The age-herald., 1898-03-12
DingIey Contended Its Passage Would Establish Precedent
FOR SOUTHERN CLAIMANTS
To Loot the Treasury-Esans, Republican Mem Der From Kentucky, Touched Off a Sub Marine Mine Under the
 Tariff Leaders Coat.

Washington, March 1.-The bill to pay the Bowman act claims aggregating $1,- 100000 for stores and supplies furnished the union army during the war was be- fore the house until o'clock today but beyond completing the general debate little progress was made. Of the 800 odd claims In the claim all but few come from the south and dilatory tactics were resorted to to prevent progress with the bill.
 In a speech favoring the bill. MT. Gibson Gep), of Tennessee, said the claims were distributed follows by states:
 Alabama, 60; Arkansas, 56; Georgia, 42; Illinois, |; Kansas, 8; Kentucky, 56 Louis- iana, 22; Maryland, 70; Mississippi, 1O9; Mis- souri, 61; New York, l. North Carolina, 13; Ohio, 2; Oregon, 1; Pennsylvania, 4; South Carolina, 22; Tennessee, 1S0; Virginia, 66 and West Virginia, 46.
 During the flibustering the house was in an uproar.
 At o'clock, after completing two pages of the bill the house recessed until 8 o'clock for an evening session to be devoted to pension legislation.
 After the evening session the house ad- journed over until Monday.
 MT. Dingley opposed the Bowman act bill in an earnest speech. He insisted that the members who imagined that the findings of the court of claims in these cases con- stituted a liability against the government are entirely mistaken The court simply found certain facts. He was willing, he said, to take up these claims separately and pass upon their merits.
 Richardson Favored It
 MT. Richardson (dem.) of Tennessee, in advocating the passage of the bill, called attention to the fact that 92 per cent. of the claims submitted to it were rejected That was sufficient evidence of the various char acter of the examination made by that court. Of the original claimants relieved by this bill he said, S5 per cent. were dead. MT. Evans (rep.) of Kentucky, in advo- eating tie bill, said that the republican leader, MT. Dingley, set up a scare-crow to frighten members when he alleged that the passage of the bill would establish a prec- edent which would permit southern claim ants to loot the treasury He pointed out that one of the first war claims passed by the house at this session was one to pay a citizen of Maine (W. F. FranD $S7, 900. MT. Dingleys voice had not been raised against that claim although it had like these claims been rejected by the court of claims and the rejection had been ap- proved by the supreme court of the United States. It was only when the southern claims were brought in that the. distn- guished republican leader cried out against raids upon the treasury.
 After some further debate the reading Of the bill for amendment was began.
 All Sorts of Amendments
 
 MT. Moody (rep) of Massachusetts, as soon as the enacting clause had been read, offered as an amendment bill containing the French spoliation claims. The reading of the bill, forty-seven pages, was deem- ed a filibusterng move.
 MT. Mason Crep) of Pennsylvania, warn ed MT. Moody, who, he said, was deeply interested in the French spoliation claims that if any attempt was made to force the reading of the amendment as a filibuster- Ing move, the bill would eventually pass, but he would take good care that the French spoliation claims did not pass
 MT. Moody denied that he had offered the amendment for the purpose of delay, and asked that the reading be dispensed with, but MT. Hopkins (rep.) of Illinois, objected Thereupon Mr. Williams (dem) of Mississippi made the point that the reading was diliatory and out of order. The chair finally ruled the amendment out.
 Without making any progress the com mittee rose, and upon motion of Mr. Ding ley, it was agreed that when the house adjourn today that 1t be until Monday. At 5 o'clock the house recessed until 8 o'clock.