The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1894-01-05
FROM WASHINGTON CITY.


i Senator Peffer introduced bill pro
viding funds for immediate use in reliev
ing want and distress in the country.
Representative Hermann has intro
duced bill to pension Ralph Summers
who served in the Oregon Indian war
in 1867.
Representative Wilson has introduced
a bill to validate all outstanding soldiers
additional homestead entries. This bill
will affect numerous settlers in Oregon
and Washington.
Representative Hermann has present
ed many more protests from Oregon lum
bermen against the Wilson bill. Ther,
is no possibility Of defeating the bill il
the House. The Senate may kill it.
u Representatives Wilson and Doolittlt
have prepared an amendment to Mon.
tana bill for selecting lands granted un.
der the enabling act for State institutions
This bill will allow Washington to make
selection on unsurveyed lands; to secure
title when surveys are made.
Secretary Carlisle says there is much
difficulty experienced by the officers
charged with the duty Of assisting the
enforcement OF the Chinese exclusion
laws by reason OF certain practices re-
sorted to by the Chinese coolie, and
adds; IL am OF the opinion that, as
our laws prohibit the landing OF Chinese
laborers, the privilege OF passing through
our territory ,annot be safely granted,
and should at once be revoked. Ii this
privilege is continued, it will be impos-
sible to secure an efficient execution of
the laws passed by Congress for the ex-
cluslon Of Chinese laborers."
The Supreme Court has rendered its
opinion declining to pass upon the con-
stitutionality OF the dispensatory law OF
South Carolina, by which the State con-
trolls the sale of liquors. The case came
up on writ OF habeas corpus to release
State official. who had seized barrel
ofliquor under thelaw. Chief Justice Full
Ter said the court did not think it neees-
sary to pass on the econstitutionaity OF the
liquor law. The officer was in contempt
in seizing the liquor held by receiver.
For this reason he should be punished
without reference to the constitutional
question involved,
Gross Irregularities, amounting to
millions Of dollars, are stated to have
been discovered in the New York custom
house by special agent OF the Treas
ury Department recently detailed to
make an investigation. His report,
which is elaborate as to detail, was laid
before Secretary Carlisle. and was the
subject OF several hours discussion be-
tween him and Assistant Secretary Ham
lin, in charge OF customs matters in the |
Treasury Department. The report re-
fers principally to tobacco refunds, in
which the Irregularities are alleged to
have occurred. The amount involved is
stated as high as s5,000,000, and gross
negligence or worse is charged against
the New York custom-house officials.
Hansbrough explained his Russian
thistle bill. The bill provides that the
Secretary Of Agriculture shall employ
the necessary help and so direct it as to
destroy and exterminate the Russian
thistle in every part OF the United States
wherever found, and carries an appro-
priation OF $l,O00,000 to pay the ex-
penses. The Senator said he had hesi-
lated to introduced this bill because it
smacked OF paternalism, but after a
careful consideration OF the question
and after making a personal investiga-
lion while in North Dakota recently he
mad reached the conclusion that national
assistance was necessary to the eradica-
ion OF the thistle, and his object in in
the bill and calling for this
this early in the session
vas to secure action during the winter,
70 that the Agricultural Department
night proceed in conjunction with the
several States early in the spring to at
.ack the monster all along the line.
The annual report Of Hon. John G.
Jarlisle, Secretary OF the Treasury, has
been transmitted TO Congress. The
estimates the revenues of the
government for the fiscal year, which
will end June 80, at $43O, 12l 900, and
hat expenditures for the same period {
will amount to $45S, ,12l, 900, leaving a ,
Ieficit Of s28.0O0,0O0. During the first {
i've months Of the present fiscal year {
he expenditures Of the government ex-
eeded the receipts s29,91S,095. This !
vas brought about by decreased receipts
nd increased expenditures. Compared /,
Fith the corresponding months last !
ear. the customs revenues fell off $23,-
89, ,829; internal taxes, 81. 1856, ,667. The q
expenditures in the War Department in !
he execution Of contracts made in the d
asst fiscal year increased s6 1852, 1872; the Z
ayy, for the same reason, $1,9l2.289, \
nth other minor increase. There have :
cen reductions in other branches OF the !
ublic service Of 6,352, ,2O6. December !
the net balance in the Treasury was
My sl1.038. 448. OF the total amount
eld. sl2,S47,5l7 was in subsidiary silver y
nd minor coins. o
The following nominations have been 9
,nfirIned by the Senate: G. IL. Simon i
IN, South Carolina, United States Cir Il
iit Judge Of the Fourth Judicial Cir q