The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-16
HARRISON UNDER FIRE.
EIS USE OF rsE CoNrINGE
FUND CRITICISED.

Members Claim That He Should Have
Consulted Congress First-The Prest-
dents Action Ssid TO Have Been IN
precedented-Livay Debate in the
House Not improbable.
WASHINGTON, April 15-The payment
of the indemnity to the Italian government
for the New Orleans killing out Of the con-
tlngent fund Of the state department was
she subject of some sharp criticisms about
the Senate s1d House te-day. 1t was not
because an indemnity had been agreed
upon that fault was found. but because the
President had assumed tbs right to pay it
without consulting congress. The older
senator's had hardly dreamed Of such an as
sumption of authority. Senator Butler Of
South Carolina, a member of the committee
on foreign relations, who has been in the
Senate for fifteen years, said to the MORN
ING NEWS correspondent only few hours
before the correspondence was made public,
that there was no other way in which the
indemnity could be paid except by an item
III the dlplOmatic and consular bill, or
special appropriation bill. The members
OF the committee ON foreign affairs
in beth houses are very indig-
nanE at what they consider usurpatiou
and a misuse Of the sum OF $50, 600 which
has been annually voted for some years for
the contiGent fund OF the state department.
They say that that fund has always been
intended to meet small items Of expense re-
CURED by courtesy OF comfy to our
diplomatic representatives or those of for
eign countries, and that to use it to pay an
Indemnity without the authority OF con-
gress, is something never dreamed OF by con-
gress, in making the appropriation. There
is SAID to be no precedent for such action on
the part of the President and the subject Is
likely 70 be sharply discussed when the
diplomatic appropriation bill is taken up for
debate.
CLEvELAND's COURSE.
Attention will he called to the fact that
when President Cleveland wished to com
pensate tie government Of China for the
losses Of Chinese subjects by mob violence
at RCck Springs. Wyo, on Sept. 2, 1885, he
sent special message TO congress urging
an appropriation. Perry Belmont, then
the chairman Of tue committee on foreign
affairs, ably assisted by Gov Nc Creary Of
Kentucky, carried through the House the
appropriation of Sl47,74S, aud the appro-
TrlauoD was c0ncurred in by the Senate.
The use made of the contingent
fund in this case is likely to result in it be-
i.g materially reduced. The diplomatic
appropriation Dill hes been reported with
the usual item of $4,000. bat members of
the House say that they shall reduce this
amount. and In the present temper of the
Senate they believe no effort will be made
to restore it there A resolution may be
passed calling upon the President for in
formation as to how the fund has been spent
in recent years. 1t is not improbable, too,
that allusion will be made to the
pleasant excursion which Mr.. Blane's
private secretary, Mr.. Dent, ia now taking
among the West India islands under the
guise of an inspection of cousulates. 1t Is
well known that the consulates need no
special inspection, and that the prime OBJ
Ject Of MIR. DENTS trip is to restore his
health in the mild climate of the south
The fact that the contingent fund opens the
way for abuses Of this sort, aud for
bold assumptions Of what substantially
amounts to the treaty making power, AS in
the case of the Italian indemnity, is likely
to lead to its reduction. Members of the
committee of foreign affairs are especially
indignant because Of the implied distrust
and disregard of them IN tue action of the
President and Of Secretary Blaine. They
SAY that they were quite ready to vote an
indemnity it the facts justified it, as they
did in the Rock Springs case.