The advocate., 1892-02-24

Hon. Thomas u. watson, OF Georgia.
engaged In a ten minutes talk on the
military academy appropriation bill, in
which he remarked:
We have today, gentlemen of the COM
mittee, the most expensive military estab-
lishment known to any country which has
a place on the map Of the world. Great
Britian's military establishment costs $780,
100000; the military establishment of
France costs substantially the same; the
military establishment of Germany about
$175, 100000. Ours, Mr.. Chairman, in round
numbers, has approached the stupendous
total of $9OO,OOO,OOO.
Pensions are put to the expense Of the
military account of these various countries.
Now, say, Mr.. Chairman, that the Condi-
tions Of our finances, individual and ma
tional, does not warrant an increase Of sp-
propriations, does not warrant setting an
example of enlarging expenditures. Take
the newspapers that come to your desk
every morning; read the record there dis
played. Great banking houses 60 crashing
down to financial ruin; great mercantile
houses are closing their doors; the reports
of the southern and southwestern railroads
show diminution> of profits such as has not
been known within the life of any man on
this floor. Distress is everywhere. Gentle
men on both sides of this chamber are
matching themselves in Intellectual
strength, on the one side to show that we
have a deficit, and ON the other to show that
we have not.
For one, whatever contempt it shall bring,
l shall favor economy, and shall not vote
to add one single dollar to the expenses of
this government, where it can be posi-
bly, avoided. l believe the point where for
bearsnce ceases and the patience of the tax
payers is exhausted has much more rapidly
been approached than any gentleman on
this floor seems to spprehend.
INQUIRIES AND STATEMENTS MADE BY
Mr.. SIMPSON.
While the discussion on items Of ex-
penditures was pending, Hon. Jerry
Simpson asked, "Why an appropriation
Of 1920 was asked for the military
academy band, when the band cadets
were regularly enlisted soldiers and re-
celved their pay as Soldiers?"
Representative Wheeler simply an
swered the question by saying that "thAt
expense" had sometimes been double
and treble that amount,
In the matter Of finding places for Re
publican supernumeraries about the
House of Representatives, Hon. Z. E.
Meredith, OF Virginia, successor to the
lately deceased Henry Fitz Hugh
Lee, in spirit of reciprocal courtesy"
between Democrats and Republicans,
offered the following resolution:
Resolved, That Walter F. Halleck, a
wounded union veteran, be authorized to
act as assistant doorkeeper of the House Of
Representatives from this date, under the
direction of the doorkeeper Of the House,
and to receive compensation therefor at the
rate of 81 500 per annum, the same TO be
paid from the contingent fund of the House
until otherwise provided for.
Their resolution had been submitted
on January %, and the committee On ac-
counts had go amended as to make the
compensation $1,000 per annum.
Mr.. Dlckerson, of Kentucky, submitted
remarks on this political resolution Of
courtesy as follows:
only desire to say, Mr.. Speaker, that in
considering thus resolution we called upon
the doorkeeper when the matter was first