The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-02-06
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.



Speaker Crisp not n well Man-Tho Dc.
bate on the Census Bill. p
WASHINGTON, D. G., Feb. 5.-For the
first time this session the house met
this morning with a code Of rules to
govern its procedure, but owing to a
driving snow STORM which visited
Washington to-day, the attendance OF
members was very small.
Speaker Crisp, who, though present
yesterday, occupied the chair for but a
brief period, was in his place this smorn-
ing and called the house to order
promptly at noon.
Mr.. Fithian, of Illinois, sent to the
speaker for reference, a bill placing
farm implements upon the free list. lIe
wished to have the bill printed in the
record, but the speaker declined to rec
ognize him for,the purpose OF making
tho request at the present time.
Speaker Crisp is very hoarse and. his
voice was hardly audible. Tho calling
OF the committees for reports (Which is
usually made by the speaker in pcr-
SOM was delegated to one of the reading
clerks, the speaker being desirious Of
saving his throat as much rs possible.
Finally he left tho chair and yielded
the gavolto Mr.. McNlilin, OF Tennessee.
Several reports were made from COM
mittecs and placed on the appropriate
calendars.
The calling OF committees having been
completed, Mr.. Fithian, of Illinois,
made his request that tho bill intro
duccd by him be printed in the record,
and the request was acceded,to.
The house then went into committee
OF the whole (Mr. Richardson, OF Ten
nessee, in the chairl on the ccnsus de-
ticiency bill.
=: While the discussion in atgeneral
way was upon party lines, tho superin-
tendent Of the census Was not without
supporters on tho Democratic side,
Representative Stone, Of Kentucky, be-
ing among the warmest champions OF
Mr.. Porter's efficiency and official zeal.
Mr.. sayres, OF Texas, in charge of the
bill, made IN explanation Us to its pro-
visions, and brought a charge OF ex-
travaganco against the administration
of the census bureau. He said that
hundreds Of men and women who never
ought to have been employed had been
employed in that oflice> at the instance
Of members OF Congress.
Mr.. Henderson, OF Iowa, contended
that the Office had been economically
administered and asked Mr.. Sayres to
boar him out in this contention. Fhis
Mr.. sayre declined to do, stating that
from tho information he had received
he could not endorse it. Many an en-
lploye who was drawing q salary OF SlOO
4 month was unable TO discharge his
duties. Ho believed that committee
should be appointed to investigate the
administration of the Office. Such an
Investigation should justify him in his
statement as to tho extravaganza of the
bureau.
Mr.. Dingley, of Maine, regretted that
the gentleman from Texas who has
made charges against tho superinten-
dent. .of the census had never been made
before the committee on appropriations,
In seemed to him that such charges
made by the gentleman from annony-
nous sources) should have been brought
to the attention OF the committee. lie
was sure that had this been dono the
minority OF the committee would have
insisted that an Investigation be made.
He believed that the superintendent
had faithfully performed the duty that
had been entrusted to him.
Mr.. Sayrcs, OF Texas, offered an
amendment appropriatinS sl15,514 for
tho subsistence OF tho Sioux Indians,
and calling upon the secretary OF the
interior to report to the Fhousc the
names Of all employees under thcc direc-
ton and supervision OF the Indian bu-
reau.
Il Tho latter clauses OF this amendment
was the first general legislation to be in
corporated upon ah appropriation bill,
but no objection being made the amend.
ment was adopted.
The committee having arisen the bill
was passed. The private calendar was
then taken up for consideration, but no
progress was made, and the house ad-
journed until l2:45 o'clock tomorrow,
when eulogies will be delivered upon
the lato Representative Lee, OF Virginia.