The Portland daily press., 1892-01-15

bate-NIr. DingIey's Attempt to Find
Out the Indiana Economists Meaning
Democrats Ring the Changes on the
"Billion Dollar Congress"-No Action
Taken-Mr. Reeds Parting Shot.
WASHINGTON, January 14.-In the
House today the anti-subsidy resolution
was taken UP and Mr.. Holman entered
into a comparison of the records of the
two parties. He incidentally remarked
that the Democratic party had always
been ready by a strictly revenue measure
to secure incidental protection. While
inveighing against class legislation, he
was interrupted by Mr.. Raines, who
asked whether it would be class legisla-
tion to give to silver bullion owners 81
for IS cents worth of metal.
IT simply answer returned Mr..
Holman, 'sthat am in favor of the free
coinage of silver on the same basis as the
free coinage of gold" Applause on the
Democratic side. As to the resolution
referring to the limitation of expendi-
lures, he was surprised that the gentle
man could not comprehend the meaning
of the term providing means for carry
ing on the departments 1t would in
clude all necessary expenditures for car
rying on the government.
Mr. Dingley's Substitute.
Mr.. Dingley of Maine asked consent to
have declared pending as a substitute
resolution declaring it the sense of the
House that it was the duty of Congress
to limit the appropriations to the require
ments of an efficient, honest, economical
and statesmanlike administration of ma
tional affairs, but that the duties of Con-
gress were not restricted to simply pro-
viding means for carrying on the depart
ments but included such other subjects
as, directly or indirectly for the benefit
of the country as whole, were not like
ly to be secured by private enterprise,
such as the establishment of agricultural
colleges, agricultural experiment sta
tions, geological surveys, improvements
of rivers and harbors, the maintenance
of soldiers homes, and the pension sys-
tenn for the benefit of those who imper-
illed their lives in defence of the nation
Mr.. Holman of Indiana objected to the
substitute being regarded as pending.
Mr. Henderson of Iowa denied that the
Holman resolution as now presented,
was in language or spirit the same as
the resolutions adopted in the 44th and
18th Congresses. This resolution, he
said, was a deadly weapon aimed at the
starving millions of Russia. If it was
adopted, Congress could not make an ap-
preparation to send to that country the
offerings of the generous hearts of our
people.
The "BiIlion Congress" Cry.
After defending the financial policy Of
the administration, Mr.. Henderson re-
viewed the appropriations made by the
last Congress which, he said, had been
referred to sneeringly as the "billionCon-
gress.' The ordinary increase of the
appropriations of the 50th Congress over
the 49th; he said, was $6S,000,000 The
ordinary increase of the 51st over the
5Oth was $57,000,0O0, All this wall about
the billion Congress meant that the 51st
Congress had given S113, ,000, 900 by legis-
lation to the soldiers of the republic
their widows, children and dependant,
relatives. The 51st Congress had met
with courage and wisdom the necessary
demands of the republic.
Mr. Dockery of Missouri said the ag-
gregate appropriations of the last Con-
gress were without parallel or precedent
in the history of the country. The record
showed that deducting the sinking fund
interest on the public debt and the ex-
traordinary charge for pensions, there
remained more than s'10o, ,00o, 900 increase
in the appropriation made by the 51st
Congress over that made by the 5Oth
Congress.
MI. Hooker Of Mississippi asked why,
if the money was in the treasury with
which to pay bonds, the Secretary of the
Treasury had asked the holders to ex-
tend the A. per cent bonds at per cent.
Mr.. Dockery Sarcastic.
Mr.. Dockery said, sarcastically, that he
resented the insinuation that the secre-
ta1y did not take up these bonds because
there was not money in the treasury. Had
not the secretary said it was because he
wished to demonstrate the extraordi-
nary soundness Of the government by
showing that it could float 2 per cent
bond. But the controlling reason for the
extraordinary action of the secretary
aside from the condition of the treasury,
was the feet that it would accommodate
the national banks and prevent the ex-
pense on their part of exchanging the
bonds and buying the As at a premium,
and this by the administration whose
most distinguished official had in 1888 in
Maine denounced Mr.. Cleveland because
he deposited money in national banks.
Mr. Dingley, of Maine, said that Mr..
Holman sought by his resolution to bind
the Judgment of the members of the
House as to what were measures of pub
lie and what of private advantage. The
substitute he had sought to offer distinct
ly drew the line of definition. 1t was
important that there should be distinct
definition when the House said there
should be no appropriation for private
purposes. What was the utility of the
resolution? No legislation was proposed
for granting bounties There was but one
bounty allowed by law, and it was
doubtful whether the ways and means
committee, controlled by the gentleman's S
party friends, would report a bill repeal
ing that bounty. He would vote against
the resolution, because he read between
the lines. If it was proposed to make a
distinct declaration of principle, let it so
appear, but let it be a declaration that
the House was opDosed to appropriations