Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-14

WASHINGTON, d. c., December ls.-
The House opened to-day with q sharp
contest between the Ways and Means
and Appropriations Committees, but 1t
was brief and decisive and resulted In
avictory for the former committee.
For some time there has been little
rivalry between these two committee OF
the House, and when the matter Of as
certaining the financial condition Of the
treasury under the operations OF the
Mckinley law became pertinent Ques-
tion Immediately after the election this
rivalry was accentuated by the dispute
as to which committee should con.
duct the investigation. Mr.. Dockery,
OF the Appropriations Committee,
introduced resolution assigning this
duty to the committee OF which he is q
member, and few days later Mr.. Will
son, OF the Ways and Means Committee,
presented resolution directing the
committee upon which would fall the
burden of originating revenue legisla-
tion for the relief Of depleted treas,
ury, to conduct the inquiry. Both the
resolutions went to the Committee on
ported Mr.. Wilson's proposition, the
House comforting Jurisdiction on the
Ways and Means Committee.
Immediately after the reading OF the
report Mr.. Breckenridge, Of Arkansas,
member OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the last Congress, out now Of
the Appropriations Committee, spranR
to his feet and sought to present sub
Stitute, dividing the work between the
two committees, conferrlng upon the
Ways and Means Committee the inquiry
into the effect Of the Mckinley law and
upon the Appropriation Commit tee the
investigation OF the financial condl-
tion of the treasury.
To the proposed substitute Mr.. Catch
ings, 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. The resolution
Is as follows:
"ResoLued, That the Committee on
Ways and Means be authorized and In
structed to inquire and report as to the
condition Of the treasury and the future
probable revenues under existing laws;
and to that end the committee Is partic-
ularly instructed to ascertain the
amounts, as near as may be, that will be
required for the payment Of pensions
prior to June 80, 1894; the 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 June 80, 1894, and the
dates at. which the same will be collect
ed 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 informally no
titled that q meeting of the committee
would be held this week TO begin the
investigation. Mr.. Springer says the
investigation 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 the awards made
under the convention between the Uni
ted States and Mexico-tte LaAbra
claims. Although bitterly opposed By
Mr.. Covert, Of New York, the bill final
ly passed by large vote. The effect OF
the bill is to refer the whole matter 70
the Court OF Claims, with power OF sp-
peal by either party. The remainder
of the session was consumed In the con-
sidsration Of unimportant measures.
In the Senate the joint resolution for
the appointment of commission TO
make an agreement with the five civ
ilized Indian tribes for allotments Of
lands In severalty and for opening the
Indian Territory for settlement, was
discussed during the morning hour, and
then went over without action till to-
morrow.
The anti-option bill was then taken
up and the rest OF the days session was
occupied by Mr.. George, Of Mississippi,
in advocacy OF that bill.