The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-02-12
Large Amount to Be Expended
 for Improvements
WILL ADD ID TIE CAPITOL
3,oooo ooo Appropriation for Erection of an Office Building for Members of Congress Is Authorized
 By the House.

Washington. February 1.-The house today made fair progress with the sum dry civil appropriation bill covering ss of the 156 pages of the measure. The amendments of which Mir Cannon gave notice yesterday for the completion of the east front of the capitol and the erection of an office building for members were adopted, points of order raised against them being overcome by a special rule asking them in order. By the terms of the amendment s5O0.O0o is appropriated for work on the main buildings of the capi- tol and a limit of s2.0OoOOO is fixed. For A site for new office building, s75O,O00 Is appropriated, the cost of the building to be $s,OOOOOo
 Location of Buildings.
 Provision Is made that the committee room building shall be constructed ac- cording to plans drawn under act of May 3l 19O1 and erected on one of the squares bounded by street south, F street south First street south and First street west Construction Is to be under the control of the superintendent of the
  pervision created by the amendment to consist of three men elected by the Fifty eighth congress. A commission consist ing of three senators and three members elect of the Fifty-eighth congress also Is created to supervise and direct the work of extending and completing the capitol
 On motion of Mr. Jones, (Washingtone the appropriation for the survey and te- survey of public lands was increased from s325,O00 to $i000O0 The appropriation for Investigating the water supply of the United States and the best method of utilizing water reservoirs was increased from slO0,000 to s2000O0 An amendment was adopted to continue the office of railroad commissioner, which was to terminate July 90, 1903 until June 3, 1904.
 $7oo, ,ooo for an Exhibit.
 Amendments were adopted to appro- priate s70000O to defray the expenses the agricultural colleges of the St Louis i exposition and to appropriate $50,0O0 for building for the Alaskan exhibit; s25.- GOO for an Indian Territory exhibit. The house adopted a senate bill to authorize the Memphis, Helena and Louisiana rail- road to construct a bridge across the St. Francis river in Arkansas and the bill reported by the ways and means com mittee yesterday to amend the Dingley act so as to admit free of duty domestic animals for breeding purposes was passed
 Governor Odell of New York. was on the floor when the house met this morn- ing. Adjournment was taken at 5:15 p. In-
 THE SENATE.
 MT. Hanna today called up the confer- ence report on the department Of com merce bill, and 1t was agreed to without debate. The bill now goes to the Presi- dent.
 Mir Morgan almost immediately after the opening of the session resumed his remarks on the statehood bill, hut branched off on the subject of the pre- posed treaty with Colombia. He referred to the concordat of Pope Plus IX which constituted a part of the organized law of Columbia. and said that the United States intended to put the heel of ignominous contempt upon 1t. He predicted a return of the hostilities between the old church party in Colombia and the liberal party.
 MT. Depew spoke in opposition to the statehood bill
 He said the head of the Mormon church, who is the spiritual and temporal guide of the Mormon people, was in a position to say to the leaders of both political parties, what will you do to protect Nor monism? If there is any falliblity in the world. he said, 1t Is the judgment at election time of the political leaders of any party.
 "If that Is true MT. Patterson of Col orado, inquired, why did the republi- can party two years ago make a greater bid for the Mormon vote than did the democrats?
 Replying, MT. Depew said both parties made every possible bid but the Nor mons trusted the republicans. which caused laughter He characterized the ..af,-r nF ~t,ta bill as a sham and said there had been no proposition from the democratic side to strengthen 1t. Mir Teller said that if a day would be set when a vote could be taken, the democrats would all join in strengthening the provision referred to. Mir Depew had not concluded. when at 41O the senate went into executive session adiourning at 4:55 D. m., until