The New York herald., 1873-12-17
THE CALIFORNIA sENAToRsHIP.
A Melee Of Party Interests InyOlv-
ing the Contestants.
Astonishing Developments in the
Appropriations Committee.
How Style Is Maintained by Governmental
0iiicials---Retrenchmenl the Order.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16 1873
Passage of Trcmain's Bankrupt Bill.
with Amendments Providing for Re-
peal In Future Cases.
Mr.. Tremain tried to force his Bankrupt bill
through the House this afternoon, but he was de-
feated upon his motion for the previous question.
Mr.. Beck's amendment providing for the settle
ment OF all cases now pending was passed by
vote OF 122 to 49, The debate, limited to two hours
and giving 10 minutes to each speaker,
was very spirited. ALI the speeches, except
that OF Judge White. Of Alabama, were
kept within the allotted time. Tremain opened
the debate in a nowery speech OF generalities.
Mr.. Wilson, OF Indiana followed in short speech,
opposing the bill on the ground that was in the
interest OF Jay Cooke Co. Eldridge, Of Wisconsin.
did not believe any such thing. Mr. Frye strongly
opposed the bill,' making good 0ratorical erort.
Mr. Hale. his colleague did not agree with him in
some Of his statements. Judge Jowett of ohio, a
new democratic member, favored repeal in o dry,
technical speech Jasper d. Ward, OF Illinois, spoke
with much force in favor of Tremain's bill, and
Judge Poland opposed total repeal CarksOn
N Potter was in favor of repeal, but could not
approve OF Mr. Tremain's method OF
making it. General Butler closed the debate
in a BRIEF pointed speech, summing up the reasons
to be given In favor OF the bill. Tremain wanted
OF the discussion the fact that the debate was
confined to the Judiciary Committee, all but one Of
its number participating. ON calling the previous
question, an attempt was made to kill Off all
amendments but Mr.. Beck, of Kentucky, succeeded
IN getting in one which provides for total repeal
as to future cases. but providing for the settlement
of all pending cases, the fees in every instance to
be but one half Of those now levied.
The House Committee ON Appropriations
Seriously at WOrk-Extraordinary De-
velopments, and Moro Expectcd-How
Officials Do the Thing in style.
The House Committee on Appropriations at their
meeting to-day heard a statement from the Post
master General in explanation of the deficiency in
his department, which, he says, is on account OF
change of grade in front OF the General Post Office
building The Postmaster General then advised
the committee that he felt every encouragement
from the reports OF his bureau officers that the
estimates OF his department could be materially
reduced
The committee Is seriously in earnest on the sub
ect OF retrenchment, and have agreed among
themselves that $40 000 900 can be cut on the estl
mates sent in for 1875, without embarrassing the
operations OF the government. The principal
items Of reduction, it is suggested by the commit
tee, should be Notifications, river and harbor i'm
provements and public buildings. The amount for
the three first is about $685. 5000, which, In the
opinion OF the committee, might be brought down
to s13 600 000a saving OF 800 0o0OeO. In regard to
public buildings, they declare that at Dover. Del;
Atlanta, Ga. Covington, KY; Memphis, Tenn. Lin
coin, Neb.;. Grand Rapids, Mich; Evansville
and part OF q lot at Indianapolis, Ind. public
buildings were voted and appropriated for
amounting to about $4,000, which had never
received the sanction Of the committee In all
the departments there are evidences OF too little
estimates, and the committee is in hopes that the
revised list called for may come within the limit
believed by them suficient to administer the gov
ernment economically and successfully. The
Indian estimates are also considered entirely too
high. Not wholly relying upon the action OF the
executive departments, the committee is to have
list of additional appropriations for the last fiscal
year made. The statement, though yet incomplete,
indicates that the amount will reach from $50 600 600
! to $25,OOO0o0.
| The result OF this investigation has already
| startled the committee. When they consider that
the regular appropriations for 1874 summed up
BOG, 600. 0O0 and the extras not included in the
| above at least $40 900, which makes the enor.
nous total Of $326 900 900, they are overtaken with
| no little astonishment. The contingent fund Of
the Treasury Department for the past few years
/ is also being overhauled and some curious, not
to say extraordinary, features are exposed and
will have to be explained. For instance, In a single
/
for ice at cent pound, amounting to nearly
| 1000 pounds day, and gas $4,000. 1t is
alleged that private ice and gas bills OF officers of
! the department are charged to the government ac-
count; that Is, no bills are sent to certain officers.
| An estimate OF the amount consumed, taking fair
average, indicates that there is leak some where.
| A still more perplexng matter to the committee
are the accounts respecting the Treasury horses.
| 1t is presumed that tour horses and two express
| -.n~ .ttx xAN n1r4t
partment for official business. In this con.
nection, however, some inexpicable accounts
are rendered for single year. The care Of these
horses cost $4,000; their grain, $4,000; their hay,
$780, and their shoeing over $500. The cost OF re-
pairs OF the two express wagons for the year was
$4,000, there being one Item " repair ting to
5000 and another $500. The repair OF carriages
amounted to $780, and repair OF harness $1,000,
one item OF repair amounting 10 1884, and another
| $251 There are also accounts OF the purchase OF
one pair OF horses for 5000 and carriage for 500.
| The expenses OF four horses and two wagons
accounted for shows an outlay OF over sl1, 500.
The average cost OF Keeping horse, not at the ex
pensc OF the government, is 5000 year. The
amount expended was $4,000, or an amount suf
fcient for the maintenance OF 20 horses. II would
| appear that the contingent funds OF the depart.
ment were mainly consumed in furnishing horses
| and carriages for ofIlcals and favorte clerks at
the expense OF the government. 1t is q notorious
fact here that the finest tnrnouts in the ciry are
those OF the government. Tho Treasury Is not the
only department given to this abuse. Under the
convenient cover OF mail wagon splendid cstab-
lshments. used exclusively by the families OF on
Gals, are purchased and maintained ont OF the
public treasury. Ths committee will give this mat
ter their serious consideration.
There have been numerous complaints OF officials
preying upon the government In this manner, ana
II has been permitted TO 80 on till now, when the
subject OF increasing taxtaon has nccessitated an
investigation. Some lively exposures OF the man
ner in which the public moneys are expended will
be the result. From the minor leaks which have