The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-21
Mr. Mr. Lamb Confident Of Having
Omnibus Bill Amended.
MAY BE DONE IN SENATE.
Mr.. R'xey Had an Amendment to Naya
Bill Adopted WhichWi 4 Work Big !.
Saving to the Govern
ment. ,..
by Walter Edward Harris.

Especial to The TmcB.DispAtch.) S5sA
WASHINGTON, d. c., February 20
Representative Lamb Is quito hopeful Of
getting an amendment put on the omni-
bus public buildings bill allowing the
Secretary OF the Treasury to select a site
Tor the Richmond postoflcc and pay there
for the sum OF $4,000. Flo saw Chair
man Mercer. OF tho Committee on Pub
lie Buildings, again to-day with reference
10 allowing the amendment to be put on.
Mr., Mercer did not commit himself. but
he would not say positively that he would
not allow 1t to be DONE
It is probable. however. that IL the bill
Is amended in the particular indicated It
will have to be done in the Senate. The
idea Is prevalent in the House that the
Senate will add a number of amendments,
load down" the bill with additional ap-
propriations, as the Congressman term
II. SO they oppose putting on such amend
ments IN the House now. So 1t may be
that an amendment OF the nature OF the
one proposed by Captain Lamb will be
added In the Senate and concurred In by
the House.
Representative Maynard is endcavoring
to have added to the bill an amendment
providing for the appropriation OF the adj
diuonal sum OF $1,000 for the purchase OF
site for new postof1ce building in
Portsmouth. He thinks he will have to
have the amendment put on In the SEN
ate and have the House concur. II he
gets what he wants.
But there Is not very good chance
that either Mr.. Lamb or Mr.. Maynard
VIII succeed In their efforts.
OFTEN BILL.
Representative Lamb was busy to-day
getting signatures to petition to the
Speaker requesting that the Often bill,
prohibiting the giving away OF coupons
in manufactured tobacco. be allowd to
have hearing at this session. Mr.. Lamb
said he had secured nearly 200 signatures
TO the paper. A great many Republicans
have signed It. There Is strong proba-
bility that the bill will come up Mon
day or Tuesday. In case the bill Is
bought up there Is every reason to be-
licve 1t will pass.
Mr.. Rixey has succeeded in having a
most important amendment put on the
naval appropriation bill. which will re-
suit in large annual saving to the
government. The amendment provides
for an expenditure OF $500 In extend
Ing the government works at the Indian
Head proving ground to enable the gov
eminent to- manufacture Its own powder.
The powder now used In the tests Of
new guns is purchased at 80 cents
n pound. The government can manu-
facture 1t at a cost OF 40 cents pound.
The saving to the government will
Y du1ouHH+SO $4vy,vU n EyeAC.-p.
The committee OF conference on the
Philippine coinage bill has accepted the
bill which passed the Senate a day or
two ago. The Senate bill was the same
MS that which was reported by the Insu-
lar Committee of the House, but which
Representative Jones. OF Virginia. leading
the Democratic minority. and twenty
eight Republicans. succeeded in defeat
ing, and substituting therefor bill
which the Republicans of the Ins,ilar
Committee turned down. The Senate
promptly rejected the bill which the
House passed. and passed practically the
bill reported to the House. The SEN
ate bill. however. contained provision
authorizing the President to appoint
commission to meet a similar commits
sion from other silver-using countries,
to fix ratio at which silver Is to be
maintained in the countries and possess
sions of the countries represented by the
commissioners. The committee of con.
ference struck out this feature.
Representative Jones succeeded In hav-
ing consideration of the conference report
postponed until Tuesday. He told me to-
day he should make fight for the bill
which originally passed the House. but he
admitted he did not think the chances Of
Its passage were good number of
Republicans who voted for the bill when
it passed the House have told him they
could not stand the pressure and would
have to vote for the measure reported
from the conference committee.
Hon. John s. Barbour, of Culpeper. was
at the Capitol to-day. Mr.. Barbour Is
here looking up some matters In the LII
brary, and will remain several days