Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-05
CAPITOL ToPICs.
Brief Mention of Measures and Incidents OF
Interest.

Senator Gallinger's special committee. which
has been investigating the workings OF the
Pinkerion detective system at Homestead and
elsewhere, has completed the taking 81 ,es,i-
mony aud Mr.. Gallinger save tle committee
/ will meet in the course of a few dsvs and begin
| the preparation of lite report.
THE CONGRESSIONAL prnrcroRY.
| The Congressional Directory will be ready
for distribution by the latter par, Of this ueek.
Col Michael. the editor. has all the material
prepared With the exception of few addre~-e.
OF members. As soon > these are obtained the
puoncatlon Will be issued. 1t will be practi-
cally the same as that OF last session no changes
OF any Importance having been made.
THE BOOK OF ESTIMATES.
Secretary Foster of the Treasury Department
today submitted to Congress the book Of esti-
mates for the fiscal year 1898 ga The es,i-
mates are follows: Legislative establish
ment, S3.7is,4l47l. executive establish
ments so. SOS. SOl.i0; judicial establishments.
s6oi.6oo foreign intercourse. sl.7S7 .o79. 20;
military establishments, sec. 90l. S55. sc. naval
estimates. S2S,67l .3l5 p; Indian affairs Ss l2s
2ll.Sl; pensions, S,66. s3l $50: public works.
| Sls,O3O.673.72: postal service mot inccrpor-
a'ed); miscellaneous. SIS. 507. lS9 %. permanent
annual appropriations. sll5. ass, 273 g. Total.
| Si2l .6l2, 2l5 IS.
The estimates for ls92-9s we're s4Os. COS. ees 10;
the appropriations for the same period were
| Si23. 26l. 9f067. The estimates as submitted
are Sl.64s. 50 less than the appropriations for
the current fiscal year.
| TO TRANSFER THE PENSION BUREAU.
Mr. Mitchler Of Pennsylvania today intro
duced bill providing for the transfer Of the
pension bureau to the War Department July /.
1898 TO be thereafter under the direction of the
Secretary of War
THE BUSINESS OF THE SESSION
Senators and members of both partles who
usually map out the program of Congress ARE
talking Of an understanding TO be reached be-
tween the leaders of the two parties that nothing
| OF any importance shall be undertaken this
winter except the passage OF the appropriation
bills 1t is, Of cour.e. well understood that
nothing can be accomplished. but in the absence
OF any agreement there would be a lot of useless
agitation and delay Of the routine business by
attempts TO press Other things
lhere has been some talk of putting through
the Senate the bills for the admission Of Ari-
zona and New Mexico. Senator Dubois and
other republicans have been tayorablv disposed
toward these measures. and OF course. the
democrats are anxious that they should rass
1t Is certain, however. that the recognized man.
ayers on the part of the republican party in the
Senate will endeavor 20 have this matter go
over 10 the next Congress.
TARDY STATESMEN
The statesmen have assembled a. the Capitol
very slowly and the opening session seems to
be almost devoid of interest TO a large number
of them. Usually Senators and members be-
gan coming in rapidly immediately after tney
have had their Thanksgiving dinner and they
are nearly all here two or three DAYS before
congress meets. Yesterday and last night the
hotels were almost as deserted as they are in
midsummer.
LOOKING TO REDUCTION.
Representative Dockery today introduced
the following resolution: That commission,
consisting of five members-elect to the House
of Representatives of the Fitty-third Con-
gross, to be appointed by the Speaker of the
House Of Representatives of the Fifty-seeond
Congress. shall, prior to the first Monday OF
december next. inquire into and examine the
| methods of business and work in the executive
departments of the government. the time and
| attention devoted to tine operations thereof bv
| the persons employed therein. and the degree
| of efficiency of all such employees: and whether
reduction in the number or compensation of
| the persons authorized TO be employed in said
executive departments can be made without
| injury to the public service. Said commission
or any such committee thereof shall have power
to send for persons and papers. aud may report
by bill or otherwise to the Fifty-third Congress
All necessary expenses of said commission shall
be paid ont of the appropriation for the mis-
ceilaneous items for the contingent fund of the
| House of Representatives upon vouchers TO be
approved by the chairman of said commission
RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURE.
Representative Dockery today introduced the
following in the House:
Resolved, That the committee on appro-
priations is hereby ordered TO inquire and re-
port to the House. at the earliest day practi-
cable. as to the following points:
l. What balances of appropriations made for
the fiscal year 1892 and prior wears we're un-
expended and available at the close of that
| fiscal year.
| q The amount of appropriations made for
the service OF the government for the fiscal
year 1898.
g. The total liabilities of the government
| during the fiscal year 1898 on account of an
/ preparations heretofore made, including de-
1 fciencies, that will be submitted to Congress
at Its present session for appropriation on ac-
count of the current and prior fiscal wears.
4. What was the actual cash balance In the
| treasury July l. 1892. the actual receipts of
! the government during the first five months of
the current fiscal year and the total actual and
estimated resources of the government with
which to meet actual and estimated liabilities
during the fiscal year 1898
TO SUSPEND EVAPORATION FOR YEAR.
Senator Chandler. chairman of the commit
tee on immigration and naturalization. has pre-
pared bill, which he will introduce Mt the
| first opportunity, suspending and prohibiting
immigration into the United States except
from the countries of North and South America
for one year from March 3. 1888.
CHANGING THE TIME OF MEETING.
Representative Hooker of Mississippi TODAY
introduced bill changing the time of the as
semblage of Congress to the first Monday after
the 4th day of March in each year. instead of
the first Monday in December the change to
begin with the Fifty-third Congress
TO MEET THE DEFICIENCY IN THE TREASURY
A bill providing for the issue of $4,000 900
bonds. redeemable in coin at the option OF the
Uniteo States after ten wears, was introduced
in the House today. The proceeds of the
sale are to be applied to the payment of the de-
iciency in the United States treasury. The bill
was introduced by Representative Amerman of
Pennsylvania and was referred to the WAYS and
means committee.
ATTACKING THE FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS
Although the report of the committee ap-
pointed to investigate the administration Of
the federal election laws with reference par
ticularly to New York. has not vet
been submitted to the House, tho men,
bers have taken hand and begun the
introduction Of bills bearing upon the subject
Mr.. Wheeler ala. was early in the field his
bill starting with whereas that this govern