The herald., 1898-01-25
IN THE HOUSE
A Deal of Talk Does but Very Little
Business

o0SAACSS
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-The house
spent a couple of hours today transact
ing business relating to the District OF
Columbia and the remainder of the day
on the Indian appropriation bill. Dur
ing the consideration of the last named
lively debate was precipitated by ar
allusion made by Simpson of Kansas
Populist. relative to an alleged inter-
view with the president on the subject
of immigration. Grosvenor took occa-
sion to express the opinion that the
president had never used some of the
language credited to him and the debate
drifted into a general discussion of our
industrial conditions in the course of
which the strike in New England, the
high prices for wheat in Kansas and the
defaulting Republican officials in Me-
braska successfully played their parts.
Messrs. Dingley, Crone of Nebraska,
Populist, and Mercer of Nebraska, Re-
publican, Grosvenor of Ohio, Republic
an, and Simpson of Kansas, Populist,
participated.
At the opening of the session Mr..
Kleiberg Dem.) Of Texas and Mr.. Dock
cry Dem.) of Missouri called attention
to a poll of the House on the Immigra-
ton bill, printed in New York paper
today. They had been made to favor
the bill, and were opposed to it.
81 suggest that the roll be called"
exclaimed Mr. Cannon (Rep) of Illinois,
"and the poll corrected"
1.-The Chair thinks the Jurisdiction of
the House does not go beyond the Con-
gressional Record" muttered the
Speaker. dryly.
Mr.. Boutelle (Rep) of Maine, Chair
man of the Committee on Naval Affairs,
reported back the two resolutions call
ing upon the Secretary of the Navy for
information as to the suitability of sites
for making armor plate in the South,
with the recommendation that they lay
on the table. The report called atten-
tion to the fact that invitations had been
issued for sealed proposals for the land
and machinery for an armor plate fac
tory, which would be opened January
"a, 1898, and that the Secretary, when
these were opened, would send a special
report to Congress containing all in
formation. In view of the fact that the
Secretary was now proceeding to carry
out the law, Mr.. Boutelle said he thought
it not necessary to call on him for in
formation which he would furnish.
The question was laid on the table
without division, but Mr.. Underwood
(Dem) of Alabama insisted upon a di-
vision upon his resolution, calling upon
the Secretary for information obtained
by the Armor Plate Board as to the ad
vantages Of Southern places as a loca-
tion for an armor plant, but, by a vote
of 107 to 105, the resolution was tabled.
Mr.. Curtis (Rep.) of Iowa then claimed
the day for business from the District
of Columbia Committee.
Two hours were consumed in the con-
sideration Of district business after
which the house went into committee
of the whole and resumed consideration
of the Indian appropriation bill.
Speaking to pro forma amendment
Mr.. Simpson of Kansas, Populist, COM
mented on an interview with the presi-
dent relative to the strike in the cotton
mills Of New England, where the presi-
dent was quoted as deprecating the con-
dition of labor and as favoring a re-
striction Of immigration. Mr.. Simpson
spoke of the report of the agricultural
department experts on the condition Of
the residents of the slums of New York
in which he said the experts alleged
that their poverty was due to extrava-
gance. The experts. he said, stated
that the people sometimes bought beef
steak, while they could get twice as
much nutriment out of bananas. The
purport OF Simpsons comment was that