Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-23
REVISED AT THE TREASURY
New Exposition Bill Fixed to Suit the De-
partmental Authorities.
OMAHA DRAFT is SLIGHTLY MODIFIED
Mercer Introduces the New Measure
I'm the House, Where lie Looks
for Early and Fa-
NOrnblc Action.

Norhnlc NctiOhs
WASHINGTON, Dec 22.-(Special Tele-
gram )-Representative Mercer today intro
duced his bill to amend an act entitled AN
Act to Authorize and Encourage the Holding
of a Transmississippi International EXposi-
tion in the City of Omaha, in the Year 1898,
approved June 10. 1896" The bill, as intro
duced, upon suggestions from the Treasury
department, changes in some particulars
the draft as made by the directors in Omaha.
When Representative Mercer called upon
the treasury officials Monday with the bill
and certified articles of Incorporation from
the Nebraska State department, he pre-
sented a new amendment to Secretary
Curtis for revision and suggestion. The bill
as introduced today makes the following
changes in draft as made in Omaha:
Section 3.-After the word museum" in
the twelfth line, insert "and fish commits
SION" in the fifteenth line, same section,
after the word department" insert lin
stitution," and after museum" insert land
commission"
Section 5-In the fourth line, after Eek
pense Of insert preparation" after
transportation, in the same line insert
the word installation" In the fourteenth
line of the same section strike out after
the word exhibit" the words Ito Omaha
and from Omaha to Washington
Section is wholly new, and is as fol-
lows: That members of the board of man
agement of the government exhibit created
by this act and all other employees detailed
for duty under them, including officers OF
the army and navy, shall be entitled to re-
ceive actual expenses for travel and sub
sistence while necessarily absent from their
MONIES engaged upon the business of said
board. This allowance shall be in lieu of
transportation and mileage now allowed by
law to officers of the army and navy
DEFERS TO THE TREASURY.
Section is entirely eliminated. Mr.. Mer-
GERS idea being that the amount appro-
priated will have to be made available in
an appropriation bill, and that the section
as 1t was drafted in Omaha would greatly
jeopardize the passage of the bill Since the
passage of the Nashville Exposition bill the
treasury people have somewhat changed
their idea as to the governmental cost of the
Exposition at Omaha. They feel now GER
tain that 100000 would be ample to make
an exhibit almost as complete as that of
Chicago
In view of the fact that Nashville will
hold an exposition year before Omaha and
that the government is expected to make a
small exhibit there, that exhibit upon the
close of the exposition would be boxed and
SIOItu, Teduy 10 snip tne following year to
Omaha. In this case, therefore, Nashville
would be paying somewhat for Omaha's ex-
hibit. 1t was further contended by the
treasury department that to limit transporta-
tion from Washington to Omaha and return
would deprive the Gate City of exhibits held
not only in Boston. but on the Pacific coast
and, being in favor of Omaha, Acting Secre-
tary Curtis suggested the changes as out
lined above
In this connection Senator Allen received
n frOD ig ynla
to an inquiry of his regarding the proposed
amendment to the urgency deficiency bill
The letter follows closely one directed to
Mr.. Mercer by the department some weeks
ago. After reviewing certain sections of the
former act. which seems to the department
inadequate to accomplish satisfactory gov
ernmental exhibit, the letter from Secretary
Curtis continues: This office is of the opin-
ion that II the act authorizing the Trans
mississippi and International Exposition at
Omaha were amended by the substitution of
the provisions suggested, that the difficulties
of administering the law would be materially
reduced, because business would then be CON
Quoted along lines already somewhat settled
by the practice of the department and opin-
ions of the comptroller in connection with
eXpositions heretofore held"
Mr.. Mercer has no fear of the bill as
amended passing the house, but doubts very
much If $500, 600 can be made available. He
believes that $500 900. however, can be Sc
fixes that sum as the minimum which he
will take.
SOME NEW RAILROAD BILLS.
Senator Pettgrew introduced a bill to-
day, by request granting certain odd num-
bered sections of land in the state OF South
rabot. TO aid in the construction of the
Dakota Pacific railway from Sioux Falls, S.
D., to Granger Wyo. In explanation of the
bill Mr.. Pettgrew said: II am not com
mitted to this bill whatever Nor am l at
all certain that | will support it. The road
has been incorporated by Chicago parties,
and is designed to open up an almost new
section of our northwestern country be-
tween Sioux Falls and Granger, a distance
of some 600 miles. AS | understand, the
road will touch at Chamberlain and Rapid
City, S. D., and If built would undoubtedly
increase business of our section very ma
terially. 1t will in nowise interfere with
Jim Hill, or railroad interests, and as for
the Union Pacific, that road will be abso-
lutely unaffected"
Representative Hepburn of Iowa intro
duced a bill authorizing the secretary of the
treasury to effect an adjustment between
the United states and the Sioux City & Pa
ciic railway in relation to certain bonds
issued by the United States in aid of con
struction of said railway. Senator Gear,
from the committee on Pacific railroads, re-
ported favOrably on similar bill introduced
by him in the first session of the Fifty
OF interest paid up to June 80, 1896, by the
government was about 80, 500 900, which, in
cluding the original issue of bonds of up
wards OF $1000OO0 makes an aggregate in
debtedness due the government Of 81 100, 900.
There has been repaid TO the government
1858 900, leaving a balance due the United
States from the road OF about $3.50 900. The
last report of the commissioner OF railroads
shows that the railroad, which built from
Sioux City to California Junction, and from
thence to Fremont, distance of about 100
miles, is not earning anything more than
sufficient to practically pay the interest on
its first mortgage bonds The bill upon
which the report is made authorizes the
secretary of the treasury to make such set
tloment as viii best subseTve the interests
OF the government
Representative and Mrs Andrews have
gone home for the holidays
Mrs. sarah VI. Parsons VIII.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 22.-An investl-
cation has been ordered by the probate de-
partment of the superior court regarding
tho disposition of the estate of Mrs. Sarah