The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-17
The House Decides Against Transfer.
ring the Geodetic Survey Bureau
to the Navy Department.
TARIFF BILL ALMOST READY
1t May Be Reported to the Senate
Oh Tuesday of Next Week.
Free List to Be Enlarged by the Conn
mittee-Mr. Edmunds on Our Rights
to Pearl River HarbOr.
special TO th. Indianapolis JournaI.

Special to thu indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, March 16-The Deruo-
Gratis in the House have failed In their des-
perate effort to destroy the entire useful
ness Of the geodetic survey, which is pre-
sided over by Prof. Il. c. Mendenhan by
either injecting into il incompetent Demo-
cratic partisans or turning II over 10 one
of the departments TO be abolished. The
fight made by the Democrats to-day was a
desperate one, being upon a provision In the
sundry civil appropriation bill which prac-
tically proposed TO abolished the bureau by
transferring it TO one of the executive de-
partments. There were many assaults
made upon the bureau, but rome Of them re.
fiected upon the personal character of Prof.
Msndenhall. who. il will be remembered.
was called TO his present position by Pre-
ident Harrison. Secretary Carlisle has sue
ceeded in greatly impairing the usefulness
of the service by arbitrarily removing SCH
entists because they We're Republicans ard
appointing to their places Democrats who
have no knowledge of the work.
When the House went into committee OF
the whole to-day on the sundry civil bill
the pending amendment was that OF Mr..
Enloe, authorizing the investigation OF the
advisability of the transfer OF this bureau
TO the Navy Department. Mr. Outhwaite
took the floor in defense or the bureau, the
importance Of its work and the efficiency
OF the service.
Mr. Mahon intimated that the conten-
plated transfer of the bureau was 10 get
rid Of a Republican officeholder MeSsrs.
Covert Sickles, of New York. and Mr..
Hooker. of Mississippi. argued against the
transfer. Mr.. Cummings charged extraNa-
gance against the geological, coast and geo.
detic surveys. Mr.. Enloe concluded the de-
bate with a few parting words to his VIC
torious opponents He announced that as
long as he had a seat in the House he
would each year renew the fight until the
coast and geodetic survey was reformed
or abolished
After some debate on minor amendments
Mr. Hartman raised question as TO some
statements made by Mr.. Holman a few
days ago with reference 10 an alleged In
dorsement given by the Commissioner OF
the General Land Office and the Secretary
Of the Interior TO the amendment he had
adopted with reference to the timber oui-
ture act of 1891. He denied that IL had re-
ceived such Endorsements Both the Com
missioner OF the Land Office and the Sec
retary Of the Interior repudiated It. Mr..
McCleary and Mr.. Wilson, of Washington,
also criticised the amendment and gave no.
tice that they would ask a separate vote
upon it when the bin was reported to the
An amendment was at this point. agreed
to limiting TO $l25, 900 the expenditures OF
the coast and geodetic survey.
Mr. Wilson, of Washington. made a Wig
orous speech on the discrimination against
and harbor improvements. He protested
against this injustice His people were
weak and powerless now, but he warned the
House that the time would come when they
would be strong and powerful. Mr.. Cogs-
well characterized Mr.. Wilson's remarks
unjust. He pointed out the fact that
from 1885 to 1898. of the 81, 10000 appropri-
ated for public lands in twenty-six States.
Washington had obtained $250,0O0.
Pending a speech by Mr.. Catchings in
defense Of the Missouri river appropriation
the House, at o'clock, took a recess till
8 O'Clock
About fifty members were present at the
night session. A bill TO relieve w II. CO.
born from the charge of desertion led TO
hot words between Mr.. McKeighan and
Mr.. Talbert, in which the former charged
the latter with trying to make cheap capi-
tai by objecting TO meritorious pension
cases. and the latter. In reply. professed
his high regard for brave Union soldiers,
at the same time declaring his irreconcila-
bic hostility TO the Union soldiers who were
mustered into the army from grogshops.
and who became camp followers. coffee
coolers and bounty jumpers. The bill was
finally reported favorably. After action on
several private pension bills the House, at
1925 p. m, adjourned.