The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1885-12-24
HOUSE.

The consideration of the report of the committee
on rnles was resumed, the pending amendment be-
ing that offered by Mr.. Springer, of Illinois, to
abolish the various committees ION expenditures in
the different departments and to concentrate their
duties in one committee consisting of fifteen mem
bers In advocating the amendment Mr.. Springer
stated that during the past ten years. the clerks of
these committees had been paid $3.50, 900, whlle as
far as he could remember, but two had made re-
ports.
Mr.. Herbert. of Alabama opposed the amend
ment asserting that the house should always stand
ready to investigate abuses which had grown up IN
the administration OF the government He did not
think that the republican members could afford to
vote to abolish these committees.
Mr.. Houk, of Tennessee, stated that the republi-
cans would not vote to abolish these committees.
1t was true when the republicans were In power,
there little necessity for them but the prospect
is that they would be very useful IN the future.
Laughter.
After further debate the amendment was rejected
Mr.. Hammond, of Georgia, offered as an amend
ment, the following rule: "No appropriation shall
be reported in any general appropriation Dill, or
be in order as an amendment thereto, for any ex-
penditure not previously authorized by law, unless
in continuation of appropriations for such pnDnc
works and objects are already in progress. rms
is the third clause of rule p, reported by the
committee rules, except that it oits the clause
and for the contingencies for carrying on the sew
eral departments of the government"
The amendment rejected without discussion,
by vote of yeas, SO, and nays, 227. The paragraph
which the appropriation committee shall have Ju-
risdction.
Mr.. Cannon, OF illinois, moved to strike out tne
limitation.
Mr.. Blounts amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Hammond offered an amendment providing
that committee on appropriations shall have Jurls-
dction the appropriation for revenue for sup
port of the government and adding clause proh1D-
iting general legislation on any appropriation bill
Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, offered an amendment
to the amendment of the provision permitting
amendments to appropriation bills ii they directly
reduce the numbers of salaries of officers or en-
plOyes of the United States.
Mr.. Mckinley, of Ohio favored Mr.. Hammond 8
amendment, which he said involved the whole
question: and might as well be settled now as later
The power of the appropriation committee did not
come from its jurisdiction twelve appropria-
ton bills, but from its ability to these bills
vehicle for general legislation. After debate,
Messrs. Hammond and Holman withdrew their
amendments, and the former offered amend
ment to strike out the distribution feature of the
report. This brought the house to square vote
on the question, and the amendment rejected
by vote of yeas, 20: nays 226.
On motion of Mr.. Herbert, of Alabama, an
ers, authorized by law to report by bill to the
house, to report at any time.
On motion of Mr.. Cobb, of Indiana, an amend
ment was adopted granting the commissioners on
public land leave to report at any time on bills for
forfeiture of land grants to prevent speculation in
public lands, and for the reservation of public
lands for the benefit of actual and bona fide set
tiers.
No other amendments were adopted to this por-
ton OF report and thar portion which proposes to
amend rule p was taken up.
Mr.. Hammond, of Georgia, offered an amend
ment, having for its Object the prohibition of at