Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-09
55th CONGRESS.
Fi|ibustering in House on Pub
lie Buildings Bills.
Committee ofWhole Acts Favofably on
65--But One Passed.
Senate Passes indian sill-considers Lesis.
lative, Executive and judicial.

Washington. Feb. S-The net result
Of the work during the two days allot-
ed for the consideration of the public
building bill in the House was the pas
sage of single bill providing for the
erection of building at Newport News,
Va, at a cost of $4,000.
Sixty-ffve bills in all, carrying or a,i-
thorizing the expenditure of about $12,-
100000 had been favorably considered
in committee of the whole when the
committee rose. today, but because II
other bills reported had not been acted
upon in committee. filibustering tao
Itics were resorted to and all efforts to
advance the bills favora|bly acted upon
in committee We're blocked.
The second biz. appropriating $47,.
900 for a building at Blair City, Neh.,
got as far as the third reading, when
a demand for the production of the en-
crossed bill prevented rits from being
placed upon it's passage. - - 4
The previous question had been Or
dered on the Altoona, Pa, bill, carrying
$125,0O0, when the House adjourned so
that it will be the unfinished business,
tomorrow. All the other bills. how
ever lose the privilege status they had
IN virtue OF special order. 5t
Another day. therefore, will have to
be allotted to secure action upon them.
and assurances have already been OBJ
tanned for another day as soon rs the
appropriation bills are out of the way.
Twenty-four bills We're favorably acted
upon by the committee.
Some unanimous consent business
was transacted in the House before the
consideration of public building bills
was resumed.
Corliss. Rep, Mich. called up the
Senate bill to amend the law requiring
ballots for members of Congress to be
written or printed so as to permit the
use of machines which are authorized
by the laws of the state. Massachu-
sets, Michigan and several other
states now employ machines in state,
county and municipal elections.
The bill was passed "a to A.
When the regular order was called
for, Mercer. Rep. Neb., chairman Of
the public buildings and grounds COM
mittee, instead of moving to go into
committee of the whole for the con-
sideration of the remaining bills re-
ported from the committee. indicated
his purpose, first to pass the bills fav-
orably acted upon by the committee Of
the whole yesterday
The members who still had bills un-
acted upon objected strenuously to this
proceeding, and finally under threat OF
filibustering, Mercer yielded and the
House went into committee OF the
whole and took up the remaining bills
in their order. He gave notice that
he would move that the committee rise
at o'clock.
The Joplin bill was favorably acted
upon as We're a number OF, others in
Guiding the following: Lawrence.
Mass. 100000; Norwich. Ct, $4,000:
Newport. VT. $4,000.
At $50 P. NJ. Meyer moved that the
committee rise. As II bills still re-
manned Enacted upon there were loud
protests. but the motion prevailed. -
to 81.
The opposition was in an ugly humor
and after the passage of the first bill
on the list for public building at
Newport News. Va. to cost $4,000. the
opposition was massed against the
Blair City, Neb., bill, which carried
$4,000. 1t was advanced to a third
reading. however. but was then block
ed by a demand from Loud. Rep. Cal,
for the reading of the engrossed bill.
AS the bill was not engrossed 1t was
laid aside.
Dockery. Mo-. moved an adjournment
and forced roll call. The motion to
adjourn was defeated. 1O2 to 121, and
the Senate bill for building at AL
toona, Pa. to cost $125.OOO was taken
up but the filibustering tactics Of the
opposition continued and at last, at
go p. d., 10 minutes before the special
order expired. the House adjourned.
The previous question having been
ordered on the bill. that makes It the
unfinished business for tomorrow.