The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1892-12-22

partment and the appropriation
committee recommended the enact
ment of the legislation for the pur'
chase of the reservation on represen'
tations that 1t was military
necessity. 1t was provided that the
money shouldbe paid by the secretary
OF war upon the attorney general GER
tifying that a valid title had been pro-
cured. The attorney general found
that there were q number of email
claimants TO the land, and had suit
brought in the federal court for the
purpose Of acquiring title by securing
a declaration In favor of certain par
ties The claimants agreed to submit
their claims to the appropriation to
arbitration, and Congressman Culber-
son and two other gentlemen were
selected to make awards. Mean
while dispute arose between
the claimants and certain persons
who claimed fees for service as at.
torneys in working the matter through
congress. They went to Folman,
chairman of the appropriation COM
mittee, and put in remonstrance
against the payment of the money
and demanded an investigation into
the alleged prices to be paid, which
were for more than the land was
worth, making due allowance for any
claims of settlers for pay for occupa-
tion OF their lands. Mr.. Holman took
steps which proved to be an effectual
restraint against the payment of the
money Secretary Elkins declined to
pay out the appropriation and the
matter went to the military committee
of the house, which, after investiga.
ton, reported the bill passed today
appropriating $780, 900 instead of $780,
900. The bill provides that valid
title must be given in full satisfaction
of any claims against the govern
ment. Nothing is said about COM
pensation to the gentlemen claiming
compensation for their services and
influence in securing the passage of
the first bill.
QUARANTINE DEFICIENCY.
Secretary Foster of the treasury de-.
pertinent sent to the house today de-
ficiency estimate aggregating $4,000
for quarantine service for the fiscal
year 1898. The extraordinary expense
at quarantine stations on OccOunt OF
the threatened invasion of cholera dur
ing the past summer have about ex-
hausted the appropriation for the
maintenance of such stations, which
renders the appropriation necessary
A NATIONAL FLOWER.
Mr.. Butler of Colorado today intro
duced into the house bill to estab-
lish national floral emblem of the
United States of America. The bill
names the pansy, called also the gar
den violet. heartsease, etc, as a ma
tional floral emblem. The sentiment
connected with this emblem IL to be
"juslice, liberty, union, culture and
peace,n the last three words to consti-
tute the motto The Inauguration OF
the emblem is to be fittingly cele-
brated in May, 1893, in connection
with the opening of the Worlds fair
TREASURY INVESTIGATION.
BY a resolution adopted by the
house a few days ago, Chairman
Springer of the ways and means COM
mittee was authorized to appoint a
subcommittee, of which he should be
chairman, to- Investigate the condi-
tion of the treasury department. He
to-day appointed as his colleagues
Wilson OF West Virginia, Turner Of
Georgia, Reed of Maine and Bur
roughs Of Michigan. He has called q
meeting of the subcommittee at II
O'Clock Monday, the meeting to be fol
the purpose of organizing and formu
lation of q request to the secretary o
the treasury for the information de
sired.
INTERN ATIoNALsM MONETARY CONFER
ENCE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. lit Is said a
the treasury department that the In
ternatlonal Monetary conference a
Brussels will adjourn on or before tn
2lst to SOME time in the spring no
yet settled, and that the American
delegation will leavef for home at once
INCREASED TAX ON WHISKY.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Mr. Macon
commissioner of internal revenue
says the passing of Representativ
Scott's bill increasing the tax on dis
titled spirits to SIPS gallon woul'
increase the revenue to the extetn Q
1926, 600, 600 a year. He bases the pre-
diction on an estimate that l00, OOO ,OO
gallons of distilled spirits will b
Withdrawn for consumption during
the fiscal year beginning July l., next
AT the present rate OF taxation thi
would net the government 800 ,OOO, OOO
and at the nroposed rate S125 ,000, 900