The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-12-14

WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. 13.-The
house opened to-day with sharp con-
test between the ways and means and
appropriations committees, but it was
brief and decisive and resulted in a
victory for the former committee. For
some time there has been little rivalry
between these two committees OF the
house, and when the matter OF ascer-
tanning the financial condition OF the
treasury under the operations OF the
Mckinley law became n pertinent ques-
tion Immediately after the election this
rivalry was accentuated by the dispute
as to which committee should conduct
the investigation.
Mr.. Dockery, of the appropriations
committee, introduced resolution as
signing this duty to the committee OF
which he is member, and few days
later Mr.. Wilson, OF tho ways and
means committee, presented u resolu-
tion directing the committee upon
which would fall the burden OF origi-
mating revenue legislation for the relief
OF depleted treasury to conduct the
inquiry. Both resolutions went to the
committee on rules, and that COM
mittee to-day reported Mr.. Wilson's
proposition, tho house conierring juris-
diction on the ways and means commit
tee.
Immediately after the reading Of the
report Mr.. Breckenridge, of Arkansas, a
member of the ways and means COM
mittee OF the last Congress, but now OF
the appropriations committee, sprang
to his feet and sought to present sub
stitute to dividing the work between the
two committees, comforting upon the
ways and means committee the inquiry
into the effect OF the Mckinley lawand
upon the appropriation committee the
investigation Of the financial condition
OF the treasury.
To the proposed substitute Mr..
Catchings, OF the committee on rules,
promptly objected. stating that Mr..
Breckenridge's resolution should be in
troduced and referred in the usual way
and declining on behalf Of the commit
tee on rules to accept any substitute or
amendment whatever to the pending
resolution. After some further discus
sion Mr.. Breckenridge withdrew his
substitute and the resolution recon-
mended by the committee on rules was
unanimously adopted. This resolution
is as follows:
"Resolued, That the committee on
ways and means be authorized and in-
strucled to inquire and report as to the
present condition OF the treasury and
the future probable revenues under ex-
listing laws; and to that end the COM
mittee is particularly instructed to as
certain the amounts as near as may be
that will be required for the payment
OF pensions prior to June 80, 1894; tho
amount of uneXpended appropriations
and the amount required to complete
works now authorized by law; the items
OF the sums to the credit OF disbursing
officers; the items of probable revenue
between this date and Juno 80, 1894. and
the dates at which the same will be
collected by the treasury, together with
all other facts which may be useful to
show the present and future condition
of the treasury"
The members OF the ways and means
committee were at once notified that a
meeting OF the committee would be
held this week to begin the investiga-
ton. Mr.. Springer says the investiga-
ton will be made by the full committee
in open session.
Most of the day was consumed in the
house in consideration OF the senate bill
enlarging the provisions Of the act for
the distribution Of tho awards made
under the convention between the
United States and Mexico-the LaAbra
claims. Although bitterly opposed by
Mr.. Covert, Of New York, the bill final
ly passed by large vote.
The affect OF the bill is to, refer the
whole after to the court of claims,
with poy VI OF appeal by either party.
The rel lnder OF the session was cons
sumed in consideration OF unimpor-
tant measL 's.