The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-12-25
CAPITOLISDESERT
Senators and Congressmon Are on 10 Their
Respective Homes for the Holiday
Recess.
INVESTIGATING INTERPRETATIONS


Washington. Dec. 2l.-Tho sub-com-
mittoc nf the house committee un APP
propriatlons WIS to-day In session CON
sidering the sundry civil bill Director
Wolcoit, OF the geological survey, and
Commissioner Lamoreaux. OF the gem
eral land office, were before the com
mittee, explaining the estimates for
their respective bureaus, and were
questioned by the committee as 10 the
ndyisablllty OF reducing expenditures.
Both maintained that their estimates
were AS low as they thought judlclous.
They were also asked as to the recon-
menda'ions that The surveying Of ub-
lie lands be made under the discretion
OF the secretary. by the geological sur
Vey Instead OF by the contract system
through different states This had been
discussed by Secretary Smith with both
these officers before the recommenda-
tions were made and they were in favor
OF the change. They so assured the
committee to-day.
Assistant Secretary Hamlin, OF the
titi fury departmsnr. also appeared be-
fore the committee and urged that full
appropriations be made for carrying
out the Chinese exclusion act and that
provision be made for all estimates for
Alaska, especially as to United States
customs. Mr.. Hamlin last summer WIS.,
tied the Pacific coast and Alaska as
well ana was asked TO give the COM
mittee assurance that the estimates
made ly the treasury were absolutely
necessary for the Chinese exclusion.
and that the revenue would be increas-
ed by the better service asked for In
Alaska. IL Is the Intention OF the sub
committee To have the sundry civil bill
ready 10 lay before the full committee
Immediately after the holidays.
The capitol was practically deserted
to-day Only few rambling sight
seers, capitol police and now and then
stray senator or representative, woke
the echoes of its spacious corridors
The charm Of the festivities of Christ
mas at home was the magnet that had
drawn every one who could leave from
the congressional grlst mill. only
members and senator's from the far
west, and those whose families are I'm
Washington. remained here. Several
OF them were at their desks for n short
they had put their congressional labOrs
behind them and matters congressional
were In state OF suspended animation
Speaker Crisp was In his room In the
hall of representatives about noon, die
tnting answers 10 letters, hut he was
almS st the only member in the vicinity
of the capitol to-day.
Senator BlackbuT says the commit
tee on rules, OF which he is chairman,
will not take up the question of a clot-
ure rule or any other subject until
after Jan. ].
There Is a prospect that the recon-
mendations Of Gen. Schofeld and Gen.
Otis. for the establishment OF a MILL
tary post at Spokane, Wash. will be-
carried out. Spokane has offered 900
Lcr, of land for the post and Repre-
sentative Wilson has secured I'm the
army approximation bin an amendment
providing that whenever the gJvefn-
ment secures title to the land. the Sec
retary shall establish a military post
on II. Senator Squire has introduced
an amendment in the senate providing
for an appropriation OF $4,000 for the
purpose of erecting buildings and max
Ing improvements for the post at SpO-
kane.
Gen. SchOfleld. commanding the
army. and Gen. Otis, commanding the
department favor the establishment of
new post at Spokane. Citizens Of
Walla Walla fear that this means the
discontinuance of the post at the latter
place. hut Senator Squire says Gen.
Schoreld assures him there will be no
such discontinuancc and no interfer-
ence with Fort Walla Walla or Fort
Vanc ruver will result from the estab-
nshment Cf a post at Spokane.