Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-03-09
CLOSE IN the HOUSE,
Proceedings Dragged AFTER Mid
ni9ht..Timc Killed nv Recesees.

Washington, March 4.-Tls. bo.1s.l
proceedings dragged after midnight,
as the conferees OH the various appro-
priation bills were not ready to report.
Time was killed by frequent recesses.
At 1880 o'clock the river and harbor
conference agreement was reported by
Chairman Burton.
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, raised point
of order against the canal amendment
us not germanc and as new legislation
by conference, opening up the entire
question Of routes, whereas the orig
inal bill contemplated only the Mica
ragua route. The point was ruled out
as coming too late.
The conference report was agreed
to, which sent the bill to the president.
AT 5 o'clock Mr.. Boutclle presented
partial conference report on the ma.
val bill. 1t covered everything except
three big items: New ships, the price
OF armor and q government armor fac
tory. Mr.. Boutelle said the senate
conferees were weakening, particular
ly in the reduction of the number of
Few ships to be built. He thought the
house would win on the next confer
ence. The partial report was agreed
to and the three main items sent back
to the conference.
At that hour only the naval, sundry
civil, deficiency and District of Colum-
lila appropriation bills were under con-
ference.
AT 7:45 o'clock the District of Co
lumbia conference report was present
ed and an extended debate occurred on
the sectarian charitable institutions.
Mr.. Henderson made a stirring ap-
peal for the rejection of the confer
ence report as a concession to secret
organization, but the report was
adopted.
At o'clock full agreement was re-
ported by conferees on the deficiency
appropriation bill and agreed to.
At $3.50 Mr.. Boutelle presented a
full agreement report on the naval
bill. He explained that the senate
yielded on the number of ships U2),
while the house yielded to the senate
on the provision fixing the price of
armor plate at $500. The provision
for government armor plate factory
was eliminated. The report was
adopted and recess till 10:30 taken.
AT II o'clock the final ceremonies be-
gan. A committee was appointed to
wait on the president to inform him
the house was ready to adjourn and q
recess was taken for half hour.
Speaker snubs Wheeler.
At 11:45 the hands of the clock were
set back ten minutes. Then came u
most dramatic episode. General
Wheeler, of Alabama, who has careful
~ refrained from exercising the priv
ileges of. a member, pending deter
mination of the question of his right
to a seat, arose and loudly asked for
recognition.
The speakers face flushed slightly,
but he looked straight ahead as if he
did not hear.
II ask unanimous consent to speak
five minutes" shouted Wheeler, but
the speaker disregarded him.
Mr.. Payne. floor leader of the ma
jority. hurried to the rescue and moved
a recess for ten minutes.
Pending that, l ask unanimous con-
sent to speak three minutes" demand
ed General Wheeler. The speaker
turned toward him and, looking
straight into the gray eyes of the gen
eral ignored his request completely,
putting the motion of Mr.. Payne, and
declaring it carried. :.
Mr.; Payne, speaker pro tenn, was in
the chair when the. committee to wait
on the president returned.
Mr.. Dalzell announced that the pres
ident had no further communication
to make. >: =,
"The president requested 'us to
state" he continued, "thattht Fifty
fifth congress has performed it's ex-