Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-12-29
WASHING
The Texas Delegation Demand Protec.
ton for the FrOntlersmen-The Ar
kansas College Scrip.
Grants Campaign Against the Pope =
The Navy Department TO be Infesti-
gated -FanttIOns to be Utilized
Etc, Etc.

WASHINGTON, December 24.-Tht
statement made in theSe dispatches IL
regard 70 the puIplses OF the ap,sTo aris.
ton committee 10 make shtIp kp,1
: general reduction OF expenses has a..
iracted general attention in th3 depsIs :.
ments. No one item Of the plan, how.
ever, bss caused so much comment aa
the av0wed intention on the Part oi
members Of tie committee not to ap.
propriste dollar to cover the late un-
usual expenditures by the secretary of
the navy. The decision has raised q
breeze In the navy department itself,
and 1t hss brought out q theory Of tbs
cause OF these expenditures, which is
both new and in some respects plausi-
bic. 1t Is said to-day that IL the CON-
mittee adheres to its purpose 1t will cre-
ate sensation, and that the recent ap-
parently lavish expenditure, for the
navy has been more show than reality;
that but little money has been expended
in fact, and that, for instance, at
Brooklyn old wooden ships have been
fitted for sea service with apparently
great expense, while very little money
was used, and the vessels are known. in
some cases, to be hardly seaworthy.
Further, that the feet has been
supplied from stores already on hand
and paid for. In short, it is asserted
that the whole OF the recent revamping
OF the navy is sham, and that q clos e
examination will show that it must have
been done with the purpose OF procuring
large appropriations to cover previous
ard irregular expenditures. Three menu
bers of the cabinet have declared to
friends that they know nothing ia our
foreign relations which would call for
the apparent activity in The navy, and
navy officers have, from time to time,
let fall in conversation facts which show
that the ostentatious outfit Of ships has
been done with the mcst parsimonious
economy, and with regard, apparently,
only to putting a lsrge paper force in
commission and not to make the Iefit-
ted ships sound and formidable. The
appropriations committee will make
haste to look into this matter, and the
| investigation promises to be thorough.
There is no doubt that the prospect ia
not pleasing to the navy department,
| where the announcement of it seems
to have created good deal Of excite.
| ment.
FUNCTIONS TO BE UTILIZED, WHICH
THE REPUBLICANS WASTED.
New York World.
WASHINGTON, December 24.-It has
been said that the committees recently
| appointed by the speaker, which consist
or five members instead Of nine, on the
expenditures Of the State, war, navy,
treasury, postoffice and interior depart
ments, are of no account, and for the al
legged reason that in former congresses
the Republicans made nouse of them,
aud attempted to belittle their impor-
tance. This is quite true, and in SO do
ing they plainly violated the rules of the
house, proceeding which the new
house does not propose to follow. Ac-
csrding to these rules the committees
named are required to stand guard over
the departments named, exacting a
rigid accountability OF their expendi-
lures, and requiring retTenchmeEt In all
possible directions. These committees
do not need special instructions from
the house in the matter of Investigation,
save the single authority to send for per.
sons and papers. Their duties are thus
defined: "To examine into the state of
the accounts and expenditures respect
lively submitted to them, and to inquire
and report particularly whether the ex-
penditures Of the respective departments
are justified by law. Whether claims
from time to time satisfied and dis
charged by the respective departments
are supported by sufficient vouchers es-
t2blishing their business, both as to
their character and amount. Whether
such claims have been discharged out Of
funds appropriated therefor, and whether
all moneys have been disbursed in con.
formity with appropriation laws, and
whether any and what provisions are
necessary to be adopted to provide more
perfectly for the proper application Of
the public moneys, and to secure the |
government from demands unjust in |
their character or extravagant in their |
amount; and it fs made, moreover, the |
duty Of the committees to report from |
time to time whether any and what re.
ttenchment can be made in the expend-
itures of the several departments with |
out detriment to the public service. |
Whether any and what abuses at any
time exist in the failure to enforce the |
payment of moneys which may be due |
TO the United States from public |
defaulters or others, and to report
fEom time to time such provisions and
arrangements as may be necessary to
add to the economy Of the several de-
partments and the accountability OF
their officers. 1t is made the duty of |
the several mmittees on public expen-
ditures to inquire whether any offices be.
longing to the branches or departments,
respectively, concerning whose expendi-
lures 1t is their duty to inquire, have be-
come useless or UnIe 3eseary, and to re-
port, from time to time, on the expe-
diency Of modifying or abolishing the
same. Also, to examine into the pay
and emoluments Of all offices under the
laws of the United States, and to report,
from time to time, such q reduction or
increase thereof as a just economy and
the public service may require. Under
these powers wide range OF inquiry is
e. established, which Obviates the necessity
OF specisl purpose. Speaker Kerr has
these committees in such 8
strong way that they will not be the vir-
tusl nonenities Of former cong1e Ees.
GRANTS CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
POPE.
WASHINGTON, December 2t.-The
evidently "mean bust.
ness" in their anti-Catholic crusade,
and, although 1t has been said that the
secret order OF the American Union il
entirely composed Of Presidential can
didates, there are many Others engaged
In promoting q religious feud, hopIng
thereby 10 perpeiuate Radicslism. in
this connection, 3 clever criticism has !
CCCA~ AAGNV Oh OAoAtJ Va WAOl1 ~ W d6 /
said that "he fought and broke up the
then fought and broke up the
ReI ublican party, and now he wants to
fight the pore" Blaine mean while is
working the wires shrewdly with view
10 obtaining the nomination for himself.
A New England senator on being asked
Why be did not join ths Centennial ex-
.uFsion, aud who was at the same lime
Blaine had gone to Phile-
1elphis, replied that be was "too ola for
,uch trips,n and added, Besides am
not a candidate for the Presidency" 1t
will be noticed that the speaker made
lp the committee on education aud
abor Of frst-clsss members, fully COM |
Detent TO discuss and dispose Of Mr..
Blaine's school amendment and that /
portion Of the Presidents message refer
ing TO the sectaTian school question.
TROOPS ASKED FOR.
New York Tribune.1
WASHINGTON, December 4.-SeveIal
OF the 'rexss delegation, head
ID 10y Senator Maxey and Representa- :
i've Hancock, called upon the President {
jO-dsy to urge him to take some more /
.fective measures to protect the Rio |
3rande frontier from Mexican depreda- ,
Ions. They explained the whole s.'ua- {
ion 20 him, aud told him what, In their ,
ought 20 be done. There are ,
a