Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-01
HUNDREDS OUT OF WORK
Wheels of the Government Almost at
Standst:ll.
NO FUNDS AVAILABLE AT PRESENT
Failure to Pass an Appropriation Bill
Causes Considerable Embarrassmcnt-
Representative Hopkins Caused the
Blockade-Fcatures of situation.
WASHINGTON BUREAU OF The BEE J
5l3 FOURTEENTH STREET,

WASHINGTON. ID. C., July 81. J
For the first time in twenty-five years the
wheels of government are at a complete
standstill. The only sundry civil Dill under
which large number of important branches
OF the government were maintained has ex-
pired by limitations as result of the dead
lock over the Worlds fair appropriation.
The objection of Representative Hopkins to
the further continuance of this old appro-
priation brought aoout the staudstll yester-
day, but it was not until today that the full
effect of this action was realized. The great
| government printing Office, which employs
| 5000 people and where relays have to work
Sunday and holidays, was silent ana
| desertes today.
Public Printer Palmers notice posed last
night that the Office would be closed until
such time as congress provided funds for the
| work gave tho building entirely over to the
dozen or more watchmen who patrolled the
| premises today. The printers worked until
midnight last night and succeedeu in finish
| ing the Congressional Record of Saturday,
| as 1t was short one. When they left they
were told that they need not report for work
until sent for. The big building will again
| be silent tomorrow morning for the day
force comes on at { a. M. and congress Will
not have furnished the funds by that time.
| Other Forces Involved.
| This is only one of the great government
| institutions which Is out of funds and out of
| employment today. 1t is understood that
| Captain Meredith. chief of the bureau of en-
| craving and printing Will order off his force
| of 800 people, who mako the government
| notes, bonds, revenue stamps, etc. The lie
| saving crews, lighthouse keepers and coast
| survey forces arc also without funds today,
and if they are at their posts of duty, it is
only through haoit belief that congress
| will come to It's senses ana right the wrong.
| 1t is an open question whether the federal
| courts of the country can legally transact
| business tomorrow, for the law is explicit that
| no branches of the government can do work,
| anticipating an appropriation Mr.. Hopkins
said today that he felt sure the judges OF the
| federal court at Omaha and elsewhere would
not undertake to 40 any business Monday
| or until an appropriation was available for
| paying the judges, clerks and employees.
| Even tho veterans at the national soldiers
homes are TO-DAY receiving their rations with
| out authority OF law, and the strict military
| commandants in charge may feel obliged at
any time to observe the strict letter of the
| law and close up these institutions.
There are inEumerable lesser branches OF
departmental service which ara today pro-
ceeding ION trustn or arc not proceeding at
all. The gas lamps and electric lights in the
executive mansion and grounds t1lckered as
usual last night and tonight but 1t was only
| through tho good grace of the companies
The government fish hatcheries, revenue
cutter service, geological surveying parties,
interstate commerce commission, etc., are
similarly affected. Even the elevator in the
Washington monument is stopped.
One View of the Situation.
Colonel Morrison of the interstate com
merce commission said today that his
bureau would run as usual as he looks
upon the break as temporary one which
will soon be remodled. This undoubtedly
will be the view taken by the many depart
mental branches throughout the country,
| although. so far as the law is concerned, they
are IN the same laldlp and deserted condl-
tion as the big government printing Office.
The Worlds fair managers are today en-
Joying the cooling breezes Of Old Point Com
tort, so that any councils they may be hold
ing on the present emergency are far from
Washington. The party includes President
Palmer, Secretary Dickinson, Director Gen.
eral Davis, General st. Clair and Chairman
Durborow, which comprises all those usually
regarded as in authority on the Worlds fair
appropriation. They left on Norfolk boat
yesterday, reaching Old Point Comfort this
morning, and expect to get back here some
time Mon lay morning, but while they are
there the leaders of the senate and the
house are literally at fever heat III trying to
arrange some solution to the present
problem.
The weather is intensely hot again TO-DAY,
but it has no terriers 10 the men who feel
that cool judgment must be exercised
quickly in order to right the present situa-
tion. Early this morning conference Of
leading senators was held at the residence of
on appropriations, to consioer what could be
done.
No solution of the Problem.
About the same time Governor Sayers ami
Representative Dockery, two of Mr.. Hol-
mans lieutenants of the house aDproprla-
tions committee, sought Mr.. Hopkins, whose
objection brought about the present govern
mental paralysis, and tried to figure out some
oophole Of escape. There were many in
uuiries for the Worlds fair managers in
nrin- thar nau0'intiOuS miuht hn hnI1 but
their absence at Old Point Comfort pre-
vented any consultation with those in au-
thorlty. The conference between Mr.. Hon
kins and the two members OF the appropria-
tions committee failed to shake the Illinois
member on his objection, which has caused
such CONSERVATION TO government branches.
Mr.. Holman AID his associates donot CON
ceal the fact that they are greatly worried.
by the situation which Mr.. Hopkins has
forced upon them. While they are openly
charging that tho government blockade is
due TO Hopkins and the Worlds fair, they
privately say among themselves that their
main fear Is that it will throw permanent
discredIJ upon the present democratic house
They are bending every effort, therefore, TO
overcome this Hopkins objection. AT the
conference this morning Mr.. Hopkins told
Messrs. Sayers and Dockcry that he would
not yield from his position.
Becoming Worse Hourly.
Many members left town last night not to
return again, and the chances are, OF course,
increasing hourly that II quorum will be per-
manently broken. Speaker Crisp says that
Messrs. Burrows, Wadsworth and half
dozen others who have been friendly to the
fair bade him goodbye last night and said
they were going nome for good There are
many others who have slipped away quietly.
The heat has been 30 intense that many
members feel it would be suicidal for them
TO remain here longer. There is hardly
member who does not feel more or less pros
trated, for the heat has ranged from eight TO
ten degrees above the intense heat at Chi
cago during the last week.
Miscellaneous.
Senator Paddock expects to be at his home
at Beatrice within a fortnight. Senator
Henderson may take a few weeks rest at the
seashore before going 10 Nebraska. Repre-
sentative Bryan goes home as soon us con-
gress adiourns. HIS colleagues will be there
this week
When this session of congress closes
probably this week-it will be found that Ne
braskas two senators have introduced and
had passed about ten times as nauy meas
ures as have Nebraska's three members OF
the house Il. ). II.
Columbus Celebration,
CADIz July 3l.-The Christopher Columbus
celebration was formally begun today by
-, IL.