The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-27

Mr.. Dockery Criticises Secretary Fosters
Financial Statement-Mr. Blaine Not
So WelI-WhisIzey Trust Investigation
Referred to Mr.. Reed
WASHINGTON, January Ex-senator
Mitchell from the claims committee has
reported favorably the bill introduced by
Mr.. Frye, to adjust the claims of any
state for expenses incurred by its de-
fence of the United States. Senator Gal
linger has presented an amendment to
the naval appropriation bill, appropriat-
ing 500, 900 towards the construction of
dry dock at Portsmouth, N. H., navy
yard, under limit of $500,009 as state
cost for dock.
The House committee on post offices
and post roads have completed the post
Office appropriation bill for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1894. The bill car
ries an appropriation of 1858, ,457, an
increase OF SO ,538, ,091 over the cnrre MT
fiscal year. The estimates submitted by
the Postmaster General were $65, ,203, ,243,
not including an item of $196,614 for
special facilities on trunk lines inserted
in the bill for which no estimate is sub
mitted. The postmaster general fixes the
revenues in the postal service for the
coming fiscal year at $95, 121, 1858.
The 1QriSIativa aYapl1tiva and iudicia1
appropriation bill for the fiscal year 1894,
reported to the House today, makes an
aggregate appropriation of $21, ,677, 1893,
being 1922, ,134 less than the
amount carried by the bill for
the jpresent fiscal year, $947, ,957
less than the estimates. The bill specii-
cally provides for 1866 salaries, being
11e less than the number provided for in
law for the current year. Department
clerks who now work from to 4 are
hereafter to work eight hours a day.
There are lumber Of changes in the
salaries of clerks, nearly all in the line of
reductions. Compensation to members
of Congress is increased by $50, 200, owing
to the larger number of members in the
next House. The salaries of one assist
ant secretary of state and of chief clerk
are reduced from $4,000 and $2650 to
$500 and $3.50 respectively.
Referred to Reed.
All papers relating to the resolutions
of Mr.. Blowers proposed investigation
of the whiskey trust are referred to Mr..
Reed of the House committee on rules
to look over. The Democratic members
are not inclined to report recommends
ton for investigation, preferring simply
to refer it to the judiciary committee for
Mr. of ho kp-
lieves investigation should be ordered. it
is likely this course will be adopted, and
be conducted by the Judiciary committee
if ordered.
In the Senate.
The House concurrent resolve
for assembling of two houses
of Congress in the hall of
the House of Representatives February
s, at o'clock, pursuant to the require
ments of the constitution and laws, re-
lating to the election of President and
Vice-President, was reported and con-
Cured in. The credentials of Henry
Cabot Lodge as Senator from Massachu-
setts, beginning March 4th next, were
presented and placed on file.
The bill for establishment and enforce
ment of rules and regulations for naviga-
ton canals were reported and passed.
Then the anti-option bill was taken up.
Mr.. Mills made a speech against the
bill as being aimed aga nst the existence
of state governments.
Mr.. Hiscock opposed the bill On the
ground that the bill as law would become
the basis of the most gigantic trust that
ever existed in the United States. The
Senate then adjourned.
In the House.
After the transaction of unimportant
business Mr.. Dockery reported from the
committee on appropriations the legisla-
tive. executive and judicial appropria-
ations bill placed on the calendar.
The House resumed, in committee of
the whole, the consideration of the sun
dry civil appropriation bill.
The appropriation of $4,000 to enable
the commissioner of the general land of
fee to detail clerks to protect timber on
public lands was increased to $120000.
MI. Davis of Kansas moved to increase
the appropriationfor the enlargement of
military posts from 100000 to $500, 900.
In opposing the amendment, Mr..
fDockery criticised the recent report of
the Secretary of the Treasury regarding
the financial situation. The Secretary,
he said, estimated a surplus June 80,
1898, at 500, ,992,377. The disbursing Off
GERS balances for the payms mt of cur
rent liabilities on the first of the present
month, are shown to be but $26, 1862, ia.
If there be charged against the treasury
$11 1907, 1925 of sinking fund defanlt for
the fiscal year 1892, there
is a confessed delinquency of
$40, 1892 1852 on the same account for cur
rent fiscal year, $40, 1853, ,473 which will
be due the national bank redemption
fund July 1st next The apparent sur
plus 500, 992, ,377 vanished gave place to
deficiency of $50,972, ,7s4. Doekery
estimated the total probable appropri-
alton the present session at $531 ,226, ,522.
AS to the liabilities which would be en-
tailed for the ensuing fiscal year it is ap-
parent there would be a deficiency,
probably of SIS, 100000. Pending vote
the committee rose and the House ad-