Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-03-05

at has SPENT" said Representative
Dockery, $500, 100000 more than the
Fiftieth Congress did, when the Demo
Gratis controlled the House"
here has it gomez"
sit has gone" SAID that gentleman,
sin Increased PENSIONS in direct tax
bills, in subsidy bills and in jobs of
every possible character. The Repub-
lican party has been discredited by the
country. 1t is going out of power with
no expectation of controlling the House
again for many years. Its members have
made the most of their opportunity.
That's the situation in nutshell"
COMMITTEE CONTROL
Another element in this corrupt and
wasteful extravaganza has resulted from
giving to the respective committees the
control of their several appropriations,
which until four years ago lay solely
within the jurisdiction of the appropria-
tons committee. All that time the
chairman Of the appropriations commit
tee, and not the speaker, was the real
autocrat of the House. With the 10
appropriation bills all of which were
privileged measures-he could antago-
nize whatever legislation he desired, as
Mr., Randall did repeatedly when the
Democrats in the Forty eighth, Forty
ninth and F'iftieth Congresses desired to
bring forward tariff bill.
1t is doubtful, however, if the change
has been beneficial one. 1t resulted
in shearing one man of his power But
il has also resulted in an expansion of
extravagant ideas, inasmuch as each
committee thinks only of the money it
is authorized to spend and not to what
extent the other expenditures may swell
the total. Let me illustrate:
The Agricultural bill, since it was
taken from the Appropriations COM
mittee, has grown from about 100000
per year to $3,000,000; the Military
Academy bill has grown from 100000
to 100000, and has gone as high as
100000 since the transfer. The Indian
Appropriation bill has grown from
$5,000000 to $15,000,000; the Consular
and Diplomatic from $1,000,000 (abouD
to $1,660,000. The Post-otfice bill has
grown from $53,000,000 to $77, 10000
The Army appropriation bill has grown
100000. The Naval Appropriation bill
was about $14,000,000 the last year it
was with the Appropriations committee.
Since then it has grown to more than
$30,000,000.
TIE LOBBYISTS IN CONTROL.
WAsHINGToN, March 3.-The gal
leries of both houses of Congress were
thronged with spectators all day and
many remained until far into the night
expecting that the last few hours of the
Fifty-first Congress would be marked
by some excitement. But they were
disappointed. Aside from the rapidly
with which work was done and the in
cidental hustle and confusion there was
nothing to show that the most extraya-
giant and reckless Congress the country
has ever known was almost ready to be-
come only a dark page in the history Of
the republic. Even in the House, where
Reed has ruled with an iron hand, there
was no Indication of the lawlessness
that will forever be remembered as the
most prominent feature of his reign.
1t is true that the cnterprising lobby
lists were present in full force and mem
beers were besieged by the friends of
measures, some of which will not get
through There were many anxious
faces in the lobby and us the hours
wore on not a few went home in de-
spair, as the prospects Of an economical
Congress after December next gives the
eager promoter very little hope for such
of his schemes as have not been gotten
through at this session. That the efforts
of the lobbyists to get money from the
treasury have met with fair degree of
success is shown in the statement that
the appropriations made by Congress
during the session now about at an end
exceed those made during the last SEES
sion of the Fiftieth Congress by about
$19,0O0,000.
Both houses transacted very con-
siderable amount of business during the
day, "A large portion of it being done in
the conference committees, the two
houses merely acting on the reports
submitted to them. In the Senate the
General Deficiency bill was amended in
several respects and sent back to con-
ference. One of the amendments makes
an appropriation for the French spolia-
ton claims, and it was not agreed to
until strong fight had been made, but
Mr.. Stewards amendment to reimburse
the states of California, Oregon and
Nevada for moneys expended by them
in the suppression OF the rebellion
2,45l 1863 to California; 1924 ,52S to
Oregon, and $4Oi,04O to Nevada-was
agreed to without division, and the
usual extra pay was voted to the en-
ployes of the two houses.
A bitter fight was waged over the
conference report on the Copyright bill
and finally the Senate refused to recede
from the Sherman amendment allowing
the importation ton payment of tariff
duties) Of foreign copies Of copyright
books and the ingalls, amendment allow
ing the importation of newspapers and
magazines.
The House also took hand in reject
ing amendments, and, as consequence,
the pension, agricultural, general def
cheney and diplomatic and consular APP
preparation bills were all sent back to
conference, but difference were adjusted
and the evening session, though noisy
at times, resulted in Il great deal Of
work being accomplished.
The President signed the act for the
construction OF a new building for the
mint at Philadelphia to-day, it being
the Tooth anniversary of the signing by
President Washington of the act for the
establishment of the original mint build
ing in that city. At the request of Rep
resentative Bingham, the President pre-
scented him with the pen used in signing
the bill, and 1t will be placed on exhibit
ton in the building when completed.
Members of the Pennsylvania border
raid commission to-day telegraphed Rep
resentatives Maish and Atkinson, asking
them to have inserted in the Sundry
Civil or Deficiency bill an amendment
directing that the money which Penn
sylvania will get under the Direct Tax
bill be paid to the border raid claimants.
Mr.. Mnish and Mr.. Atkinson had q con- |