The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-12-17
w WASHISGTON, IL. u, Lee. IA, 1904
THF MAINE DELEGATION.


Letter froni Washington.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. IA, 1sos
THF MAINE DELEGATION.
To-day being the one devoted 10 the call OF
States, there was great activity on the part of
members, all anxious TO get their measures
and motions in train for action before the re-
cess. Mr.. Peters had sharp struggle over
his important bill for the protection of the
North Western Frontiers, and his motion to
refer it to select committee of seven.
The bill offered by Mr. Peters, provides for
the payment of interest on the Massachu-
setts war debt Of 1912, which that State and
Maine have donated to the building oil a rail-
road through Maine to the frontier portion of
New Brunswick. it also provides for the
payment for same purposes OF certain sums
claimed by Maine arising under the Ashbur-
ton Treaty.
Mr.. Peters object in desiring Its reference
to select committee was TO secure reporf
on it, which If it went in the ordinary way to
the Military Committee, would probably not
DE the case. General Garfield opposed tie
special reference, and after a division, secur-
ed its reference to the committee on Military
Affairs.
/ Mr. Lynch later in the day secured the
! naming OF a day for the consideration of bis
''specie payments" bill, after sharp fight
with General Schenck who opposed the ref
erence. The bill, it will be remembered was
last session set down for the Second Tuesday
4 n DpnQmhQr nfT, naIf r..
Lynch gotta wrong impression, and supposed
the day Set apart was the second Tuesday In
the session.
The matter is now arranged salts lactorily,
and Mr.. Lynch's measure is gaining ground
steadily.
| THE NEW BUDGET.
| The var.ors departments have concluded
their estimates for both deficiencies of the
present year and the appropriations OF the
ensuing fiscal year.
| The additional appropriations required fer
the current fiscal year amount 10 81 345 ,121,
OF which nearly fourteen millions are for the
War Department, principally for the Quarter
master General and on account OF the Indian
war. Seven and a quarter millions will be
required for tie "civil and miscellaneous"
items, including three quarters of million
deficiencies for the General Post Office during
last yesr, and nearly four millions for the
current one.
For the next fiscal year, the estimates call
fer: Interest on the Public Debt, S12S, ,0OO,-
900; and Tor the general expenditures of the
Government, grand total of S15s,O14,O11; of
this the principal amounts are: Pensions,
S23 250,O00; Indian Bureau, 81, ,94O, 1882; Ar
my, S52, ,791; for the Navy, S2O,993,4 Ala;
for river and harbors, Notifications etc., eight
and a half millions are asked. This is
about S25,O00,000 less than the estimates of
last year.
The total appropriations for the present
fiscal year, including the Alaska purchase
money, amounting TO sl60355, 1892 80.
The items Tor rivers, harbors, public build
ings, Notifications, will be reduced to zero or
nearly so, and it is not now anticipated that
the indian war will be long continued. II
this turns out so, the army estimates will be
| reduced many millions. The total expences
are expected therefore to be considerably
within the amounts appropriated.
The exhibit on the whole is quite fattering
as the total amount required, even at
this showing, will be for public debt interest
Sl2S,O0O,OOO, for general expenditures about
s145, 100000, a total of 273OO0OOO. 1t will
probably be nearer s25oOOO, 600; without con-
sideripg the bounty fund balance.
NIB. wAHBURNE AND GENERAL LEe1sLA-
| TON.
The member from Illinois is actively en-
gagged in urging upon members the inexpedi-
ency OF doing anything in the way of legisla-
ton beyond what is absolutely needed for the
governments working; on the other hand it
is said Gen. Schenck urges action on the re-
vised tax bill of last session. There is evil
IDENTIFY some feeling between these two infu-
entlal gentleman. The Chairman of the Com
mittee OF Ways and Means is always deemed
the technical leader of the House. BY court
esy, when the new appropriation committee
was formed and Mr.. Stevens made its chair
man, he was considered the leader. Gen.
Schenck expected to assume that position but
the Illinois Warwick" was not willing and
stepped in at the beginning OF busin ess to
make motions, the right to do which by court
eSy is accorded 10 the leader.
There is a growing belief here, that Mr..
Washburne will be the next Secretary OF the
Treasury. 1t is almost certain that the Ili-
nois member himself thinks so.
But he ought to exhibit little more tact,
and put other parties up to making some of
the objections he is constantly urging against
nearly all measures that DO net come through
his committee or are not ground out by his
Individual mill. He is very useful man but
fast getting to be regarded like the fabulous
shepherd was who cried "wolt'' so often that
when the fellow really came, no one would
believe him. There is need of some legisa-
ton, beyond the appropriation bill, though
not of the kind we have suggested to-day as
likely to occur.
l refer to rene val of the two dollar GAL
Ion whiskey tax, which is now being urged by
an influential lobby who are so confident of
success as to be actively engaged in purchas-
ing whskey largely Tor the profits on the
margin thus offered. 1t is declared that
General Schenck will offer such a bill. This
much is certain that shrewd operators are
buying large quantities OF whiskey, and 1t is
suppose5 on the eynectation of the incraa sod