The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-02-11
FIFTY-SECOND CONGRESS.
THE HOUSE GOES TO WORK UNDER
THE NEW CODE OF RULES.
Congressman Joe Sayers Introduces the
Question of Expenditures in the
Census Bureau and Calls for
An, Investigation.
THE HOUSE.

House met this morning with code
of rules to govern its procedure, but
owing to driving snow storm which
visited Washington today the attend
ance of members was small.
Speaker Crisp, who only occupied
the chair yesterday a brief period,
called the house to order this morn
ing. He was very hoarse and his
voice was scarcely audible, and to one
of the reading clerks was delegated
the duty of calling the committees to
report. Finally Speaker Crisp left
the chair and yielded the gavel to
Mr.. McMillin of Tennessee.
Mr.. Fithian Of Illinois sent the
speaker, for reference, bill placing
farm implements upon the free list.
He wished to have the bill printed in
the Record, but the speaker declined
to recognize him.
Several reports were made from
committees and placed upon the APP
propriate calendar.
While the House was considering
the census deficiency bill in commit
tee of whole, Mr.. Sayers of Texas Tin
charge of the billy made an eXplana-
ton as to its provisions and brought
charge Of extravaganza against the
administration of the census bureau.
Hundreds of men and women who
never ought to have been employed
have been employed in that Office at
the instance Of members of congress.
Had the superintendent of the CEN
sus bureau been left to operate the bu-
reau without pressure from the out
side to put in office large number OF
incompetent persons, the expendi-
lures would have been very much less.
Henderson of Iowa contended that
the office had been economically ad-
ministered.
Savers said he believed commit
tee should be appointed to investi-
gate the administration of the office.
Such an investigation would justify
him in the statement as TO the eXtrav-
agance of the bureau.
After further debate pro and con
Savers of Texas offered an amend
ment appropriating $ll5,514 for the
subsistence of the Sioux Indians and
calling upon the secretary of the in
terror to report to the House the names
of all employees under the direction
and supervision of the Indian bureau.
The latter clause Of the amendment
was the first general legislation to be
incorporated upon the appropriation
bill. but no objection being made the
amendment was adopted.
The committee having arisen the
bill passed and the House therefore
adjourned.
TWO NEW TARIFF BILLS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-Mr. Bunt-
ing of New York today introduced
two tariff bills. One places duty of
one cent pound on tin plate, or tag
gers tin, and one and twO-tenths of a
cent per pound on terne plates, with a
drawback, less per cent of the duty
paid on the exported cans, boxes and
packages made from imported tin
plates. After October l, 1896, the arti-
cles named will be placed on the free
list. The second bill repeats, after
July /, 1898, the duty on pig iron.
SUBCOMMITTEE APPOINTED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The House
ways and means committee today
ordered favorably reported the bill
making Sandusky, o., port of entry.
Routine business was transacted, but
the principal business of the commit
tee. that of tariff revision, was not
discussed. The chairman announced
the appointment of the following sub
committees:
On Customs-Springer, Whiting and
Burrows.
Internal Revenue-McMillin, Shive-
ly and McKenna.
Reciprocity and Commercial Treat
ies-Turner, Cochran and Reed.
Administration Revenue Laws
Wilson, Stevens and DalZell.
Public Debt-Montgomery, Bryan
and Payne,
wnAL DOES IT MEAN?
WASHINGTON, Feb, "a significant
fact, bearing either upon Blaine,,s
health or his relations with the presi-
dent, comes to the surface today in the
discovery that the government side OF
the approaching negotiations with
Great Britain on the Behring Sea ques-
ton have been placed in the hands of
John w. Foster of Indiana, former
minister to Spain, who is a personal
friend of the president. The reason
given is that Blaine's health is in
sufficient, but by some it is looked
upon as another evidence of dissatis-
faction at Blaine's course on the
part of the president. The fact that
Blaine is thoroughly conversant with
this subject makes the action of Presi-
dent Harrison more significant.
A NATIONAL BANK BILL.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The Fidelity
bank scandal, the Cincinnati Sixth
National bank scandal, the New
York and various other breaches of
trust by national bank officers found
q cumulative echo today in the bill
drafted by Mr.. Walker, of Massachu-
sets, which the House committee on
banking currency authorized to be IA
vorably reported to the House. The
bill provides International banks shall
not make loans to officers or employees,
except by direction and vote of the
board of directors and reports of loans
to officers of the bank shall be made
to the comptroller of currency.
PRIVATE CLAIMS REFERRED.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-At the ways