The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-29
LUXURY ON OUR TRANSPORTS.
briggs REFERRED TO SUMMERS
PALATIAL FITTINGS.

Compared the New Transport With
Her $1,000 silver Service and Cut
Glass TumbIers, to IA MiIIiOnaire's
yacht-Au Came Up in the Discus
sion of the Army BiIl-EffOrt to
Cut Down the Travel Allowance
of soldiers Failed.
Washington, March 2S.-The House, aft
er passing the Senate bill to approve an
adjustment of the sales of Otoe and Mis-
souria lands in Kansas and Nebraska,
made 10 settlers in 1888, and agreeing to
the conference report on the pension APP
preparation bill, devoted the remainder
of the day to the consideration Of the
army appropriation bill. Several minor
amendments were adopted and half the
bill was covered.
Mr.. Mahon of Pennsylvania, moved an
amendment to prevent the Secretary Of
War from employing clerks from outside
the pale of the civil service in his de-
partment This was adopted
An amendment offered on behalf of the
committee by Mr.. Ashe of Wisconsin, to
reduce the appropriation for travel al
lowance to enlisted men on discharge from
SO 900. 900 to $2OO0,OO0 and to provide a
mileage Communication at the rae of four
cents a mile, went out on a point of or
der.
Extravaganza in Transports.
Speaking of a pro forma amendment
Mr.. briggs of New York called attention
TO a newspaper article describing the lux
urlous fittings of the transport Sumner,
which. he said was ramodeled at enor-
nous cost. Mr.. briggs said the enormity
of the extravaganza in the fitting of the
shin was beyond credence. An 5000
silver service had been placed in her, he
said with cut glass tumblers which cost
"a cents apiece The palatial furnishings
of the Sumner were such as could be
found nowhere except upon a million
aires Yacht He conrasted the condition
of this transport with those employed
hv the government when the soldiers were
being sent out TO fight their countrys bat
ties during the Spanish War Mr.. briggs
said he proposed to introduce resolution
to investigate the extravaganza in httlng
up the Sumner.
Mr., Hull said the other side was now
occupying a strange position. During
the war the complaint was that the
TRANSPORTS were not good enough. Now
the COMPLAINT was that our soldiers were
TO be treated too well. Mr.. Hull eulo-
eized our transport system, which, he
said. was the best in the world. If there
was reckle ss extravaganza in fitting out
the transports, Mr.. Hull said, this infor-
nation could be obtained a the war de-
nartment. But he predicted, If the infor-
nation was called for 1t would be found
that while the troopships had been fitted
up splendidly, there had been no reck-
lessness in the expenditure.
Mr.. briggs said his only desire was TO
criticise unjuedfiable extravaganza.
Lentz's Amendment Ruled Out.
Mr. L.entz Of Ohio offered an amend
ment providing that no part Of the money
appropriated for the pay Of the army
should be paid to the son Of any member
~ Congress who had secured his appoint
ment since the destruction Of the battle
shin Maine. II was ruled out on a point Of
order
Recurring to the newspaper article read
nv MIR. briggs, MIR. Wheeler Of Kentucky,
delivered an appeal against extravaganza.
II IL was unpatriotic to protest against
that. he said, he was willing to take the
responsibility Of being unpatriotlc.
MIR. Cochran of Missouri also invelghed
against prohigacy IN expenditures.
without completing the consideration OF
the bill the conference report on the urg
ent deficiency bill was agreed TO, and at
$40 D. M, the House adjourned.