The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-05-14
Not Authorized to Add
Items Not Passed by
Either House.
CLAIMS BILL REPORT REJECTED
Speaker Sustains Objection Made by Mr..
Underwood - Bill Referred Back to
Conference Committee-Amendme on
Selfridge Board Findings Not Accept
able.

Representative Underwood Dem, Ala.)
| won q parliamentary victory yesterday.
| the fruits OF which was the refusal of
the House to agree 10 the conference re-
port On the omnibus claims bill This he
| followed up by defeating the Senate
amendment TO the measure which pro-
vides for the payment of the Selfridge
board claims.
Representative Mahon. the chairman Of
the Committee CT Claims. called up the
conference report Immediately after the
reading of the Journal. As the bill passed
the House it carried a total of s2l3. Jos,
but the Senate increased the total to
SHE. S5S. and the conference reduced the
amount TO s2.6si.s32. The claims of Cali
fornia, Nevada, and Oregon were stricken
out by the conference.
Not Passed by Either House.
Mr. Underwood made the point of
order against the report that the
conference committee had inserted in
their report items which had not
been passed by either the Senate or
siderable length and Mr.. Mahon made
reply.
The Speaker, however. sustained Mr..
Underwood's point. He declared that the
conference committee had no right to
add TO the measure items which neither
body had passed. The practice. he said.
IL encouraged would open a dangerous
pathway TO unwise legislation.
Under this ruling the report of the con-
ference committee was rejected. BY a
vote OF 100 to 10 the bill was again sent
TO conference.
The Selfridge Board Findings.
Mr.. Underwood then moved that the
House conferees be instructed not to
agree to the Selfridge board findings.
These claims have been before Congress
for many years. They involve In the ag-
gregate about 100000, and originated
shortly after the civil war. A number
of contractors undertook TO construct for
the Government iron-clad sunboats Of the
Monitor type. and the result was more or
less of failure
During war time the price of material
was very high. and 1t has been claimed
by the contractors that the Government
changed its contracts. Congress called
upon the Secretary OF the Navy for in
upon this point. and he reported
that no change whatever had been made
by the Government in the original con-
tracts.
The Selfridge board was then appointed
to ascertain the difference in the value Of
the material and the cost of labor at the
time the contracts were made and the
time when the work was executed. The
board reported its findings amounting to
about two millions of dollars. These we're
turned down by Congress.
Marchand Board Report.
Following this the Marchand board was |
appointed TO investigate the Selfridge find |
ngs, and reported Just claims to the |
amount OF s2s1, 900. and this amount was
paid and the remainder rejected.
Since that time several efforts have |
been made to have the remainder OF the |
Of the Selfridge board allowed. !
and during the present Congress the eff 4
'orts have been revived by adding them as |
one OF the amendments in the Senate to
he House claims bill.
Mr. Underwoods motion TO instruct the |
,onferees not. TO agree to the Selfridge |
BOARD findings was carried by 4 vote of |
q to "a.
Mr.. Roberts (Rep.. Mass.) demanded the
,eas and nays, and on a roll call the
70. ,ria 40