The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-04
FAILURE TO AGREE ON THE
CONFERENCE REPORT.
Insistence Upon Disagreement to I'm
portant Items in the Civil Sun
dry Bill Causes Sessions
During the Night
Special Dispatch to The Call.

| i've Jay OF THIS congress were DelnH
enacted. Step by step the leaders in
charge of the appropriation bills
pushed them through the final stages.
and during every lull in the consider
alton of the conference reports. mem
bers clamored for recognition for be-
lated local bills in the vain hope Of
rescuing them from death on the calen-
dar.
At times the House was like bedlam
Pound as the Speaker would with his
gavel, 1t was almost impossible to pre-
serve order, and to the casual visitor
in the gallery, the proceeding on the
floor must have been about as intelli-
gible as an exciting day in the wheat
pit would be to a parish priest. The
noise and confusion on the floor. pune
tuated with the constant banging of
the Speakers gavel or the droning
voice of the clerk; irate members fac
ing each other and talking at the
same time; pages scurrying UP and
down the aisles-all this was utterly
distracting. But the people in the gal
leries stayed and there were a dozen
persons in line in the corridors wait
ing for every vacant seat. so great is
the attraction of a dying Congress.
Walker of Massachusetts. after many
unsuccessful attempts, got an opportun-
ity during the afternoon to voice his
views on currency reform. and severe
ly criticized some of his Republican
colleagues. When the great beacon
light on the dome of the Capitol blazed
forth as darkness fell, thousands upon
thousands were attracted to the brill
at
toll where the two houses were to sit
out the night. In the reserved galleries
of the House were congregated the
elite of the society of the national CAPT
tai, while the public galleries were
banked to the doors. Stylishly gowned
ladies, and men in evening dress add
ed eclat to the occasion.
The big questions in dispute between
the two houses being naturally the last
to be adjusted, were postponed far into
the night From time to time short
recesses were taken. These were sim
ply breathing spells, however. and soon
the leaders were at it harder than
ever.
At IL o'clock the House entered upon the
last legislative day of the session.
When Walker, chairman of the Commit =
tee on Banking and Currency, took the
floor under the privilege granted him
earlier in the day, he made statement,
had made during a long series OF years
to secure monetary legislation. In this
connection he answered published crit
ciSms of his course and went into an elaD-
crate explanation of the long fight in his
committee which resulted in the report OF
a bill and its subsequent Withdrawal.
His colleague, Barrett (R.) OF MaSsa-
chusetts demanded an opportunity to re-
ply claiming that Walker had agreed TO
yield him time. This Walker denied, say
ing he always kept his promises TO Goa
and man hut mot according to the stand
ards of his colleagues.
Barrett denounced the denial as an "un-
mitigated falsehood.
Walker proceeded to criticize the cur
rency committee selected by Grosyenor,
chairman of the Republican caucus. Walk
er spoke in high terms of ii. ii. llama
of the Indianapolis monetary committee,
but denounced the manner in which he
and his colleagues had lobbied about the
capitol for alleged currency reform
1.-THE difficulty with these reformers,
said he. lis that they obtain their facts
from canvasback and terrapin and their
arguments from champagne. the result
"D 9oC you expect the next Congress" in
terposed johnson (Fl) of Indiana, ito
ton worthy of the name? do not. -.
IF it does" replied Walker, 'it will
mean certain defeat for the Republican
party. There is more dynamite CON
nected with banking and currency than
any subject ever introduced in the House.
Any party that attempts the settlement
of the currency question VIII De
cannon presented the conference report
upon the sundry civil appropriation bill
and moved it's adoption; He explained
briefly the points upon which the confer
ence had agreed and the report was
adopted. Upon the items still In dispute
he moved that the House lnSlSt upon us
disagreement.
cable amendment. He earnestly adv9-
ment. He said the Government should
build the cable
The motion to concur in the Pacihc ca
Bile amendment modified so as to include
the other amendment, appropr1atlng S5oO,-
900 for a cable steamer was defeated
n to 102.
agreement to the items of the sundry civil
bill still in dispute and agreed 10 fo Iur-
ther conference The House co con
their disagreement to the Senate amend
ment increasing the salaries of apprais-
ers at Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Chicago.
At $40 the House took recess until s
O'Clock.
the recess, Notwithstanding the drench-
ing rain outside, great crowds had con-
gregated In the galleries to witness the
closing scenes. The hall was brilliantly
illuminated and a large majority of the
members were in their seats As none OF
the big conference reports were ready an
other recess was taken until $50 o'clock.
When the House reconVened, the hnal
conference report upon the bill to codify
the criminal laws of Alaska was adopted.
Slow progress was made on conference
reports. The District of Columbia appro-
priation bill was sent back to confer
ence. The deficiency appropriation bill
was sent back to conference The naval
conferees presented partial report
which was agreed to. It carried aggre-
gates only on routine features.
A lengthy debate followed on the first
disagreement on the Cathmann gun, and
motion to concur in the Senate amend
ment for the guns was defeated
Underwood CD of Alabama moved to
concur in the Senate amendment author
izing Government armor factory. After
a short debate the ayes and noes were
ordered and the motion to concur was
lost-SS to leland the naval bill returned
to conference.
The House passed the army appropria-
toin bill with all Senate amendments, and
the bill now goes to the President
The House agreed to second partial
report on the sundry civil bill.
The Pacific cable amendment remained
open. the House refusing to concur In it.