The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-04
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WASHINGTON, March 3.-Excite-
nent, confusion, heavy strain and hard
work have characterized this, the last
legislative day of the F'ifty-fifth Con-
gress in the Senate. At times the con-
fusion was so great in this usually
staid and decorus body as to render
the transaction of business almost i'm
possible.
Toward midnight order was being
evolved from the seeming chaos of the
early part of the day and evening and
the prosnect was fair that Congress
would adjourn at noon tomorrow with
its absolutely necessary work com
pleted.
When the Senate convened at II
o'clock this morning it faced the task
of considering two Of the great ap-
preparation bills, those Tor the army
and for supplying the general def
cheney. The former carried appropria-
lions exceeding $50, OO0, 900 and the lat
ter about 500, 00O, 900. With d deter
mination to complete the appropriation
bills the Senate began Immediately at
IL o'clock to consider the measures, and
at 8 o'clock tonight the army bill was
passed, the deficiency bill having
passed nearly three hours before. A
conference report on the Alaska Grim
inaI code bill was presented and agreed
to.
A partial report on the sundry civil
appropriation bill was agreed to. but
the inability of the Senate conferees
to secure an agreement on the Ha-
waiian cable proposition created
heated discussion, in the course of
which Speaker Reed was alluded to in
uncOmplimentary terms.
Tonight when the river and harbor
conference report was presented, a
debate upon the recession of the SEN
ate conferees from the Senate amend
ment providing for reservoirs to irri-
gate arid lands at the headwaters Of
the Missouri River was precipitated by
the advocates of the proposition. An
effort was made to recommit the bill
TO the conferees, but it failed after an
impassioned speech by Senator Frye,
who submitted the report.
When the Senate convened on It's last
the usual number of Senators were on the
floor Morning business was suspended
practically, and the Senators proceeded
Immediately 10 business LOOKING 10 40, aGa
BASED: To Incorporate the National
White Cross of America and for other
purposes; amending the internal revenue
laws relating TO distilled spirits ana Tor
other purposes; authorizing the conStruc-
ton of bridge over the Tennessee 4 KIyer
at Sheffield Ala; authorizing the WASH
ington and Gettysburg Railroad Company
of Maryland to extend its line OF road
into the District Of Columbia; a bill pro
,,idin9 = site for the Washington Public
Temporariiy. the general deficiency bill
was laid aside, and Allison presented a
partial conference report on the sundry
civil bill. He said there were still
twenty-five items in disagreement The
Senate amendment which made appro-
priations for a large number Of public
buildings had been held up by the House
conferees, who insisted that it should con-
tain provisions only for buildings, the
bills for which had passed both the House
and the Senate.
which the House conferees had declined
to accept was that providing for a Pa
cific cable. As the amendment was agreed
to practically unanimously by the Sen
ate, Allison said the Senate conferees de-
cided to refer the matter back to the Sen
Frye of Maine, chairman of the Com
mittee on Commerce, presented the final
conference report on the river and har-
Dor bill He consented to withhold IT in
order that consideration OF the general
deficiency bill might be proceeded with.
Hale offered an amendment appropriate
ing So 900 600 as an emergency fund TO be
=
ton The amendment was accepted with
out debate or explanation.
Among the amendments agreed, to were
these: Authorizing the Secretary of the
Interior TO establish at Omaha ware
house for Indian supplies; the amendment
"a carry into effect existing laws pro-
yidIng two months extra pay for the vol
1nteer officers and volunteer enlisted men
Of the navy who served beyond the United
States in the war with Spain, and one
months extra pay for similar officers and
men who served during that war only in
the United States.
Consideration OF the army appropriation
hill was then begun. The few amend
ments of the Senate committee to the bill
were agreed to as the reading of the
measure proceeded
The bill as amended was then passed
At 3:2O a. M Frye reported no further
agreement could be reached. the House
conferees declining to reopen the river
and harbor agreement already reached.
warren said he was satisfied that the
conferees had done all they could and
rather than imperil the great appropria-
ton bills he would yield the point.
The report was then agreed to without
division.
ton public library bill was agreed to.
a partial report of the conference on
the naval appropriation bill was pre-
scented by Hale He explained that the
Senate's arrnor plate amendment was the
serious stumbling block, and it had been
Suggested that the Senate take vote
unon the proposition as it now was pre-
sented He declared the situation very
serious as it would affect the price OF
armor not only for the ships authorlzec
by this bill but for the ships already
contracted for.
Artists, materials. house and floor