New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-07


GOOD WORK WITH APPROPRIATIONS
The Committee Appropriations had charge or
six of the regular appropriate bills and OF oil bs
relating to deficiencies. All Of these bills were re-
ported and passed by the House by April oo IN
order 10 indicate the thoroughness OF the WORK OF
this committee it IS enough TO say tnat IN '"e
preparation of bills took moro than w prInteu
nages OF testimony and examined than 30
Government officers and other persons VINO APP
peared to explain the estimates for public expeha
lures. Similar care and thoroughness Marked 'iie
work OF all the other committees which nan ]uis-
dict;on OF appropriations and the result was that
the aggregate amount carried by the regular APP
preparation bills including the River and haroor
bill and all deficiencies was s3s395ss42 20
The permanent annual appropriations lnciuunS
sinking fund and interest on the pubic oeo'-'"e
former item having been increased by the sum VI
% con ooo and tho latter item by the sum OF about
$] 10000 on account OF the increase OF the interest
bearing public debt since the incoming OF the pres
ent Administrations amounted 10 Nls'@41@
PROMPT ACTION ON VENEZUELA
Whatever might have been the motives which IN
spired President Cievelands special message IN re-
laton to Venezuela affairs Congress did not stop ~
inquire In this case the Senate. as well as inc
House Of Representatives took such promn anu
unanimous action as to show the world that there
were some questions that rose above the oon'a''
Of partisan politics, even in the senate Vi INC
United States. The act OF President CleVeiahu i'll
asking that he be authorized 10 appoint :" WA
mission 10 investigate and report upon the true
dv,s,opaI lima between Venezuela and British
Guiana may have been !mpusive and ill-cons,dereo
or the reverse but Congress acted with deloera'ioi
as well as with substantial unanmity. ana us
action gave TO the Commission whatever weight II
possesses And yet IT must not be forgotten that inc
Commission is President Clevelands COMMISSION
collected by him and officially responsible TO him
alone although its appointment was authorized oE
the Congress Of the United States In granting 'he
appropriation
The total number OF different bills and joint reso-
buttons offered in the House OF Representatives
was about $500, and in the Senate about S'2" many
of the Senate bills. however, being duplicates o.
House bills and many Of the House bills dupiica'es
of Senate bills. A large proportion OF THESE coH-
sisted Of private bills of which about the usual pro-
portion passed and became laws. The vetoes OF IN
divdual pension bills were less numerous IMAM III
any session OF Congress in President Clevelands
first Administration great many important
measures which passed the House OF Representa-
tves failed TO receive consideration In or TO be acted
upon by the Senate Among these. in addition to the
Bond bill and the Emergency Revenue DILL
may be mentioned the Bankruptcy bill. the
bill 70 amend the immigration laws. the bill 10
prevent the determination Of the Alaska 1ur seal
herd the General Pension bill and the bill to amend
the Customs Administrative act OF 1871, 30 as 10
minimize the losses Of revenue on account OF UNDER
valuations of imported merchandise. This list might
be greatly extended because the House OF Repre-
eentatves and It's committees devoted their time
and efforts to doing business. while the Senate and
its committees. a rule, appeared to be strlvlhg'
from first to last not TO do business
WHAT THE HOUSE COMMITTEES DID.
A glance at the work accomplished by a few OF
the prominent committees Of the House, however,
may be proper. What done by the Committee
on Appropriations and other committees which
had charge Of appropriation bills has already been
shown. To the Committee on Ways and Means
ITS bills and resolutions were referred, OF which s.
were reported the House, and Of these is passed
that body and passed the Senate and became laws
In the consideration Of these measures about 50
hearings were held and testimony was taken which
made a volume OF about 1000 pages. The record OF
the Committee the Judiciary was equally praise
worthy and has never been surpassed and seldom
eoualed by that Of Of Its predecessors In many
years The number Of bills and resolutions referred
10 the committee 2s2. OF which ~ were favor
ably reported TO the House and 2S passed by that
body. Among the latter were the Bankruptcy Dill
and the bill 10 abolish the fees Of United States
district attorneys and marshais and curtail the
fees and expenses Of commissioners OF United
States courts. number Of the other bills which
were favorably reported and some Of which passed
the House Of considerable general impor-
lance
ARMY AND NAVY BILLS
A number Of bills affecting tho Army and Navy
were introduced in the House and Senate in the
course OF the present session. Some OF them were
favorably reported from the Committees on Mill
tary and Naval Affairs. and some have passed the
House OF Representatives The bill TO reorganize
the Army, introduced by Representative Hull OF
Iowa, is excellent measure. When passed. as II
probably will be at the next session. IL Will increase
the number Of enlisted about 5000, establish the
three system for the infantry. and faci-
tate promotions. In word. 1t will put the Army
q modern footing as to organization. II not as 70
size. Another important bill reported from the
Military Committee Is one authorizing the dupl-
eating of the machinery at the Springfield Armory
where rifles manufactured The bill authoriZ-
ing the increase of the plant appropriates sljO0o0
The proposition is favored by General Flagler
Chief Of Ordnance. and when adopted will make II
possible for the Armory to turn out annually twice
as many rnes as 1t now does Another important
measure favorably reported by the committee Is
that establishing military park on the battlefield
OF V!cksburg
Following are some OF the bills which have been
favorably reported 10 the House Giving the in
structor Of gymnastics at West Point the rank
and pay OF a first lieutenant appointing General
Webb O colonel on the retired list Of the Army
giving volunteer brevets regular officers making
Colonel Gordon. Of the cavalry a brigad!er-genera
the retired list; allowing superntendents OF
cemeteries to keep domestic animals; extending
the time OF muster OF volunteer officers promoting
Mator-General Miles to the rank OF lieutenant
general; giving telegraph operators who served
during tho war pensionable status: making vet
Urinary surgeons eutenants Of cavalry authorizing
the purchase of the Maumee Valley battlefield; Civ.
ing medals Of honor to the defenders Of Maryland
and Pennsylvania in 1863; authorizing the detail OF
officers Of the Army at public and normal schools
There were referred to the Committee Nava
Affairs Of the House OF Representatives 32s bills
and resolutions. OF which l2l favorably re-
ported 10 the House. The bill making appropria-
ton for the Naval establishment was formulated In
committee, and in it included several subjects
separately embodied in bills. the provisions fol
4 model tank for naval construction. for the in
crease OF the enlisted force OF the Navy for the
Improvement Of the Naval Reserve and for certain
loca, improvements at Navy Yards and stations
The long contest between the House and Senate ir