The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-01
SENATE AMENDMENT
WAS REJECTED
Naval Appropriation Bill Will
Again Go TO Conference.
COMPENSATION TO OFFICERS
For inventions Was Clause Upon Which Fight
Was Made-Sayers Insisted That They :
We're Government Employees and
Deserved Nothing E<tta.
COMPENSATION TO OFFICERS


the house was devoted chiefly to the con-
naval appropriation bill presented yester-
day. The report was rejected after three
hours of debate and further conference
will follow.
The only ground upon which the fight
against the report was made was made on
the senate amendment to compensate naval
officers for their inventions and authorize
ing them to have their claims for such COM
pensation adjudicated in the court of
claims Mr.. Boutelle led the support of the
amendmentand Messrs. Cannon and Say
ers the opposition. A resolution intro
dueed by Mr.. Cannon insisting upon elm
mating the amendment, was adopted-i1S to
AZ and the naval bill was again sent to
conference.
Mr. Boutelle rep, of Me) called Up the
conference report on the naval appropra-
ton bill
The speaker announced that the house
adjourned yesterday pending the DISPOSE
ton of a point of order made by Mr.. Can
non rep, of Ill.) that the conferees had ex-
ceedcd their jurisdiction by introducing into
the report matter which was not in differ
ence between the two houses. The speaker
recognized Mr.. Cannon.
Wanted Early Action
MI. tdliilpu Setit llldl HIS point was DusGu
upon The provision inserted by the conterees
providing for additional officers, non COM
missioned officers and 1900 men in the
marine corps.
Nc Boutelle said he was anxious to
secure the earliest possible action upon tie
naval bill in order to equip and sanoort
to the utmost the forces the country lad
seat to war to the end that the earliest sue
cess ID our arms might be accomplished.
Accordingly, he was not inclined 10 insist
upon techncaities that might delay the
passe re of the bill, but was willing to make
any reasonable arrangement that wculd
give the house fair opportunity 10 con-
slider the amendment i'm question.
After some discussion Mr.. Boutelle made
request for unanimous consent that the
report be rejected with the right to move
to reconsider reserved, pending which mo-
ton the house should proceed to the con-
sideration and debate of the report, each
side to occupy one hour and half.
Mr. Boutelle's request was agreed to, and
when Mr.. Sayres, democrat, of Texas had
read The amendment directing the secretary
of the navy to use when necessary nven-
lions of naval officers and authorizing such
officers to prosecute claims for compensa-
ton therefor in the court of claims
Mr.. Cannon presented a resolution de-
clarng it the sense of congress that Off
GERS of the navy were not entitled to COM
pensation for the use of inventions made
while in the services of the navy, and that
the laws should be amended as to prevent
such compensation.
Sayers Opposed to Compensation
Mr.. Sayres spoke in opposition to the
amendment in relation to compensation of
inventions, declaring the inventor officers
were educated and employed a the expense
of the government, and the latter was en-
titled to use without expense the inventions
of such officers.
Mr. Cannon warned the house against
persons who would attempt to get through
unworthy legislation under the excitement
of war and patriotism.
Proceeding to discuss the amendment Mr..
Cannon declared it "a wicked and corrupt
ing piece of legislation"
Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine, speaking for the
amendment and closing the debate. criti-
cised sharply the objection to the amend
ment and characterized 1t as inexcusable
haggling while the navy and the country
waited in sore need of those war essentials
for which the bill provided. Intmating
that members who had been first in fore
ing the country to war were acting i'm
properly in now opposing the bill, Mr..
Boutelle brought Mr. Henry, of Mississippi,
to his feet.
docs the gentleman from Maine throw
that charge at us simply because we OPP
pose that amendment which we do not
think wise?"
Delaying the Bill
AZ mean to say that the gentlemen are
delaying the whole bill with its war pro-
visions by insisting upon opposing a small
and unimportant amendment"
At the conclusion of Mr.. Boutelle's speech
a vote was taken upon the Cannon resolu-
ton insisting upon striking out the amend
ment in conference. Agreed to 11S to AZ.
Upon motion the house asked the senate
for further conference.
Mr. Cannon, from the committee on APP
propriations reported back to the house
the sundry civil bill with senate amend
ments with a recommendation that the
house non concur. The house non con-
Cured and upon motion of Mr.. Cannon it
was agreed to ask the senate for con-
ference.
At 4:49 D. m. the house adjourned.
TWO PRISONERS