The record-union., 1896-05-26
GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL.
THE MEASURE disposed OF IN
THE SENATE.
District of Columbia Affairs and
Tariff Relating to Alcohol Con-
sidered i'm the House.

WASHINGTON. May 25.-The last
of the general appropriation bills-the
general deficiency bill-engaged the at
tention of the Senate to-day. 1t covers
items aggregating about $4,000 600.
about twice the amount it carried when
it came over from the House. In its
passage through the Senate to-day the
aggregate was still further increased
by the appropriation of over a million
dollars for findings in the French
spoilation claims; of over half a mill
ion dollars for findings of the Court of
Claims under the Bowman Act, and
S174, 445 for the Choteau claim in build
ing an iron steam battery in 1864.
AT first there appeared to be a pur-
pose on the part of Butler of North
Carolina to antagOnize with his own
bill-prohibiting the issue of bonds
without the consent of Congress-but
he yielded to the appeal of Hale to
allow the deficiency bill TO be disposed
of, so as to leave the way clear for the
consideration of the bond bill
Several propositions requiring unan-
imous consent were made to have day
and hour fixed for taking the vote on
the bond bill and all amendments
thereto, but very determined objec-
ton was made by Palmer of Illinois,
who declared that no unanimous con-
sent could be obtained for taking the
vote on that bill.
After having loaded the deficiency
bill heavily with private claims, the
bill was passed and the Senate at 6:20
o'clock adjourned until tomorrow.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, May 25.-To-day's
session of the House under the rules
was devoted to District of Columbia
affairs. That calendar was soon
cleared, however, and the remainder OF
the session was spent in Committee OF
the Whole considering the bill to repeal
that section of the present Tariff Act
providing for a rebate on alcohol used
in the arts and medicinal compounds.
Evans (Rep) of Kentucky, on behalf
of the Ways and Means Committee, Of
fered an amendment providing for the
appointment of three Senators and
three Representatives to consider the
question relating to the use of alcohol
in the arts and manufactures free of
tax, and to report to the next session of
Congress. In advocating the passage
of the bill, Evans stated that the sec
ton had been found so faulty that no
regulations could be framed by the
Treasury Department, as the language
of the section directed, that would pro-
tect the Government, and that the Gov
ernment stood to lose between $4,000
and $4,000 in claims every day since
it was enacted.
The repeal of the sections was Wig
orously opposed by Russell and Hill
Reps.) of Connecticut, on the ground
that it would be a reversal of one OF
the principles of the Republican party,
protection, the latter giving notice that
he would move to strike out the repeal
clause and insert instead an amend
ment for a committee of investigation.
The bill was not disposed of when, at
5 o'clock, the committee rose and the
House adjourned.
The report of Elections Committee
No. 3, on the case of Martin Pop) vs.
Lockhart Oem), from the Sixth North
Carolina District, in favor of Martin,
the contestant, was presented and or
dered printed.