The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-12-26

the department of agriculture to consist Of
seven members.
Select committee lon irrigation of arid
lands to consist of eleven members.
Select committee on immigration and
naturalization TO consist of seven mem
bers.
The resolution was agreed to.
The following bills were introduced and
referred;
BY Mr.. Peel, of Arkansas-To establish
court of commission of Indian depreda-
tons.
By Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine-For the re-
lief of the survivors of the Samoan disaster.
By Mr. Evant, of North Carolina-A res
olution reciting that it has been openly and
VIGOROUSLY charged that for several years
past the civil service commission has re-
fused to select its clerks under the pro-
visions of their civil service law; that civil
service questions have been stolen and
given out before the examination, and
that other charges have been preferred
against the commission, and directing the
committee on civil service reform to inves-
tigate these charges.
By Mr.. Grain, of Texas-Appropriating
Sc, 200, 900 for the improvement of Calves
ton harbor; also, declaring 1t to be unlaw-
full to drape public building in mourning
or to place flags on such building at half
mast in honor of any deceased person I'M
less such person, at the time of death, was
in the service of the United States; also,
making terms of members of congress be-
gin and end at the 3lst of December, and
changing Inauguration day to April 80;
also. for the establishment of sub-treas-
ury at Galveston; also, TO reduce taxation.
This last bill embodies the tobacco features
of Mills bill, with the free list of the sem
ate bill.
By Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas--For the
creation of United States commission of
arbitration of railroad strikes.
Mr.. Breckenridge, of Kentucky, presented
the following letter from the late sergeant
alarms, j. p. Leedom:
"As no final report has yet been made by
the select committee appointed to investi-
gate the accounts of the sergeant-at-arms,
/ respectfully request the house of repre-
sentatives to make such order or give me
such directions concerning the assets now
on hand as will relieve me from further re-
sponsibility for their custody and safekeep-
ing. In fact have no control whatever
over the assets They are all in the safe at
the sergeant-at-arms' office, and |
have no access to them except in
the presence of the select committee"
Mr.. Breckenridge then offered a resolu-
ton providing that money and other assets
in the hands of j. p Leedom, late sergeant
alarms, be turned over to A. J. Holmes,
by him as may be hereafter determined by
the proper authority. Mr.. Breckenridge
accepted an amendment suggested by Mr..
Reilly, of Pennsylvania, providing that the
adoption of resolution shall not be held
or construed in any way to affect the liabil-
lty of ]. P. Leedom.
Mr.. Buchanan, of New Jersey, inquired
whether an arrangement existed between
Leedom and Holmes by which Holmes had
received or had receipted for the property in
the sergeant-at-arms' office.
Mr.. Breckenridge replied that he knew
nothing about it personally, but he was in
formed that there had been no such ar
rangement.
Mr.. Henderson, of Iowa stated that Mr..
Holmes had receipted for all property ex-
cept the safe and its contents.
Mr.. Buchanan said that he had not been
advised of the exception.
Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine, suggested that
instead of placing the money in question
able custody it would be better to pay it
out to the persons to whom it belonged.
Pending further discussion, the resolu-
ton went over until tomorrow and the
house adjourned.