Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-18
THE HOUSE.

There was no objection from the minority
side OF the House this morning to the approval
OF the journal Of yesterdays proceedings.
Upon motion Of Mr.. O'Neill CPa) Saturday
afternoon, March Is, was set apart for the de-
livery Of eulogles upon the late Representative
Kelley Pa.).
Mr.. Morrow (CaL), from the appropriations
committee, reported the pension appropriation
bill. Referred to the committee Of the whole.
A conference committee was ordered upon
the bill to direct the superintendent OF the
census to collect statistics of farm mortgages
and indebtedness
The Speaker laid before the House message
from the President transmitting without COM
ment communication from the Interior de-
partment proposing an amendment of the act
providing for allotment Of lands in severaity
to Indians.
FOR AN ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF WAR.
The Senate bill providing for the appoint
ment Of an assistant secretary Of war was laid
before the House and, as it was substantially
the same as the House bill already favorably
reported from the military committee, the
Speaker held that il was, under the rules, en-
titled to immediate consideration. So the
House House went went into committee OF the
chair, and Mr.. Gutcheon mich. )
made brief explanation Of the necessity for
the appointment OF an assistant secretary of
war: The report Of the committee on military
affairs dwells upon the great increase of busi-
ness coming before the Secretary OF War
as result of the great number
OF bridge bills passing Congress, the
growth OF ordnance and fortifcation works
and other matters. It is also stated THAI the
War department has no civilian officer above
the grade Of clerk to assist the Secretary. An
assistant secretary is said to be necessary to
extend the civil influence in the department.
The salary proposed is "a, 800 and the assistant
secretary is to be nominated by the President
and confirmed by the Senate.
MIR. Cutcheon said that the measure had
been recommended BY the War department
for ten years.
Mr.. Cannon CHI. remarked that tho appro-
priations committee had in the Forty-seventh
Congress appropriated a salary for the office,
and wished to know il the present Secretary Of
War desired an assistant.
MIR. Cutcheon replied in the affirmative and
stated that although the appropriation had
been made by the Forty-seventh Congress no
authority OF law had been given to make the
appointment.
Mr.: McAdoo CN.J.) thought that the bill
should not pass; that if a man of force and
character was put at the head Of the War
department be would need no civilian as
sistant
Mr.. Boutelle (Me.) believed there we're
ample arguments to justify the appointment Of
az dseietdut secretary Oh war. Inc importance
OF having an officer of high rank COM
petent to represent the Secretary was one |;
but the stronger argument was that the Secre-
tary should be free to devote himself to the con-
sideration OF questions of general policy with
out being hampered by details.
AN ATTACK UPON THE SURPLUS.
Mr.. Washington Crenn.) recognized in the
bill an attack upon the surplus. He warned
the other side to go slowly in these matters.
After the Blair bill and other
measures involving enormous appropriations
had been passed it would be found that there
was little or no surplus. There was no real
necessity for any more assistant secretaries
The chief duty Of the first assistant postmaster
general since the 4th of March seemed to have
been to decapitate democratic postmasters.
MIR. Spinola (N.Y.) said that bill corre-
spending to this bill had been reported
by the military committee during the
measure @ onssi' and should pass was Millions paopsf or
dollars wereobeing expended in public works.
These matters ought not to be altogether in
the hands OF persons not directly responsible
10 Congress, who were tried by court-martial
and who held their offices for life, There
was no need of civil influence in the de-
partment Somebody should be there to
assist the Secretary; somebody who vas re-
sponsible to the Secretary who would bring
the army nearer to the people, A great
o hole in the ground here-the WASH
ington aqueduct. The responsible Of
fcer had been court martialed and SEN
fenced to punishment that was absolutely
ludicrous. The army officer was an
admirable specimen OF man, but a
narrow specimen, made SO by one
sided education. There was no possibility of
reform in the department or any bureau until
civilian assistant secretary was provided
MIR. McAdoo agreed with Mr.. Breckenridge
that the punishment Of the army officer who
was responsible for the tunnel failure was q
Disgrace to the army, and that it tended to
bring cQurta.martial into canfemnf