National Republican., 1888-01-12
THE HOUSE.

The Speaker, as the first business In order,
proceeded to call the committees, but no
reports OF any character were submitted.
The House then, on motion of Mr.. Mills,
Of Texas, went into committee Of the whole
(Mr. McCreary, Of Kentucky, In the chair
upon.the state Of the Union for the consid.
Grafton of the Presidents message.
Mr.. Mills offered resolution referring
the message to the committee on ways and
means.
The resolution was agreed to, and, the
committee having risen, its action was con-
frmed by the House.
Mr.. Randall, from the committee on ap
propriations, reported resolution calling
on the Secretary Of the Treasury for
schedule Of oil claims allowed by the ac-
counting officers Of the treasury under ap-
preparations the balances Of which have
been exhausted or carried into the surplus
fund under the provisions Of the act of
June 20, 1874.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa, In speaking to
the resolution, laid down the general propo-
eition that Congress should make an antici-
patOry appropriation for the payment OF
the claims, and Mr.. Reed, of Maine, in
quired whether Mr.. Randall would permit
the House to vote upon proposition to
make such an appropriation.
Mr.. Randall disclaimed any power to pre-
vent the vote being taken-a disclaimer
which had little weight with Mr.. Reed, who
gave 1t as his experience that the gentle.
man from Pennsylvania very often had the
power toprevent votes being taken.
The resolution was adopted and the
House went into committee Of the whole
(Alr. Cox, Of New York, In the chslrl on
the little deficiency bill.
Mr.. Burnes, OF Missouri, In charge of the
bill, made statement In regard to the
failure Of the deficiency bill In the last ses.
sion Of the forty ninth Congress owing to
the fact that 1t was not laid before the
President In time TO receive his signature.
At that time the committee on confer
ence had agreed upon q report, and
that report had been substantially fol-
lowed out in the pending bill. He
hoped that unless there was case of
extreme urgency presented no one would
which could be postponed until the urgency
- deficiency bill was reported to the House,
which would be in the course of ten days.
Mr.. Cannon, Of Illinois, also stated that
the committee on appropriations h.d taken
the conference report Of the last Congress
as the basis Of the present measure, and he
speedily, substantially as 1t was, thus Civ
ing to the creditors OF the government the
poor pittances to which they were entitled.
Mr.. Burnes, of Missouri, said the Senate
had been dilatory. or the bill would have
passed in time for the President to sign 1t.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa, said that the
record would show that the last deficiency
bill had passed the House on the 1st OF
March, three days before the adjournment.
1t had been until that late day under the
control of the majority Of the House. On
the Sd Of March the Senate committee had
reported 1t to the -Senate--doing In two
days what it had taken the House commit
tee three months to accomplish. II criti-
cism must come, let It come against the
custom which prevailed OF holding appro-
priations back until 1t was impossible for
the other branch Of the national legislature
to give them proper consideration.
Mr.. Milliken, of Maine, Inquired what was
the purpose Of holding back the appropri-
ations.
Mr.. Henderson replied that he only dis
cussed facts. lie did not enter into the
motives Of men. He let the facts be known,
and the intelligence OF the American people
would not fail to find the motives.
Mr.. Reed, Of Maine, criticised the past
actions OF the committee appropriations,
and Mr.. Burnes made an attempt to defend
them.
Mr.. Cannon, OF Illinois, gave brief
sketch Of the history OF the Choctaw claim,
and scored the Democratic party for fail
ing to pay Just claim OF over S2,O0O,0O0,
bearing interest at the rate OF per cent,
out Of a treasury which was SO full that
the Democratic executive did not know
how the government was going to get rid
Of the surplus.
Mr.. McComas, of Maryland, defended
the committee ON appropriations from the
charge OF being diatory 10 It's presentation
of appropriation bills, and laid the blame
for the tardy passage OF measures upon
what he termed the constitutional and
characteristic delay Of the Democratic ma
jority, The bill was then read by para
graphs.
MIR. Vaudever, OF California, offered an
amendment approprlating 100000 for de.
fraying expenses IN the mail service ut
postoillees In southern California. Ruled
out on point of order.
The provision of the bill that no part OF
any appropriation made for judicial eY-
penses OF the United States shall be paid to
any civil officer who has neglected to make
his emolun.ent return 10 such manner as
the Attorney General shall direct was
stIiken out on a point OF order raised by
Mr.. Collins, OF Massachusetts.
On motion OF Mr.. Burnes an amendment
was adopted appropriating 800 600 for the
payment of judgments and awards against
tho United States on account Of damages
caused by reason of the improvement OF
the Texas and Wisconsin rivers,
Mr. White, of New York, offered an
amendment providing that on every item
appropriated In tho bin there SHALL be paid
10 the respective payees interest at the rate
Of per cent. from the 4th OF March, 1887,