The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-06
THE FORrY-NINTH CONGRESS.
The House Celebrates the Fourtheby Consid-
ering the General Deficiency Bill.

WASHINGTON, July 5.-Mr. Springer, of Illi-
calling on the President fer copies of all cor
respondence between this government and the
republics of Nicaragua and Costa Rica since 1876
in relation to the construction of an inter-
oceanic canal by way of Lake Nicaragua Re-
ferred.
MIR. johnson, of New York. offered a resolu
ton calling on the President for copies of the
correspondence relating to the Imprisonment and
release of Julio Santo, citizen of the United
States, in Ecuador Referred.
Bills were introduced as follows:
BY Mr.. Warner, of Ohio: Requiring all the
expenditures of the Postofice Department to be
passed upon by comptroller and an auditor.
By j. M. Taylor. of Tennessee: For the trans
fer of the medical records of the war from the
War Department..
The House then went into committee OF the
whole-Mr. Hammond, of Georgia. in the chair
on thegeneral deficiency appropriation bill.
In speaking Of clause relative TO the pay of
witnesses. Mr. Springer said that the depart
ment had doubtless furnished the proposed esti
mate, and it should not be increased Replying
to statements made last Friday by Messrs. His
cock, Cannon and McComas to the effect that
there was large increase in expenditures for
1886, as compared with those OF 1885, for fees of
ter from Attorney general Garland to Senator
Allison. This letter explained that the increase
was caused by the fact that there being def
cheney in 1885, large amount of business De-
longing to that fiscal year was carried
over to 1886. thus increasing the ex-
penses for 1886; also, that there was a
large increase of such expenses, owing the
prosecution Of polygamous Mormons under the
Edmunds act and on account of the prosecution
of offenses arising under the general land la ws.
WAY md y1uf0
and we ought not to take exception to the in
crease OF expenses on this account. While there
has been a trifing increase of expenditures in
the matter indicated, yet there has been a large
decrease of expenditures during the fiscal year
just closed, as compared with the previous fiscal
year. This decrease in all the departments of
the government amounted, according to the
statements of the Treasury officials. to 500, $780,,
600. The new broom of this administration is
sweeping clean. ana much better results may be
anticipated for the ensuing year
long, and at times acrimonious, discussion
arose over an amendment offered by Mr. Can
non, OF Illinois, appropriating So, 900 to refund
taxes illegally collected from certain railroad
companies on account of alien bond and stock
holders, The amendment was adopted.
The clause ratifying and confirming the read
Justments Of the salaries of the postmasters
heretofore made by the Postmaster general, pur-
suant to the act of March 3, 1883. was ruled out
on a point of order. and an amendment offered
by Mr.. Burnes, of Missouri striking out the
tire appropriation for readjustment 1892, 394)
was adopted.
Mr.. Gibson, of West Virginia. caused some
thing of a sensation by charging that Mr..
Townshend and Mr.. Cannon, members of the
appropriations committee, had gone to the Sem
ate, after the action of the house in striking the
names of certain House employees from the legis-
latiye appropriation bill, and procured the rein
sorting of the names by the Senate committee.
Mr.. Cannon admitted that he had requested
the Senate committee to insert in the bill the
names of two pages who had, from experience,
become almost indispensable. He knew his priv
ieges and rights as member, and had nothing
to apologize for. Neither of the employees had
been appointed upon his solicitation. When the
legislative bill came back to the House he had
no doubt that it would accept the amendment he
had suggested to the Senate committee.
Mr.. Townshend said that the names of en-
point of order made by one member. contrary.
as he believed, to the wish of a vast majority of
she members Of the House. Alexander 'Steph-
ems on his death-bed had requested him MIR.
Townshendl to cause John Chaucey's name to be
retained on the payroll of the House as long as
he Mr., Townshend remained in Congress, and
when Chanceys name and that of Bacon-a gal
liant Illinois soldier-had been stricken out on
the point of order, he had determined to cause
them TO be restored if it were in his power.
Mr.. Gibson resented the idea of interference
by the Senate in.matters of this kind. He had
no illwill against the employees and if allowed,
he would tomorrow introduce resolution pro-
viding that their names be placed on the roll of
the House employees.
After concluding the consideration of all but
ten pages of the bill the committee rose, and the
House, at 5 p NJ, adjourned.