New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-21
OPPOSING MAJOR POWELL.
SOME SENATOR'S THINK THE GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY IS USELESS.
Mr.. INGALLS, WARMLY Defends THE WORK OF
THAT BUREAU-MR. ALLIsoy's OBJECTIONS
TO INCREASING SALARIES.

TO INCREASING SALARIES
Washington. June oO-Tbe consideration Of the
Legislative Appropriation bill resumed by the
Senate to-day the question being the point OF order
made by Mr.. Allison against the amendment to in
the salary OF the Commissioner of the Land
Office from $4,000 to $4,000 and Of the Assistant
Commissioner from $4,000 to $500. The ViccPrcs-
dent submitted the question to the Senate; and the
amendment declared to be in order-yeas 49, nays
IA. The amendment then agreed to-yeas %.
nays IS.
Mr. Edmunds moved to increase the salary Of the
chief clerk Of the Department Of Justice from $1,000
to $500 Agreed to-yeas 90, nays IS.
Mr.. Harris moved to insert item Of 81. 44o for
a superintendent Of the Senate stables discussion
took place this item, and Mr.. Allison stated that
there were more employees than horses in the stable
and Mr. Hale said that il the establishment belonged
to private individual there would be but one man
to attend to it. Mr. Hale went to ridcule the
proposition and said that il reductio ad
absurdum to dignity the stable for the mail wagon
horses Of the Senate into affair requiring super
intendent There ought to be, he said. two or three
men to each horse superintendent TO every three
men; a supervisor Of the establishment, a commits
sioner OF stables; grand master of stables and
horses; a chief clerk: messenger for each of those
officials private secretary and telephone Then,
he said, the Senate would have really respectable
establishment and a good many persons would get
places The amendment was ruled TO be out Of order.
ton of the Of Oregon from 81 800 10
90 500 was made the text of a speech by Mr.. Allison
against the general movement TO increase salaries.
He appealed TO Senators on both sides not 20 go on
increasing salary after salary.
Mr.. Berry commented the Inconsistency OF the
two Senators from Oregon in contending that tho
statute which fixed the salary Of the surveyorGen-
era of oregon at 500 should not be departed from
in an appropriation bill. after having just voted to
depart from the statute in the Of the Commissioner
of the General Land Ofcc. He thought IT strange,
also that although the salary was reduced when the
Office of surveyorGeneral filled by Democrat,
neither of the Oregon Senators had during the last
four years proposed to put it back
Mr. Mitchell asserted that he had doneso on several
occasions The amendment was agreed TO- yeas -
nays. 90
Mr. Teller moved to increase the salary Of the
financial clerk Of the senate from $4,000 to 1850
Ruled ont on point Of order. An appeal having been
taken from the decision Of the presiding officer. dis
cusson took place, in the Of which Mr. Plumb
spoke of the extravaganza Of the Senate In the matter
Of its employees. The expense now, he said was at
least 300 900 year than 1t ought 10 be. The
force of Senate employees extraordinary and ex-
travagant. senators, he said Should say TO those
persons who pursued them in committee-rooms ana
corridors asking for increase Of compensation, Let
us alone.n There open way for all who were
not satisfied with their compensation. and that was
the way of resignation He hoped that the senate
would take up plan Of retreDchment, by which the
expenses Of the senate would be reduced at least
100000 year. Senators Dawes, Morrill, George.
Harris and Call spoke, several of them complmcntns
highly the financial clerk (Mr. Nxon)
Finally the appeal from the decision OF the Chair
was laid on the table. The bill was then formally
reported to the Senate. and the amendments made IN
Committee Of the Whole were agreed to.
Mr.. Dawes moved to Increase the salary OF the
Commissioner Of Indian Affairs from S4oo TO $4,000
| - Mt ariny
last three or four Administrations had earnestly rec
commended such an increase. The amendment was
defeated-yeas 90. nays "a
Mr.. Stewart moved to strike out the item Of $4,000
for the executive officer Of the Geological survey.
Not agreed to-
Mr. Blair asked Mr. Allison If he would consent to
his asking unanimous consent 10 have the salary oil
the Commissioner Of Education increased from SO 900
to $1,000.
Mr.. Alison-I will not object to the senator ask
ing unanimous consent.
Mr.. Blar-Then I ask unanimous consent
Mr.. Allison-I object. Naughtcr)
Mr.. Blar-I did not expect that the blow would
come thence Laughter)
Mr. Stewart again offered his amendment to strike
ont the item for the executive officer OF the Geological
| survey, and spoke Of the survey as fungus that
had grown up not statute. but on appropriation
| bills He went to denounce the Geological Bur
vey as being practical although the expense
| aggregate expense over 81 100000. And 1t had all
grown m he said out OF an item Of 5000 for
| cutting map.
Mr. Edmunds oorrectcd the statement. and said
! that the Geological Survey had started from All
appropriation Of $4,000 for survey of the Colorado
| River -.
| Mr. Dawes explained the operations OF the Survey
and the Importance OF its work. -,,.,... ...,s,o
| Mr. Edmunds-What has II accomplished during
Mr.. Dawes replied that it had been engaged in a
| ~ tllr n ~
ingalls, saa he knew nothing about the del III
had hesitation in saving that there was no bureau
itsell to the common sense and intelligence Of all
| people where its operations were known The con
country had been exceedingly valuable and important
| There was not territory west OF the Missouri that
hal not been greatly nSeasd IN Eslqe Sought
for with avidty by cultivated readers than the
OF the and dney ya hSa
Instead of being cIrtailed ana diminished. the opera
The o discussion was Continued BY senator's Edmunds
Teller, stewart. Platt Call, Reagan and German, Mr.;
Mr. Platt intimated that If Major Powell guilty
extravagance or impropriey resolution OF inquiry
shond be offered s instead of crtcsng him on an "p
Mr. German said that Major Powell had been ex-
ravagant but his integrity had never been questioned
He thought that a committee Of the two houses should
nys:se the matter and and ys se the az % woTt a.
the Geological SURVEY. The people OF the West were
anxious 10 have practical system OF irrigation cs-
tablished and carried ont 1t was crops that the
people asked for-not pictures. But the people had
found by years Of experience. that IL was wholly use
less 10 expect any results from that bureau and they
wanted the irrigation question taken away from i and
placed where ii properly belonGedn the Agricultural
| Department.
| At the close Of the discussion the amendment was
Withdrawn by Mr. Stewart and the bill then passed.
THEY MAY WEAR THE G. A. II. BUTTON.
Washington, June 2O.-Thc Secretary Of War has
directed that paragraphs o66 and 800 Of the regua
tons shall not be construed 10 prevent snch officers
and enlisted men OF the Army as are entitled 10 tho
distinction from wearing the button OF the Grand Army
| ~ the Republic