The Portland daily press., 1874-06-24

statement, Dut ne would call attention to the
growth of the country in territorial area When
the constitution was established the area of the
country was 780,722 square miles. In 1903.
after the acquisition of Louisiana, it was y41 :
600 square miles. In 1913. after the acquisi-
tions from Mexico, it was 1925, 900 square
miles, and now it was 3,60S, 900 square miles.
He gives the following comparative statement
of the appropriations of last year and this:
Navy appropriation bill last year 81, 250, 900,
this year SIG, 100000; army appropriation bill
last year $36, 100000, this year VIZ 10000;
legislative appropriation bill last yea vs. 100,
000 this year 500, 100000 fertilization appro-
priaton bill last year $1SS9,00 this year S9Of'
600; Indian appropriation bill last year $1,000
O00 this year SO, SOC, 900; Military Academy last
year $244, 900, this year $339,O00; deficiency
appropriation bill this year $4,0O0,0OO;
the consular and diplomatic bill was about the
same in both years, except that the bill this
year contained an item of 100000 to pay the
claims of the British Mixed Commission; the
pension bill this year is about 100000 less
than last year, but he thought it likely there
would be deficiency to that amount; sundry
civil appropriation bill last year was $32, 1885,
600; this year it was $26 6SS, 900, and this years
bill contained an unusual item of 800, 900 for
the sufferers from the Mississippi overflow. The
river and harbor bill last year was S. 10, 900,
this year So, 24S, 900. The aggregate of these
bills showed illumination below last years
appropriations of S27, 763,7S7 This statement,
of course did not include the private bills, but
his own opinion was, that while more private
bills than usual were passed at this session, the
amount appropriated in them were less than
usual. Himself and members of the appropri-
ating committee felt under very great obliga-
tons to the House, the confidence with viii h
the House had accepted the work of that COM
mittee. Every bill that had passed from the
House to the other body had come back larger
than when it went and every appropriation bill
that had gone to a conference committee had
there been reduced in amount. hr
MIR. Dawes, chairman of the Ways aid
Means Committee, bore testimony to the go,
services of the appropriation committee. He
believed its members could go home knowing
their action commended them to public conf
dence as well as to their own convictions. One
side of the ledger having been mentioned in so
fattering a manner, he wished to say word
as to the other side of the ledger. The Com
mittee on Ways and Means had taken instruc-
tons of the House in the early part of the ses-
sion and had adhered to them. 1t had been in
structed not to report any increase of taxation,
the House having faith IN the recuperative
powers of the people, and what " ere the indca-
lions now? Within the last two months the
receipts of the Treasury department. had been
between six and seven million dollars more
than the current expenses. The internal rev.
enue had been estimated at the beginning of
the fiscal year, when everything vas prosper
GUS and without taking into account the fnan-
cal distress of the autumn. The customs du-
ties yet had not come up to the.estimate,
but taking the two sources of revenue together
he had the utmost confidence in saying that
the side of the ledger which shows the receipts
would be equally gratifying with the other side
which shows a diminution in the expenditures.
He believed not only would the current expen-
ses be met by the receipts, but that there would
be enough over and above to meet the sinking
fund, The policy inaugurated at the COM
mencement OF this administration and adhered
to through all adversities, therefore, would be
found the true policy that was to reduce taxa
ton on one side and reduce expenditures on
the other, keeping in view two things, the
safety of the sinking fund and the moderate
reduction of the public debt.
Mr.. Cox followed in speech full of wit in
which he thanked Mess-s. Garfield and Davis
for the wonderful amount of sanctity and good
ness they had displayed. He criticised the Ways
and Means COmmitte and feared the country
would not have these beautiful speeches If
election was not at hand
Mr.. Kasson of Iowa paid a compliment to the
Committee on Appropriations and remarked
that there had been no session for a long me
that was SO clear of bills containing private
jobs.
AT the close of this discussion the House pro-
ceeded to the business on the Speakers table,
The Senate bill authorizing the Committee
on Appropriations of both Houses to meet dur
ing the recess of Congress to make enquiry into
the machinery by which reforms can be made
in the expenditures of the Rcivil branch of the
service was passed.
The Senate bill recognizing several staff corps
of the army was passed-yeas 155, nays 49,
The Senate amendments to the House bill in
relation to courts and judicial offices in Utah
were concurred in, 112 to sc.
At 2.45 the House took recess till 8. 10 D. m.
After recess Wilson offered resolution that
the House assume the defence of the Speaker
and Sergeant-at-A Arms in the suits brought by
James b. Stewart for alleged false imprison-
ment as a recusant witness.
A concurrent resolution extending session till
six o'clock so as to allow bills to be enrolled
and signed was offered by Mr.. Randall of Penn
sylvania, and it was agreed to and then at $3.50
took another recess until p. m.
After recess, the Speaker announced that he
had appointed e. r. Hoar and Mr., Mitchell
joint committee to frame new government
for the District of Columbia.
Mr., Maynard, from committee for that
purpose, reported that the President had no
further communications to make.
On motion of Mr.. Caldwell of Ala. by unau-
imous consent, the Senate bill removing the
political disabilities of JAS Hugh of Alabama
was passed. This was the legislative act of
the session.
For some time before the hour of final ad-
tournament, there was noisy murmur of friend
lyi leave taking between the members. As the
hands of the clock dial indicated six, the
Speaker wishing all of the members safe and
happy return to their homes and families, pro-
nounced the first session of the 43d Congress
adjourned sine die.
The leave-takings were conducted with more
demonstration than usual all the members
parting with the Speaker with the most cordial
interchange of good wishes.