New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-11
THE SUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
AgBITRARY CUTS FOR POLITICAL BUNCOMBE
MATURES-MR. DINGLEY on THE EXPEN-
DIrURES OF TIE LIST CONGRESS.


DITUREs OF THE LIST CONGRESS.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE IRIBUNKI
Washington, May 1O.--The House to-day began the
consideration OF the Sundry Civil Appropriation bil
which reported from the committee more than six
weeks ago nearly three months ahead OF the usual
time. It is usually the last of the great general ap-
preparation bills TO be reported because 1t carries the
amounts necessary 10 give effect to the legislation
OF the session This year preceded not only the Leg
atve bill, the Deficiency bill and the FOrfcations
bin all Of which emanate from the Appropriations
Committee. but also the Agricultural bill and the Post
Office bill, which are controlled by other committees
OF course there good reason for wrcnching
the sundry Civil bill out OF its place this year, but ii
was not done without a purpoSe-and partisan pur-
pose at that. The foxy Holman Is determined to
throw upon the Republican senate the responsibility Of
adding every new item required by legislation.
well Of increasing items which have been arbitrarily
and purpOsely cut below living point. or omitted
altogether
IL Is not to be wondered that the bill is bad the
wonder is that it Is not worse despite the efforts OF
Republican members Of the committee, well rs of
one of HOmans Democratic colleagues to restrain him
IN respect b some of its provisions There are MANY
fragrant features, was shown In the discussion to-
day which have been familiar TO members of the
mitee and others since the bill was reported on
March "a.
1t was only yesterday. however. that deliberate
attempt TO "bunco' the minority of the committee
as well as the HOuse-an attempt for which Chair
man Holman naturally receives full credit-was dis
covered. 1t consists In the omission Of an Item OF
81 100000 for which an estimate was duly made.
TO carry 10 completion during the coming year the
work on the Eleventh Census 1t appears that II
has been determined to insert this item In the bill
10 provide for deficiencies for 1892 and prior
years. Now, the deficiency for the current and
prior years account Of the census has already
been provided for. and not dollar OF the item
referred to will be required until after the beginning
of the next fiscal year. II Is In no sense what
ever "a deficiency" appropriation Then why should
II be sought to smugge the item into deficiency
blu Why, in order TO reduce the total OF the
sundry OWL bill and try to make 1T appear that the
appropriation is required on account OF the negh
ecnce OF the last Congress to make needfm pro
vision for the census. As we'll might every other
appropriation for next year be included in one grand
general deficiency BILL Such an attempt to shirk
and shift responsibility would rise TO dignity when
compared with the cheap demagagy by which II
sought 10 strip the Sundry Civil bill OF the census
appropriation and fasten it upon the General De
fctency bill. ,
Nv the bill was $25.157,797 against an estimate OF
s35ls3055 and all appropriation for the current
year Of S3S.3s5.363
Mr. Coeswell of Massachusetts,, In opening the de-
bate said that the bin supposed to carry appro'
priarons for sundry civil expenses OF the "oVeri
ment for the fiscal year 1893. II this session shoulu
be the average length OF a long session 'his oii'
was fully three months In advance of its usual time
whstber IL was reported thus prematurely In order
10 shut out appropriations for expenditures wmch
Congress might see fit to authorize. and thus reduce
the amount the bill carried for party purposes pend
ing Presidential election and in inter dlsregaiu
of public interest, for the majority OF tne COM
mittee reporting the bill to explain. II was claimed
it.,ra
existing law some S13,Oo0OoO. But this reducuoh
had been made by refusing TO the country the APP
propristions which absolutely necessary Inc
reductions In the bill were In many cases arbitrary
unwarranted and against the opinions and estimates
OF those best acquainted with the needs OF the service
an the different departments and the reductions coud
hardly 30 justified except on the ground OF dire
party necessity.
Take the estimate for repairs and preservation OF
uobic buildings.r 1t notorious that the puohc
buildings were In constant need OF repairs ana ro
ou,red urge expenditures for their proper preserVa
tion The close estimate OF the secretary Vi 'no
treasury called for S35OOOO for these Items yet the
b,u struck from the estimate by one stroke OF the pen
az 600, which simply waste "nd des'ruc''o''
,,ns. II left those buildings without adequate pro-
x,uon for care and preservation Increased the oe'
of repairs IN the end and fastened the ume WITCH 'o
b,ildjngs must be replaced by new ana nuch INV
.xpeusiye ones An arbitrary cut OF Sl'oo" "''
mode In the appropriation for the Coast ana "e''oo
survey acanst the protest OF the chief OF the BUREAU
a., - ,roh seriously cripple his work. The Dill haa
,. trt upon the theory Of the least possible heeds
a, Yesterday or the day before without any reea'"
the necessity q today and tomorrow r'"' ''''
and every far point OF view there ad oeeh ho " ~
in expenditures, but simply pos'pohe'no", " "a
name which must increase expenditures III 'ie emu
lie doubted II this could be successfully oe'n''' ~
doubted also II 1t would meet the approval y, ~.
.n....n n.,ne Who as a people, were always Dr"'u
q, tb~,r views generous punctual In payment '"''
10 meet the emergencies and necessiles Vi INV
md reasonably and prudeiLtly PROVIDE ior '"'
ucnts Of the future II he were 10 put lnos ~,
the heading Of this bill 1t would be NO s,nc
postpOnement; no ecHo"''' INV
lures In the end. 49, ,s, ,uv in
crease Of the appropriations carried by the oni' ~
Weighed against the extryagance OF the preIenht o S
and especially crushu ''0 NV
Aes further discussion, Mr. Ding t 'i 81 a6pr
said s; whaeys as t nov aawnng upon the Democratic
majority that the exIendii1reS lUr e must appro
1sso &a and al The Iext session. will be necessarily
Z large ss those for the fiscal years lsyl e ana non
Hesra consres~ APPROPRIATED We are no ,S Which, We
two months Of the close Of thc fediS nou nloin
st he expendItures for the two years PAID by sde
toS VIII not be one billion dollars 500 ~ COO 5e
aS6 rsSk s sSd and s5-5ooooOO
10, 1899 including Interest the war deD,, ,i,"rcs
%9ud further appsar that re Increase OF expendare
Of isai and 1902 over i1aP ob Is ' had been only
s,a oEo 1OoNiust about the as the incrt4Se o
1850 aud 1880 1877 and l9 ,ns a npiire Billion
cratic Honse Thus toppct over We enuro bad hecn
DoTsrp ,ssne which the Democratic Leaders nan
Shouting over 80 Justify The last year, sG COO 900
a,v ia .onu., revenue had lecn reduced 40
w r. vas already evident uat the receipts iyt n
ns.snt al year would meet all current expehnito
pss ns, , " an INC war debt, and leave a balance
Of ont seven or eight millions 10 apply 10 me oas
S.aanm,os' fund which had ben used TO reduce u,
,,.onIIa -, bs var debt An0 the Government "oau
have az the end q the fiscal ear surplus ~. % sSs
400 g., ,ha hands OF discussing officers TO mec'
maturing obligations. , ., uouso adjourned
The committee then rose anu '"e 'io"7' ''''