Evening star., 1899-03-01

ence report upon the bill to pay certain
judgments of the Court of Claims, under
the Bowman and Tucker acts. As it passed
the House the bill carried 81 1S9 000 The
Senate placed Upon it what is known as the
nnieus claims BID, increasing it to s9,as0.-
Us0 Over 81 oe9y900 of the increase yere
Bowman and Tucker acts claims. 81 as5 600
We're French spoiiation claims and Sas2 $50
were miscellaneous claims. The conference
report reduced the total carried by the bill
Mr. Loud {Cal) attacked the conference
report and the claims it carried He saw
no reason why the claims of California and
oregon should have been eliminated from
the bill, but even those claims. he declared
had no foundation III equity. As TO the
French spoliation claims, he said if there
ever existed any equity III them 1t had dis
appeared. No one, he said could read the
veto message of that great man Mr.
Cleveland" without recognizing this as
fact.
The mention of Mr. Cleveland's name pro-
Toked some jeerS from the democratic side.
Gentlemen may jeer," said Mr.. Loud,
turning upon them, but Mr.. Cleveland had
the courage of his convictions. the greatest
factor in making a great man."
Mr.. Richardson (Tenn.1. one of the con-
ferees, defended the conference report. The
House conferees accepted the French spoli-
alton claims and the miscellaneous claims
which had all heretofore been passed by the
House, some of them as many as three
times. All the state claims had been re-
jected and the conferees. he said. presented
clean-cut bill which dealt justly with
both sections.
Mr.. Dockery (Mo.) said he thought the
conferees had done fairly well, so far as
the miscellaneous claims We're concerned,
but he did not think the condition of the
treasury warranted the passage of any of
the claims.
How much is carried for the French
spoiiation claims?" asked Mr.. Hopkins QlL)
lone million ifty-five thousand
81 hope they will be voted down. There
is not an honest dollar in them observed
Mr.. Hopkins.
Il agree with the gentleman" said Mr..
Dockery They are 400 years old, musty
and stale with age, and if there was
billion dollars of surplus L would not vote
for one of them
Mr.. Hopkins appealed to his side of the
House to vote them down.
Mr.. Evans Oky.) defended the report and
the French spoiiation claims Their justice
had been ascertained by the Court of
Claims, and the fact that they We're old did
not Justify the government in repudiating
them.
Mr.. Cannon said as an original PROPOSE
ton he had opposed the payment Of the
French spoliation claims. but the Fifty
first Congress had breathed into them the
breath of life by appropriating S1,o00.000
for them. The government stood commit
ted to them by legislation, and Congress
would have to pay them some time. He
had hastily examined the other claims and
thought they were fairly and equitably due.
They were the best of the 50 .00o.Oo0 Of
claims attached to the bill by the Senate.
Mr.. Mahon defended the action of the
conferees.
The conference report was adopted-1i9
to 81
The conference report upon the Indian
apolis public building bill was adopted.
Naval Personnel Bill.
The conference report upon the naval
personnel bill was adopted.
River and Harbor Bill.
Mr. Burton, chairman of the river and
harbor committee, then secured recognition,
and under suspension Of the rules moved
to non-concur in the Senate amendments to
the river and harbor bill and request con-
ference. In reply to a question Mr.. Burton
said that the action Of his committee was
unanimous. The friends Of the canal
amendment were satisfied with his motion.
No debate was demanded, and the motion
was carried without division. Messrs. Bur-
ton (Ohio), Reeves GllD and Catchings
(Miss.) We're appointed conferees
The bill appropriating S25,GD for a pubic
building at Carrolton, KY. which was laid
aside yesterday on the demand for read
ing of the engrossed bill, was passed.
The Census Bill.
The conference report upon the census
bill was called UP by Mr.. Hopkins. He ex-
planned the changes made by the conferees.
The report was adopted.
A bill was passed to set aside certain
lands in the Pacific forest reserve. in the
state of Washington, for the Washington
National Park.
Mr.. Walker (Mass) asked unanimous
consent fol the privilege of addressing the
House for an hour or the subject of bank
ing and currency He said he had served
ten years on the banking and currency
committee. and desired opportunity to
explain at length the results of his study
and Investigations.
MIR. Hull. another member of the commit
tee. asked similar privilege for thirty
minutes in which to reply to Mr.. Walker.
II object" shouted Mr. Cox CTex). "I
have heard both of those men until | am
tired of them Iaughter)
The conference report upon the bill to
reimburse the governors OF states for
money expended in organizing the troops
for service in the late Spanish war was
adopted.
General Deficiency Bill.
Mr. Cannon, chairman Of the appropria-
tions committee. was then recognized and
mov2d to pass the general deficiency appro-
priation bill under suspension of the rules.