The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-26
PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

A Missouri Statesman Poses Economist
ana Friend Of the Taxpayer.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25.-Iu the House. q bill
was passed granting pension of $50 month,
yith arrears from 1875 to Mary B. Kirby, widow
of Major R. M. Kirby. who died in 1872. from
disease contracted in the Florida war.
Mr.. Stewart of Georgia, from the committee
on judiciary, reported the bill rendering eligible
to any position in the army any person who has
served in the military naval or civil service of
the Confederate States Placed on the House
calendar. Also. adversely, a bilf for Furnishing
the passage of confederate money as genuine
United States obligations. Laid on the table.
MIR. Tarsney. of Michigan. reported bill to
establish life administration at Kswaunee. Wis.
Referred to the committee OF she whole.
Bills were reported and placed upon the al
endar for completion of the public building at
Wichita Kan, and for the inprov ement OF
the public building at Louisville,,ky
In the consideration Of the moNaing hour
Mr. Springer of Illinois. under instruction from
the Commute on Territories. called up tne bill
for the organization of the Territory of Oaiaho-
ma. and it was considered in committee of the
whole, Mr.. McMiilen. of Tennessee, In the chair.
The hour was consumed by Mr.. Mansur. of
Missouri, in a speech in favor of the measure in
which he sketched the manner in which No
Mans Land had come into its present anomalus
condition. He quoted from treaty provisions to
show that the govern nsnI had rights and equi-
ties Co the land as strong those which belonged
to the Indians. Parties asking equity must do
equity. and though he would not rob the Indian
OF his rights ssntimen taity would not change
the great law OF human nature that the weaker
must succumo to the stronger. The governments
should do justice to the actual settler and bring
into existence new and prosperous common
wealth.
The committee then rose and the floor was
accorded, in committee of the whole to the
committee of public buildings and grounds. The
first bill called was one spproprating SIS 600
additional for the public building at Chatta-
Mr. Bland. of Missouri, spoke in opposition to
the manner in which the House acted upon
measures for the erection OF public buildings.
m.mSer to sSow hi. a eonst,sns,t Tor his
influence and power in securing a building
for his district. member who had a
bill for such a purpose pending could not antae-
onize similar bill championed by brother
member, and thus one half of the House was
engaged in systematic log-rolling.
Mr.. Browne, of Indiana. said, economical as
he was, he took the responsibility OF expressing
the hope that the committee on subtle buildings
and grounds would report favorably every b:u
that asked the construction of public building
IN every city. town or village where the needs OF
the public service demanded it. He knew OF no
better way to use the surplus in the Treasury
than by sending it into the sovereign States for
buildings for postofhces and federal courts. de
would welcome ostoffices into his severe % state
ne he would welcome national banks and Bland
silver do liars, which were illustrative. tbs
ernment-for it took considerable power to
make 20 cents worth of silver equal to one dol
lar. The government received revenue of
about 81, 600 900 day, and If the time consumed
in speeches by the gentleman from Missouri was
counted, 1t would be found that he had wasted
enough time for the governments to have OBJ
tanned, in the ordinary course OF the collection
OF revenue. money TO have paid for all the pub
lie buildings which the present Congress had
authorized. He Mr.. Brownel was in favor of
taking the money from where it was useless and
nj W do ha
people some good.
Mr. Bland was 'glad that that speech had
come from the other side of the House. 1t wis
the expression of the opinion that the House WAS
here to dispose of the surplus in wasteful
agance instead of to reduce taxation. That was
the issue in this House, and would be the issus
In the next campaign. The hundred million
surplus in the Treasury came from the taxes paid
by the laboring Every dollar paid into
the Treasury had cost the taxpayer at least 50.
The 500. 900. 600 in the Treasury represented
$400. O00 600. which had gone into the hands
Of capitalists. and monopolists, and trusts IN
der the infamous system of a protective tariff.
The government had debt upon which the
the money should be paid. and he was sorry
that the gentleman from Texas Mr.. MillsJ had
not brought forward his bill which authorizes
such payment He did not wonder that gentle
men the other side had voted solidly for all
The public building measures They desired to
take the money from the Treasury In ORDER to
perpetuate a system of taxation which was oner- |
Gus and burdensome IApplausA.l
Mr.. Kerr, of Iowa, suggested that the bills
had been unanimously reported by Democratic |
COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Bland admitted the truth Of that state |
ment, but said that If the committee had yielded |
TO the pressure brought on it by the gentlemen |
on the other side it would have brought in bills
nppropriating SIS. 000, 000- He had been at |
tempting in vain 10 secure yea-aud-nay vote |
for the prssage Of these measures for he did not
desire that the gentlemen the other side |
should go into the next campaign charging the |
Democrats with extravaganza without them I
selves going npon record. Mr. Blaud tren of |
fered an amendment providing that no public |
buildings shall hereafter be constructed unless |
some of the executive departments shall |
first certify TO Congress that no suitable accom-
modations for the service of the government can |
be obtained In the city or town specified at less
rental than 81. 600 year. The Amendment was |
ruled of order, and the bill WAS agreed TO
Upon the next BILL appropriating $3.50. 600 for |
the purchase Of u fite for public building at |
Buffalo. ~ ". Mr. Bland took occasion to renew /
his attack upon the measure, and advocated the |
reduction Of the surplus by the payment OF the |
bonded debt He appealed to the House 10 cease