
| 600. He gave it as his deliberate judg-
ment that the interests of the United
| States did not require our participation
in this exposition. If we did our duty
tgby the Paris exposition that would be
enough.
Mr.. Simpkins Rep., Mass.) in reply
called attention to the fact that Nor
way, second in the world to no country
in fisheries, had accepted our invitation
to participate at Philadelphia and Chi
cago. Common courtesy and decency
demanded that we accept this invita-
ton.
Mr.. Dolliver (Rep., la thought we
would not in the next decade partici-
pate in an exposition which would be
of more practical value to the United
States.
The resolution was adopted.
Another resolution was adopted on
motion of Mr.. Perkins (Rep., Ia-) di-
recting the director of the geological
survey to prepare and have printed
10000 copies of a map of Alaska show
ing the most feasible routes to the gold
fields.
A bill for the payment Of $1,000 to
William S. Grant of Gardiner, Maine,
for supplies designed for the United
States but confiscated by the Confed-
crate government at the opening of the
rebellion, was favorably acted upon.
The senate bill to refer to the court Of
claims the claim of the corporation of
the Book Agents of the Methodist
Church. South, was next taken up. Mr..
Cooper Oem., Tex), in charge Of the
bill. moved as a substitute a bin ap-
propriating s2SS. for the full settle
ment of this claim.
The property Of the corporation which
was located at Nashville. Tenn. was
seized and held by the United States
from 1852 until 1866, when it was turn
ed over to the owners. Mr.. Cooper re-
ferred to the fact that the profits of the
concern were applied to the support of
superannuated ministers. Thousands
of petitions from religious bodies, he
said. had been received urging the pas
sage of the bill
Mr.. Dalzell (Rep., Pa.) inaugurated a
flibuster against the measure by de-
manding the reading OF a report Of the
hin which consisted If a rOY1t fffv 10 yaS
the reading of which would consume
several hours. At the conclusion OF an
hour. when Mr.. Dalzelrs time expired,
the friends of the bill attempted to Sc
cure an agreement for closing the de-
bate. but all requests looking TO this
end were objected TO.
Mr.. Richardson CDem., TENN appeal
ed to the other side TO allow a vote on
the bill
Mr.. Sayres (Dem.. Tex.) said this was
as just claim as had ever been pre-
sented TO congress. The amount asked
by the Methodist Episcopal Church.
South. in this bill. he said. was not 80
per cent of the amount which could be
/ recommended in the court Of claims
Leading divines and bishops. north and
south. had endorsed IT. Common jus
tice. not charity. demanded its passage.
Mr. GTosvenor (Rep.. Ohio) made a
ten-u1inute speech in support Of the
| bill. He said he knew personally
enough about the claim TO say that
| $23S. 0e8 was very low estimate for the
damage sustained by the corporation
After further discussion and before
;