Evening star., 1902-02-06
PASSED BY THE SENATE.
Action Taken Upon the Urgent De-
ficiency Bill.

Just before adjournment yesterday after
noon the Senate passed the urgent def
cheney bill substantially in the shape in
which it was reported to the Senate by the
committee.
There was further discussion after The
Stars report was closed yesterday after
noon of the case of Judge Arthur H. Moves
of the district court Of Alaska and Alex
ander Mckenzie and Others which Mr..
Tillman had brought to the attention of
the Senate a couple of days previously.
The first amendment to the urgent def
cheney bill was that appropriating $JO0oO0
for the establishing at Manila of a mill
tary post, including the construction of
barracks, etc. In response to an inquiry
Mr.. Hale explained that the Senate COM
m:ttee had inserted in the bill the Ian
guage always employed in providing for
army posts. The appropriation was put
upon the pending bill because it was de-
sirable that the work should be begun at
once
Without further comment the amend
ment was agreed to.
An amendment providing s4J0.052 (Mexi-
cam to reimburse the Philippine insular
funds for small gunboatS and ordnance
stores turned over to the navy by the mil
itary authorities at Manila caused Mr.. Till
man to make some inquiries Mr. Hale re-
piled that the Secretary Of the Navy had
made estimates for the purchase of the
vessels and stores on the recomme ndation
OF board of officers.
Mr.. Tihman insisted, however that the
record did not show where the vessels came
from and what had been paid for them.
1t does not appear from the record"
said he that the money was honestly ex-
pended This whole business is entirely
too slipshod and slack twisted for an hon.
est government"
It was explained by Mr. Hale that the
from private parties and had been con-
verted into gunboats. They were being
used for patrol duty among the islands.
Mr.. Bacon Joined Mr.. Tillman in CRITICS.
ing the amendment because sufficiently def
mite Information regarding it had not been
furnished. He urged that the item be held
up temporarily, at least. as he was GER
tain the tnsular treasury was in no i'm
mediate need of the money.
Mr.. Teller said there probably would be
degree Of looseness about all the ac-
counts coming from the Philippines but he
was not particularly opposed to the pend
doubtful that the money actually had been
expended.
The amendment was agreed to.
The amendment providing that the archi-
tect Of the Capitol shall be designated here
after as the superintendent of the Capitol
building. to be appointed by the President
by and with the advice and consent Of the
Senate was adopted, together with an
the architectural features Of the Capitol
building or in the landscape features of
the Capitol grounds should be made with
out the approval Of Congress.
The committee amendment striking out
the paragraph reducing the number of land
offices in Alaska to one. to be located at
Sitka. aroused considerable discussion. Mr..
Cockrell sharply attacked the proposition
to strike out the paragraph because at only |
one Of the offices were the receipts OF any
consequence, and at one. the expenses OF |
which were in excess of 81 600 annually, the
receipts were only SO. He contended that
the House provision ought to stand. After
a long discussion the House paragraph was
stricken out and another substituted re-
duc,ng the number of land offices and land
districts in Alaska to one the location Of
which shall be fixed by the President and
the President may establish additional
land office for the land district In Alaska |
when In his opinion the public service de-
mands 1t.
The adoption of this amendment COM
pleted the committee amendments.
The bill then was passed
The Senate then, at o'clock. on motion 4
of Mr.. Cullom. went into executive session. |
and at $50 adjourned.