The age-herald., 1900-12-18
THE HOUSE PASSES
 THE BOUTELLE BILL Senate Fixes Date to Vote on the
 Hay-PauncefOte Treaty OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED Effort to Get Montana Senatorial Case Up Again Proves Futile-onIy
 Routine Business Was 8 Transacted.
OTHER MATTERS CONSIDERED


 Washington, December 17.-Under sus- pension of the rules the House today passed bills to divide Kentucky and West Virginia into two judicial districts to cre- ate another district judge in the Northern district onf Ohio and to refer to the Secre- tary of the Interior for investigation the claim of the State of Texas for moneys ex- pended on public improvements in Greer County before the decision of the Supreme Court placed it within the Jurisdiction Of Oklahoma. An attempt was made to pass a bill to give soldiers and sailors of the civil war, Spanish war and the war in the Philippines preference in the matter of ap- pointment to and retention in positions in the executive departments of the govern ment, but 1t aroused opposition on the ground that it would practically shut out of the government employ for years to come all civilians, and was overwhelming ly defeated. One hundred and two private pension bills were passed.
 Just before the House adjourned fine tribute was paid to Representative Charles A. years in Congress and who had been re- elected to the Fifty-seventh Congress.
 MT. Littlefield of Maine asked unanimous consent for the consideration of bill to place him on the retired list as a captain in the navy, MT. Boutelle having been in the navy during the civil war.
 Mr. Littlefield said that MT. Boutelle's condition was such that he undoubtedly would resign. The condition of the Maine Representative was well known to many of the Representatives present, and all though some of them were inclined to pro- test against the proposed legislation as es- tablishing a dangerous precedent, no ob- jection was made and the bill was passed.
 Individual Suspension Day.
 This was individual suspension day in the House. The speaker first recognized MT. Cromwell of Ohio, who moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill reported by the civil service commission to give prefer ence to honorably discharged soldiers in the executive departments of the government. It provided that honorably discharged sol diers of the civil war and after them hon- orably discharged soldiers of the Spanish war and the war in the Philippines be given preference both in the appointment of office and retention therein; and that loss of limbs or any other physical impairment which does not incapacitate shall not dis qualify them.
 Mir. Hepburn of Iowa asked if 1t would be in order to move an amendment to strike out that portion of the bill provid- ing that persons thus preferred shall not be removed except for cause upon charges and after a hearing"
 The speaker replied that 1t would not
 MT. Cromwell explained that the bill as originally introduced was the bill prepared Nl... provisions of the existing law, giving pref erence to honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the civil was maimed or suffer- ing physical impairment, to all soldiers honorably discharged. The committee had further extended it to veterans of the war with Spain and of the war in the Philip pines.
 Mir Richardson asked why the soldiers of the Mexican war were not included. In this era of good feeling, why not include the soldiers and sailors of all wars?
 Mir. Cromwell replied that there was less reason for including the soldiers of the Mexican war now than when the original law was passed.
 MT. GiEett of Massachusetts, the chair man of the civil service committed pro- tested vigorously against the bill.
 MT. Hepburn of Iowa also opposed the bill on the ground it made an appointment a vested right.
 MT. Grosvenor of Ohio took the same po- sition.
 MT. Sulzer of New York supported the measure, which he said had been asked for by every Grand Army post in the coun- try
 MT. Mccall of Massachusetts and Mir Fowler of New York also opposed the bill.
 On a rising vote the bill was defeated 51 to 105
 An urgent deficiency bill, carrying s1S2,- EN fAr a.,e. of Representatives, Indian affairs, District of Columbia and the National Home for Disabled Soldiers, was passed. . Bills were passed to divide the States of West Virginia and Kentucky each into two judicial districts.
 Other Bills.
 The Senate bill to provide for an addi- tional district judge for the northern dis trict of Ohio was passed. It is designed to relieve from duty Judge Kicks, who has been incapaciated for some time,
 MT. Lanham of Texas moved the passage under suspension of the rules of a bill 10 authorize the Secretary of the Interior to fix the boundary between Texas and Okla homa and to inquire into the claims of the State of Texas for moneys expended while Greer County was a part of Texas.
 MT. Payne of New York opposed the bill, claiming that Texas had benefits from OANSA (Ouiity p9 tliS Sdlo Ol puDllC ldnuS, etc, while Texas was exercising jurisdc- ton over it, and that the State had no valid claim for the public improvements made during that period.
 MT Ray of New York. chairman of the judiciary committee, denied that Texas ever had received a penny for the public lands of Greer County. The object of the bill was simply to have the Secretary of the h. terior investigate the facts and report them to Congress.
 MT. Lacey of Iowa controverted MT. Rays statement, asserting that before the public lands committee Judge Brown, rep the settlers in Greer County, had stated that they had agreed to pay to the State of Texas $2 per acre. The bill was passed, 110 to 36 The House then passed l02 private pension bills, and then, on mo- tiara af AIr Iittlnaold af AIairn nnno.atoi