The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-08
A TEMPORARY HALT ONLY.
THE PASSAGE OF THE RIVER AND
UARBOR BILL POsTpONED.

Friends Of Economy Hope to Defent the
Continuous Contract system-Indicat,ons
that the Aggregate of the Approx r,ntions
OF the Present session Win Exceed that
OF the First Session OF the Billion Con.
sress by at Least SBs. 900. 600
WASHINGTON. May 7.--Judee Holman and his
fellow economists succeeded to-day in forcing
| q temporary suspension OF the wild rush OF
extravaganza that had taken possession OF the
House OF Representatives. and tho River and
Harbor bill. which its friends hoped to pass
this afternoon. is tonight suspended. like
Mohammed's coffin. 'twixt heaven and earth.
The criticisms OF certain newspapers and the
appeals OF honest minded Democrats brought
the members to their senses this morning In
time for the leaders to rally those not irre-
vocably committed to reckless expendi-
ture by the careful distribution OF
pork" The vicious continuous contract
system. which would pledge the United
States to an endless expenditure Of
gigantic sums. was SO successfully attacked
that its opponents are to- night hopeful Of do
featlng 1t on Monday, when the fight will BIO
renewed They are in their enthusiasm even
talking Of Killing the bill. There is no hope OF
their doing this. however. The pork" has
been too widely and judiciousy distributed.
but Judge Holman and his fellow economists
are hopeful to- night Of defeating the continu-
Gus contract system.
All during tho day there was abundant evil
dence that tho leaders in the House were de-
termined to take the bill OF extravaganza by
tho horns. There was great amount OF hur-
rying and scurrying TO and from the various
committee rooms and the Speakers room by
the leading Democratic economists. and re-
,r..,
were held in the effort to formulate
| plans to avert tho threatened danger OF
violating the party's pledges in behalf OF econ
omy and retrenchment. and Congressman
Sayers OF Texas one Of Judge Holman's most
efficient assistants on the Appropriation Com
mittee, set to work to illustrate the situation
with statistical tables and itcmized figures.
md Mt length arrived at u conclusion calcu-
lated to DO somewhat roassurng. Defining
the situation he said:
las the various appropriation bills now
stand. none Of which have become laws yet
except two urgent deficiency bills amounting
to Sl.O3S. 900. including the estimates for per-
manent annual appropriations. they agSre-
gate S485.OOO.OOO. Us compared with S403..
100000 appropriated Mt the first session OF
the Fifty-hrsr Congress- and with S54l.-
100000 appropriated ct the second session
OF tho same Congress. This latter sum in
cludes S15.0O0.OOO for the payment OF the
refund OF the direct tax to the States. and
Sl.0OO.OOO odd for back pay and bounty
claims. The reason that can be assigned for
the close proximity Of the amount to be
appropriated for this session and those au-
tho-ized at the first session OF the last Con-
gross is that this session is compelled to ap-
proprate over $4G.O00.OO0 for pensions and
sugar bounty. which were not adequately pro-
4 f>.l A., ~
the. next. session. OF this Congress fol-
ho vef the and Harbor OF bill Sasd
tbs o Tie Fe s6s session sssssn VII
iST tns G2nd"s Session q the las5 Gon
the side Of economy. This est mate. OF course.
Is based entirely unon the present status OF
liz ss sc Ha o Rs
Those who are .nmiliar with the extravagant
tendencies OF the Senate and who are in a
poses Of that body rSsar'Iing arrro%riation..
passed ~ the House viii be Ioadel up ty
the Senate to the extent Of at least thirty odd
' Democ m iA House Of Hepreeentatve s to
originate the appropriations. will. instead OF
Sc Ss rssS SHm 81 so o{s s q
nS o s sn@ ike s0S Or
Hsrbnr Initial b ess hsv w nasses the the He o snd
likely to add SIS. oOn00o to it for additional
improvement Of the MisSissipnI. River; and Pc
precipitation bill $40 100000 at least is likely to
be added to tie already ENORMOUS Soa aggregate.
$1,000 600 more to the Post oilce bill. making