The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-06
THE HOUSE.
Passage of the Urgent Deficiency BiI-Brief
Political Discussion.

Political Discussion.
WASHINGTON, March 5.-After the call of
committees for reports Of a private character,
the House went into committee of the whole
Mr. McCreary, of Kentucky. in the chair-on
the urgent deficiency bill.
Mr.. Burns, of Missouri, took up and explained
the provisions of the bill. The total amount
carried by the bill was 1854, 452. Five thousand
five hundred and ninety dollars was appropriated
for compensation of special agents Of the Treas
ury to examine the books of the several sub
treasures. Part of this deficiency arose since
the fiscal year ending June 80. 1885. The appro-
priation for the current year had become exhaust
ed, principally because the expense of examina-
ton had become greater on. account of the large
amount of silver in the various sub-treas-
uries. Six thousand dollars was appropri-
ated for repairs to the Treasury Department
building; ST., 300 was appropriated to continue
the propagation of food fishes in the Gulf Of
Mexico; an appropriation is made Of $175 900 for
furnishing artificial limbs to Union soldiers. The
deficiency of $185. 900 in the fees of jurors and
witnesses had arisen from the extraordinary ex-
penses attending trials in Utah Territory. There
was appropriated for the armamen of the four
new cruisers $251. 1863. The first appropriation
for the cruisers had been an unguarded appro-
~priation; it had been an appropriation that left
it within the power of the Secretary of the Navy
to leave the money in one bureau and take it out
of that bureau after obligations had been incur
red, and place it in another. Congress had stead
lily improved the modes aud methods of making
the appropriations, and from the date Of the
Robson bill to the present hour. legislation, un-
der the direction of the appropriations commit
tee, had been a vast Improvement over the legis-
lation that preceded it.
Mr.. Cannon said that if Secretary Chandler or
the present Secretary of the Navy had gone to
work and constructed the armament authorized
by Congress four or five years ago. without TAX
ing advantage of any improvements, while they
would have complied with the letter Of the law
they would have violated its spirit, and would
have deserved censure. Referring to the item of
Sc, 900 for repair of the Treasury building, he
stated that there was q leak in the roof, and
commented on the fact that roofs would leak and
iron would rust, even under this Democratic ad-
ministration.
Mr.. Hewitt. of New York. remarked that the
Treasury would not leak now.
MI. Cannon retorted that the Democrats. after
incubating the eggs, had found that the Treas
ury accounts had only been one cent short, and
that had afterwards been found.
Turn the rascals out" suggested a Democrat.
Mir. Cannon said that he would not talk about
that.
DIR. Hewitt was not surprised that the gentle
man would not talk about it; it was a delicate
subject.
Mr.. Cannon said that it was a subject which
he would let the Democrats talk about. He was
willing that the Democratic party should turn
out anybody it had the manhood to turn out He
WAS willing that it should turn out $1,000 Re-
publican Office holders, but it should do it man
fully. 1t should say to them, "We won this race;
you are good ofice-holders and honest men, but
we won the race and you must co." He was
willing that honest Republicans should be
turned out and honest Democrats put in. He
wanted nothing but honesty, and he hated hy-
pocrisy.
Mr.. Hewitt. Of New York, called attention to
the item of the appropriation to enable the Navy
Department. to pay existing obligations. He
called attention to it. he said, because he thought
that this practice. whether carried on by she
present or previous administrations of contract
ing obligations prior to the appropriation of
money was reprehensible.
Mr.. Springer, of Illinois. was inclined to think
that the expenditure had been illegal, but that it
had been made by some officials in the Navy De-
%partment. who had been there under the last adj
ministration.
Mr.. McComas-Does that make it right
Mr.. Springer-No, sir; it does not. I want TO
show that if the administration is direlict In any,
thing, it is in its slowness in turning the rascals
out.
Mr.. McComas inquired whether the whole ex-
penditure was not under the control of the head
of the Navy Department.
Mr.. Springer replied that nominally it was.
but that the Secretary must necessarily depend
in all these matters on the advice and recon-
mendation of his subordinates. He thought that
tncso unworthy Ollclaiss WuOm OcCTcldTy UuiL-
ney had inherited from his predecessor, should
be turned out and honest Democrats put in.
Mr.. Cannon said that the all-wise and reform
President had the right to take any one of the
officials by the hair Of his head and place him on
duty elsewhere If there were dishonest rascals
belonging TO the navy. the Secretary had violated
his duty in not getting rid of them. The gentle
man from Illinois Mr.. Springerl could travel by
one of two roads-either the President and Sec
rotary were dishonest, or they were foolish and
incompetent.
Mr.. Hewitt said that the President and the e0-
ecutiye officers had not had SO long an expert
ence in the administration of Che country as the
gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Cannonl had had in
the House. 1t was necessary that certain things
should be pointed out and learned, and it was
the duty OF the friends OF the administration to
point out every violation of law. If they did not
do that, they would be untrue to their pledges to
reform the government
Mr.. Cannon said that ne accepted the gentle
mans apology. but he asked the gentleman in all
decency and p~ropriety to stop his President and
his SECRETARY OF the Navy. and their mucwump