Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-02-11

Dockery Reinforces the Illinois Mans
Figures-ExPansion aud the EaGan SEN
tence Also Up-Nicaragua Canal To BE
Tackled on tile Surdry Civil Bill, If Pos
sible-Bringing Home of Bodies of Our
Dead soIdiers-Paris Treaty signed.
Washington. Feb. I1.-GeneraI debate
on the sundry civil appropriation was
concluded yesterday in the house. The
speakers during the day touched
variety of topics. but as a rule the de-
bate lacked spirit and interest Dock
cry, who is at the head of the minority
OF the appropriations committee, re-
inforced Cannon's figures of Thursday
as to the deficiency in the revenues.
DeArmond. GiiIett of Massachusetts, and
others discussed the policy of expansion.
and Lentz of Ohio severely criticised
the administration for exercising elem
ency in the case of General Eagan. Tie
latter charged that there was an evil
dent disposition to reward those who
attacked General Miles because the lat
ter had had the manhood to tell the
truth about the rotten food fed to our
troops in Porto Rico and Cuba"
New Move for the Big Canal.
During the course of the debate Hep
burn, chairman of the interstate and
foreign commerce committee, gave no.
tice that he would offer the Nicaragua
canal bill as an amendment to the
sundry civil bill. This notice resulted
from numerous conferences held dur
ing the day. Early in the day Chair
man Burton, of the rivers and harbors
committee, conferred with Senator Nor
gan with a view to having him leave
the river and harbor bill unincumbered
Morgan is understood to have assented
not to embarrasS the river and harbor
bill. This in turn led to consideration
of the sundry civil bill as the medium,
for advancing the Nicaragua canal bill.
AS a result Hepburn gave the formal
notice. The amendment he proposes IS
The Hepburn bill. 1t appropriates s115,-
300. 600 for canal construction and au-
1horizes the president to negotiate with
Nicaragua and Costa Rica for the
route.
Main Difficulty In the Way.
The main difficulty lies in the rule
which will be invoked against the
amendment. This rule provides that
no appropriation shall be in order on
any general appropriation bill for any
expenditure mot previously authorized
by law" 1t is claimed on the one hand
that this rule would positively exclude
the amendment. but Hepburn points out
and appropriated for two surveys OF
the Nicaragua canal in sunGry civil
bills. and also increased the compensa-
ton of the engineer in charge of one
Of these surveys. Upon these acts Of
congress ii will be claimed that the
amendment is not obnoxious to tho |
rule. and is german.
Pension for Gen. Palmer. |
At the night session of the house
private pension bills were |
passed. Among them were the senate |
bill to pension Letitia Tyler Semple. the !
daughter of President Tyler. and the |
senate bill to pension ex-senator John |
NJ. Palmer. of Illinois. the rate Of $50 |
per month. The amount carried by the !
bill TO pension Mrs. Semple was reduced |
rom $50 to $50 per month In the course |
II the discussion upon the bill to pension /
General Palmer it developed that he |
vas absolutely without means and was !
practically blind. Talbot of South |
Carolina moved that the pension be paid
n silver. but the motion was not enter
aimed