, 1892-02-09
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.
House..

tlousC.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.-The house
today adopted a resolution ordering the
appropriations committee to investigate
the expenditures Of the Worlds Colum-
bian exposition commission. While the
Worlds fair committee met a defeat in its
demand that all Investigations should be
conducted by it, many maintain this de-
feat does not indicate that a like fate
awaits the bill to be introduced making an
appropriation of 81. 600, 900 for the benefit
of the Worlds fair. The question was
called up today by Savers, a member of
the committee of appropriations, who
said, in explaining the resolution hat it
was understood the application will be
made to congress either for a loan of
S., 900, 900 or an investment of such a
sum in stock, to be held by the govern
ment.
The original resolution offered by
Henderson ofIowa provided for an inquiry
as to the expenditures authorized BY the
act OF April 25, 1890. The committee of
appropriations had come to the conclusion
it would be well for congress to have all
possible information touching expendi-
lures, whether they referred to the govern
ment exhibit or not. Henderson OF Iowa
disclaimed any untriendliness to the ex-
position. His desire was to invite such
full information as would enable congress
to act ~intelligently in making appropria-
tons. He called the attention of the
house to the salaries being paid. That
Director General Davis is getting SIS, 900
a year; that in salary he ranks next to
the president of the United States: among
government officers, referring to the
salaries of the vice president, chief justice
and others.
THE secretary of the commission, too, [
see," said Henderson. gets $40. 900 and
the president of the commission $l2, 900.
This was cut in two after the storm of a
year ago, after the board was forced to do
it. Public sentiment drove them to a re-
duction. This the director general was
glad to fight hard, at no light expense, to
get a two year seat in this house at a
1000 salary. He had so expended his
intellectual power that no less than
$l5, 900 will satisfy him, when he does
not even bear the current and legitimate
expenses of his election.
He was a good and able man in con-
gress, but l remember nothing for which
he was conspicuous except a dead silence
on most public questions. If you can
vindIcate a SIS, 900 SALARY for him, every
gentleman on this floor is entitled to
$25, 1000. Henderson went on to say he
did not intend in any manner to reflect on
the work of the Chicago local directory,
who had done so much aud were prepared
to do more. The sole purpose of his res
olutlon is to GO thoroughly into an inves-
tigation of such appropriations as nave
been heretofore made and are to be made
by congress itself hereafter. He urged
that the resolution go to the committee
on appropriations and not to the commit
tee on the Columbian exposition.
Durburrow OF Illinois. chairman of the
Columbian exposition committee, ear
the investigation in the hands of that
committee.
McCreary of Kentucky also spoke in
favor Of having the committee on exposi-
ton make the inquiry.
Cultivate OF Ohio argued in favor of
the appropriations committee.
Hopkins of Illinois favored the appoint
ment of a special committee of nine mem
bers. He deprecated Henderson's re-
marks as to the director general. Hen
derson had alluded to Col. Davis as a
gentleman who, when he was a member
of this house, had been conspicuous by
silence. His (Hopklns) experience had
been that the lightest headed and weakest
members on the floor were those who
made the most noise. Fellows OF New
York argued in favor of the Durborro y
substitute. The committee of appropria-
tons welded vast power now and he was
not disposed to enlarge it.
Buffers amendment, eDtrusting the
investigation to the general committee,
lost. Durborow's substitute was rejected
without the division. and the resolution
of the committee on appropriations being
agreed to, the speaker made the following
committee appointments: Banking and
currency, Busey of Illinois and Russell OF
Kentucky; Interstate and foreign corn
merce, Caruth of Kentucky and Combs of
New York; District of Columbia, Sallo-
well of Pennsylvania and Busey of Hi
nois; war claims, Cadmus of New Jersey;
eleventh census, Fithian of Illinois. Ad-
iourned.