Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-04-23
IN THE HOUSE.
Senate Omnibus Claims Bill Amend
ment Quickly Killed.

and on the heels of that action non
concurred in the whole Senate amend
ment (the various items having been
ruled to constitute single amend
men) and sent the bill to conference.
The Military Academy appropriation
bill was passed, today, after the limit
of cost Of the Improvements at West
Point had been reduced from $500, 900
to $500, 900 and the amount of the ap-
preparation in the bill from So, 900 900 to
$2,OO0,OO0.
The London dock charge bill was
called up but was not disposed of.
After some routine business the
House went into committee of the
whole and took up the consideration of
the Senate amendments to the omni-
buses claim bill.
AS passed by the House, the bill carried
about 100000 for the payment Of claims.
To this the Senate attached all the find
ings of the court of claims under the
Bowman and Tucker acts for captured
and abandoned property, French spolia
ton claims aggregating about $4,000 and
many miscellaneous claims aggregating
in all over $4,000.
Mahon Pa.), chairman Of the comndt-
tee on war claims, desired to non-concur,
in all the Senate amendments and send
the bill to conference. but there was OBJ
lection to this course on the Democratic
side.
Underwood (Ala.) moved TO strike on.
that portion of the Senate amendment
covering the findings of the Seifridg,
board, $l,O71 .425; churches and schools
So. 97i: state claims. si22,271 and miscel-
laneous claims, $1H.26O. The Selfridge
board claims, he said grew out of tn,
construction of vessels during the Civil
War and had been rejected by Congress:
in 1867 when they were fairly considered
Since then, he said. these claims had
passed in most cases into the hands of
others. They had been repeatedly consid-
cred and rejected by Congress.
Mahon CPa.) and Roberts (Mass.) de-
Tended the Selfridge board claims. Can
non Qll) opposed them. He said there
was n full settlement of the contracts
made with the claimants and he argued
that the claims had no legal standing.
After some further debate by Powers
(Mass.) and Sherman On. W in support
of the claims, Underwood's motion to
strike them out was. carried, 20 to r.
The bill then was sent to conference
Several private bills were passed ami
the House then resumed consideration OF
the Military Academy appropriation bill
Feeley Ull.) discussed briefly the ques-
ton of the violation of the neutrality
laws In connection with the shipment OF
mules and horses to South Africa.
When the item relating to the improve
ment at West Point was reached, or
motion of Hull. in charge of the bill
amendments were adopted reducing tn,
limit of cost of the improvements from
81. 100000 to S5,0o0.000 and the appropria-
ton carried by the bill from 100000 t,
$2.W00oo. The bill then was passed.
Fletcher Mimi. from the committe
on commerce, called up the bill to reduc,
the London dock charges. Grosveno
raised the question of consideration blu
the House voted, 135 to 81, to consider tn
bill.
Tawney explained that the bill modifie,
the Harter act so as to make it unlawful
for steamship managers or owners to in
corporate in the contracts of shippers liza
Dilities for dock charges. Tawney sait
that while the bill was general in term
1t would apply only to London. where
dock charge of four shillings per ton wa:
made when the cargo was not lande
within "A hours after arrival,
NO action was taken on the bill
The Speaker announced the appoint
ment of M3hOn (Pa.). Gibson CTenn.) ant
sims (Tenn.) as conferees on the omni
bus claims bill. The Senate amendment
10 the river and harbor bill was disa
greed to and the bill sent to conference
win burton (Ohio), Reeves Qll.) and