Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-17
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL
The House Occupied in Further
Discussing the Measure.
MIR. REED MAKES 4 POINT OF ORDER
Sustained by the Chair Against
Mr.. Wolverton's Amendment.
THE INTERNAL REVENUE LAW

The House continued its work today not
withstanding the fact that this was st.
Patrick's day. Quite number of members
wore green sprays of Erin's shamrock up-
on the lapels of their coats
The Pacific Railroads Resolution.
Al the opening OF the session Mr.. Reilly
OF Pennsylvania, chairman Of the commit
tee on Pacific railroads, rose to a question
of privilege with regard to the resolution
Introduced by Mr.. Boatner yesterday direct
Ing the President to employ special counsel
10 bring suit against the Union Pacific
railroad Tor the amount of it's Indebtedness
to the United States. The resolution, at
Mr. Boatner's request, had been referred
TO the judiciary committee. Mr.. Reilly
thought 1t should properly go to his COM
mittee.
Mr.. Bailey asked. in the temporary alb
sence OF Mr. Boatner, that the question
OF the reference be POSTPONED but Mr.
Heliy refused to acquiesce. whereupon MIR.
BAILEY made the point of order that Mr..
Reilly had not been authorized by his
ence.
Mr.. Reilly stated that he had not been
iormahy authorized to make the motion.
and the chair therefore sustained the point
of order.
The Senate amendments to the bill to
enarter the Iowa and Nebraska Pontoon
agreed to.
The Sundry Civil Bill.
Inc House then went into committee Of the
whole and the consideration of the sundry
civil appropriation bill was resumed
The amendments to the appropriations for
the Missouri river commission, which were
pending when the House adjourned yester-
DAY, were postponed until Monday, in order
10 elVe Mr. Nolverton V'a.), who desired
To leave the city, an opportunity to offer
some amendments to the paragraphs relat-
ing 10 the expenses of United States courts.
Mr.. WOlverton stated that the amend
ments which he offered, and which were
given in the Associated Press dis
patches yesterday, had the unanimous ap-
proval of the judiciary committee and also
the approval of the Attorney General
Most of them were limitations upon the
fee system and were agreed to without de-
bate.
Mr.. Reeds Point of Order Sustained.
Mr.. Reed made a point of order against
the main amendment, governing the fees of
clerks of United States courts Some crit
tcism was indulged in by Mr.. Livingstone
(Ga) because an exception was made in
the case of the southern district of New
York. and il was explained that owing to
the immense business in that court the pub
he interest would be subserved by allowing
more fees there than elsewhere. Mr.. Reed
conterde1 that several portions of the
amendment-those limiting the fees of dis
trict attorneys. fixing immigration fees. ex-
cluding United States commissioners from
serving as clerks-were not germane.
Mr.. Wolverton, in reply, declared that the
present fee system was a disgrace to the
United States courts, but Mr.. Reed main
tanned that even if ii were. such legislation
as was proposed by the amendment should
not be thrust into the statutes rider
on an appropriation bill.
Mr.. CulbersOn said that ordinarily he did
bill, but there seemed to be great pressure
at this time for a correction of these we'll
understood abuses.
The chair sustained the point of order.
Another Attempt Failed.
Mr. WolvertOn thereupon divided the
amendment and offered that portion of ii
which restricted the compensation Of init
ed States district circuit clerks tc 3.OO
and where a person served as both district
and circuit clerk TO $500. the provision not
to apply to the clerks of the United States
courts in the southern district of New York
or of the Indian territory. Mr.. Reed to
this also made the point that it was not
germane, and Mr.. Wolverton. at the sug-
gestion of Mr. Culberson, Withdrew the
amendment The latter stated that all
hope af correcting these evils of the sys-
tenn now lay in the passage of a bill for
that purpose.
Mr. Bowers (CaL) offered an amendment
to the appropriation of $4,000 for special
counsel TO aid district attorneys to
provide that 5000 of this be expended in
the employment OF special counsel in the
cases now pending at Los Angeles, Cal, of
the Southern Pacific railroad to set aside
United States patents.
Hunting for MOonshiners.
Speaking ostensibly to the (his) amend
ment, Mr.. Settle secured unanimous con-
sent to discuss the increase of the appro-
priation for the detection and punishment
of violators of the internal revenue law
from $1,000 to $4,000. This appropriation
was made largely on account Of the condi-
ton of affairs alleged to exist In his state.
There were now 9l9 revenue officers IN
North Carolina, many of them engaged in
the search for Illicit stills This $4,000
was to be used to bribe individual citizens
to turn states evidence. That was It's
purpose. 1t was known as the corruption
fund. He maintained that the appropria-
ton was not necessary; that IL was used
for improper purposes and was demoraliz-
ing. The official force was sufficient, he
declared, to secure the enforcement Of the
law. If revenue officers were corrupt and
in collusion with the Illicit stills they
should be discharged and honest men SUBJ
sututed in their places.
He had presented resolutions by the leg
Stature of North Carolina, demanding the
abolition of the internal revenue laws.
Mr. Bowers (Cal), at the conclusion of
Mr. Settles remarks. spoke for half an
hour. advocating the adoption of his
amendment
Mr. Culberson, chairman Of the judiciary
committee. gave it as his opinion that the
government under no obligations to
defend these suits, but If they were decided
against the settlers in the court of last
resort that il would then become the duty
or the United States to refund the money
PAID by these settlers. with interest
The chair ruled the amendment out, on
1he ground that it changed existing law.
Ihe committee then rose.
resolution authorizing the enlisted men
OF the army and navy To wear badge on
puhnc occasions was, motion of Mr..
Outhwaite. agreed to. And al 2:3p, in ac
coriance with the provisions of special
order. the remainder of the day was de-
voted to eulOgieS upon the life and charac
Ter OF the late Representative W. H.
Enochs of Ohio.