The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-20
WORK OF THE HOUSE
Sundry Civil Bill Debated and
Three Amendments Rejected.
Alleged Attempt TO Make Soldiers
Homes Subordinate to the War De-
partment-Senate Proceedings.

WASHING TON. March 19.-An attempt
was to have been made to-day by AIR. Jo-
sephs, the New Mexico Delegate, to pass
the bill for the admission OF that Territory
to statehood under suspension of the rules.
but. it being apparent that the Democrats
did not have a quorum present. he decided
not TO make the effort. Without transact
ing any routine business. the House went
into committee of the whole and considera-
ton of the sundry civil bill was resumed.
The paragraph appropriating $4,000 to
be expended under the direction OF the
Missouri River Commission was the pending
subject of discussion. Mr.. Catchings con-
tinued for a brief time his argument
against parceling out by restriction por-
lions OF the river and harbor appropria-
tons made under the continuing contract
system. speeches were also made by
Messrs. Herman, Loud, Hainer. Broderick,
Heard, Wilson Of Washington. Mercer,
Clark and others.
Mr.. Bickler advocated an amendment TO
divert 100000 Of the appropriation for the
Missouri TO the stretch OF 1850 miles above
Sioux City.
Mr.. Mercer advocated an amendment 10
set aside $4,000 of the Missouri appropria-
ton for the removal of snags and obstruc-
tons above Sioux City, and $4,000 for the
revetments, dikes and water-works be-
tween the south line of Nebraska and Sioux
City.
After a few closing words by Mr.. Catch
ings, warning the House against demoraliz-
Ing the systematic work done by the COM
mission by parceling out portions of the APP
preparations, action was had on the pending
amendments. The first was Mr.. Broderick's
to set aside $4,000 10 strengthen the banks
at Atchison and Leavenworth, Kan. II was
lost-5S to 5. The Pickler and Mercer
amendments were also lost.
The next and last paragraph in the bill
was that relating TO soldiers homes, against
two clauses OF which placing the disbursing
officers of the homes under bonds and re-
curing ar annual report of the condition
Back had raised a point of order. Mr..
Cogswell explained that these clauses
obtaining a better method of accounting
and auditing the great sums of money eX-
pended under the direction OF the board OF
was part of any attempt TO place the SOL
diers' home and the manager In the I'M
friendly hands of the War Department.
board of managers of the national home.
opposed the two clauses referred to. Con-
this board. Over 100000 had been appro-
priated, not one dollar Of which had been
lost; Suits for recovery were pending
against General Buffers estate in Massa-
chusetts and a recent treasurer in Wiscon-
sin. Some twenty-three thousand old sol
diers were maintained at these homes. He
was opposed TO the change proposed by the
bill. 1t might handicap the managers.
Mr.. Cannon advocated the contemplated
change. He urged that there could be no
valid reason why the money expended by the
disbursing officers of the homes should not
be audited at the Treasury Department,
change would not interfere with the plenary
power of the board of managers.
An agreement was reached that further
debate on the pending paragraph be ter
minated in thirty minutes after which the
committee rose. Mr.. Cultivate. chairman
sented the army appropriated bill and then.
at 5:35, the House adjourned.