The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-07-06
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS-.
THE DEFICIENCY BILL IN THE
HOUSE.
A Lively Discussion Over the Rights
Of the Senate 70 Interfere With
the House.

WASHINGTON, July 5.-House-Mr.
Springer Tnl.1 offered a resolution in
the House today calling on the Presi-
dent for copies Of all correspondence
between this goveroment aud the re-
publics of Nicaras ua and Cos Rica
since 1876 in relation to the construc-
ton OF an interior oceanic canal by
way of Lake Nicaragua. Referred.
Mr.. Belmont N. Y. offered a
resolution calling ON the President for
copies of the correspondence relating
to the imprisonment and release OF
Julio Santos, q citizen of the United
States, in Ecuador. Referred.
Bills were introduced as follows:
By Mr.. Weaver Ohio]: Requiring
all The expenditures Of the Postoffice
Department to be passed upon by
comptroller and en- auditor.
By j. NJ. Taylor Tenn for the
transfer of the medical records of the
warfrom the War Department.
The House then went into Commit
tee OF the Whole, Mr.. Hammond
IGa. in the chair, on the general de-
fciencv appropriation bill.
In speaking to a cause relat We TO
the pay of witnesses, Mr.. Springer
said that the department had doubt
less furnished the proper estimate,
and it should not be increased.
Replying to statements made lest
Friday by Messrs. Hisccck, Cannon
and McComb, to the effect that there
was large increase in the expendi-
lures for 1888, IS compared with that
of 1886, for fees of jurors snd
witnesses, he caused to be
read letter frcm Attorney General
Garland to Senator A lison. This let
ter explained that the increase YVES
cansed by the fact that there being a
deficiency in 1885 large amount of
business belonging to tnat fiscal year
was carried over to 1885, thus incteas.
ing the expenses for 1886. Also that
there was large increase of such ex-
penses owing to the pros cution OF
polygamous Mormons under the Ed
munds act, and on account of the pros
-ecution of offenses arising under the
general land laws. These were
necessary and unforeseen ex-
penses, and we on. hit not to
take exception 10 the increase
of expenses on this account. While
there has been a trifiing increase OF
expenditures in the matter indicated,
yet there has been a lsrgs decrease of
expenditures during the fl cal year
Just closed, as compared with the
previous fiscal year. This decrease in
all the departments of the govern
ment amounted, according to the
statements 81 the Treasury officials,
to g., 100000. The new b DOM Of this
administration is swe eping clean and
much better results may be antici-
pated for the ensuing year.
A long and almost acrimonious dis
cussion arose over an amendment
offered by Mr.. Cannon I'M. ], appro-
priating $4,000 to refund certain taxes
Illegally collected from certain railroad
companies on account OF bond and
stock ho,de:s. TIE amendment was
adopted.
The clause Jatifying and confirming
the readju:tments OF the salaries of
the postmasteIs heretofore made by
the Postmaster General pursuant to
the act of Ma CHI Sd, 1888, was ruled
out on a point of order, and an amend
meDt offered by Mr.. Burnes Mo. !,
striking out the entire appropriation
for rtadjustments, $780,, 1874, was
adopted.
Mr.. Gibson NV. Va caused some
thing of sensation by charging that
Mr.. Townshend and Mr. Cannon,
members of the Appropriation Com
mittee, had gone to the Senate after
the action OF The House in striking
the names Of certain House employees
from the legislative appropriation bill
and procured the reinsertion OF the
names by the Senate Commi tee.
Mr.. Cannon admitted that he had
requested the Senate Committeeto in.
selt in the bill the names of two
page, who bad from long experience
become almost Indispensable. He
knew his privileges and rights as a
member, and had nothing to apollo.
gizs for. Neither OF the employees
had been appointed upon his sOlicita-
ton. When the legislative bill came
back to the House he bad
no doubt that it would accept
the amendment he hal suggested to
the Senate Committee. Mr.. Town
shend said that the names of employees
had been stricken cut of the bill on q
pont of order made by one member,
contrary as he believed to the wish OF
vast majority OF the members of the
House. Alexander Stephens on his
dea' h bed had requested him Town
sheDd) to cause John Chancey's name
to be retained on the pay roll of the
House as long as he (lownshend) re-
NAMED in Congress, and when Chan
cey's name ana that of Bacon, q gal
liant soldier, had been stricken out on
the point of rider, he had determined
to cau.e them to be les o:ed if it were
in his power.
Mr.. Gibson Tesented the idea of in
reference by the Senate in matters Of
this kind. He had no i'll will against
the employees, and if allowed he would
tomorrow introduce a resolution pro.
viding that their names BIZ placed on
the roll OF the House.
After concluding the consideration
of all but ten pages of the bill the
committee Iose, and the House at )
o'clock pm. adjourned.