Los Angeles herald., 1892-05-11
BOWERS BATTLING FOR JUSTICE,
His Assault on the Pacific Mail
Subsidy.
He Urges the Annulment of the Gov.
ernment Contract.
A Committee Appointed to Investigate
the Matter-House and Senate Pro-
ceedings = Other Doings
at the Capital.
Associated Press Dispatches.

fore the house postoffice committee to
urge favorable action on the resolution
introduced by him requesting the post
master-general to take the necessary
steps to have the contract between the
government and the Pacific Mail Steam
ship company, for mail transportation on
the route from San Francisco to Pan.
anna, set aside on the grounds that the
service has not been performed by the
company in accordance with the spirit
and letter of the law.
A long preamble to the resolution
recites, in effect, that the company has
received. and is now receiving, large
subsidy from the transcontinental rail-
roads TO enable the roads to charge ex-
orbitant rates for transporting passen-
gers and freight, by reason of which the
steamship company refuses to accord to
the only American port at which it con-
tracted to call (San Diego, CAL the or.
dinary facilities, which, as common
carrier, it is bound to furnish passengers
and shippers of freight, which facilities
it freely accords to ali the Mexican and
Central American ports.
Representatives Brooks, Wheeler and
Caldwell were appointed sub-commit-
tee to consider the matter.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
The house went into committee OF the
whole on the sundry civil appropriation
bill. Holman stated that the bill ap-
propriated $25, 5,157, ,7S7 against the esti-
mate of $35, 1873 1856, and the appropria-
ton for the current year of $3S, 1876, 1868.
Cogswell of Massachusetts, said the
bill was reported three months in ad-
vance of the usual time. Whether it
was reported prematurely in order to
shut out the appropriations which con-
gress might authorize and thus reduce
the amount of the bill for party pur-
poses, was for the majority of the COM
mittee' reporting the bill to explain.
While the bill reduced the expenditures
under the present law by $4,000, 600
the reduction was made by refusing the
country appropriations which were alb
eolutely necessary
KEN OF Nebraska opposed the in
creased appropriations carried by the
bill, and inveighed against the extrava-
gance OF the present house, especially
criticising the river and harbor bill
which was passed yesterday.
Wilson of Washington argued that the
appropriation of 100000 for the survey
OF public lands was totally inadequate,
and pleaded for free homes for the
people.
Clark OF Wyoming followed in the
same line and expressed the hope that
the house, in its desire for retrench-
ment, would not begin the same at the
expense of the public land system.
After further discussion by Sweet of
lIah ~ ~ ok
cutting down the appropriation for pub
lie land surveys, Dingley of Maine at
tackled the bill as not conforming to the
requirements of the law and paving the
way for large deficiency appropriations
at the second session. During his speech
Dingley denied that the fifty-frst con-
gress appropriated billion or over eight
hundred million dollars, and asserted
that the expenditures of that congress
would not exceed 100000, 600.
The committee then rose and the
house adjourned.
IN -HE SENATE.
The river and harbor bill was received
mittee on commerce.
The conference report on urgency de-
fciency bill was presented and agreed
to.
The senate bill to establish the boun-
diaries OF the Yellowstone National park
was taken up and gave rise to consider
BILE discussion.
Vest of Missouri said he would submit
to the passage of the bill, not because
his judgment approved it, but because
he could not help himself. He did not
believe, however, that the persistent
and unscrupulous lobby that always op-
posed legislation in the interest of the
park would permit the passage of the
bill through the house. The lobby
wanted a railroad charter authorizing
the building of railroad into the park, !,
and the passage Of bill segregating o
portion OF it on the north would defeat
their purpose.
Berry OF Arkansas argued that the
government ought not to be engaged in
running parks or raising wild animals.
Scandal Was already abroad regarding
the park, and he therefore would not
vote to enlarge it, but rather to abol-
ish it.
German of Maryland criticised the
motives of the Northern Pacific railroad
in trying to keep monopoly of the
railroad traffic through the park.
After discussion lasting nearly two
nouns the bill was passed-yeas, ~
nays, 1S-and the senate proceeded to
executive business, and after the doors
were re-opened adjourned.
FREE IRON ORE AND FREE SUGARS.
A number OF Democratic members oi
the ways and means committee are dis
cussing the subject of free iron ore and
free refined sugars as measures which
should be passed this session as part of
the tariff policy by the majority of the
house. 1t is stated that assurances are
wanted from the senate before commit
tee action is taken ON the free refined
sugar bill, and it is proposed to ascer-
tain the views of the Republican sena-
tors. 1t is reported that Sherman will
favor the bill.
THE RAUM INVESTIGATION.
In the Raum investigation today,
Major S. N. CLARK, correspondent of the
New York Tribune, testified that Com
missioner Raum told him that there
was no truth in the article published in
New York paper stating that George
b. Lemon had endorsed note for the
commissioner. Brosius congratulated
the committee on its approaching the
end of the tedious inquiry, and the COM
mittee adjourned to meet Thursday.
NATIONAL GUARD JUNKET.