The San Francisco call., 1896-03-28
Hill Succeeds in Defeating an
Item for Expenses in
New Mexico.
SAYS IT WAS "sNEAKED IN"
Chairman Allison of the Committee
Makes an Appropriate Ex.
planati0n.


legislative appropriation bill passed the
Senate to-day after occupying the atten-
ton of that body every day during the
present week. 1t appropriates in round
numbers $25 SOC, ,0OO There was much de-
bate upon it-frst, on Senator Sherman's s
motion to strike out all the sections relat-
ing to the compensation of United States
Marshals, Clerks and District Attorneys
Quitting them on q salary system instead
of the present system of fees); second, on
Senator Hills motion to strike out pro-
viso changing the time of meeting of the
Legislative Assembly of New Mexico.
Sherman's motion was defeated-ayes 1S
noes $3.50 that the bill remains, in that
respect, as it passed the House. Hills
motion developed political controversy,
and notice was given by German of Mary
land that the discussion could not be cut
off, but would assume pretty large di-
mensions. With the object of avoiding
this threatened political debate, Cullom of
Illinois, who was in charge of the bill.
moved to lay Hills motion on the table,
but Cullom's motion was disagreed to
ayes q, noes %.
The Democratic Senators were aided by
the votes of the Populists and of two Re-
publican Senators-Frye and Wolcott.
Thereupon Cullom withdrew all opposi-
tion to Hills motion and it was agreed to.
That practically ended the considerable
of the bill and 1t was passed without a
division.
The legislative appropriation bill was
taken up after some minor business had
been disposed of, the question being on
Sherman's motion to strike out all the
paragraphs relating to the compensation
of United States District Attorneys, Clerks
and Marshals.
Pending action on Sherman's motion
Villas CD of Wisconsin moved to strike
out the section in relation to District At
torneys and insert in lieu of it this: That
the United States District Attorneys for
each of the judicial districts of the United
States Except the Southern district of
New York, which shall continue under
existing law shall be paid an annual sal
ary of $4,000, except that in the district of
Massachusetts,, the Eastern district of
Pennsylvania, the Eastern district of
Louisiana, the Northern district of Califor-
MIA and the Northern district of Illinois
they shall be paid an annual salary
of $1,000.
Villas motion to amend the sixth Sec
ton and Sherman's motion to strike out
all the sections relating to the compensa-
ton of judicial officers were discussed at
length.
Allison (R.) of Iowa, chairman of the
Committee on Appropriations, expressed
his entire concurrence in the arguments
made yesterday by Sherman and Hill
against general legislation on appropria-
ton bills, but the committee, he said, re-
garded and was compelled to regard this
case as exceptional and had so treated it.
After some discussion the Senate de-
feated-30 to 18-Sherman's motion to
strike out of the legislative bill all the
sections relating to the compensation of
United States District Attorneys, Clerks
and MarshaIs.
The amendment offered by Villas was
rejected without division.
Hill moved to strike out of the para
graph making appropriation for the leg is
lative expenses of the Territory of New
Mexico proviso that the next session of
the Legislative Assembly shall commence
on the first Monday in May, 1897. He
said that this was another instance of
general legislation, that it was political
amendment 'sneaked in" on an appro-
priation bill, and that it was small,
mean, contemptible, silly attempt to gain
political advantage.
Elkins (R.) of West Virginia asked Hill
what he meant by the phrase ''sneaked
in."
'I thought" Hill replied with anima-
ton, ''that I would stir up the Senator
from New Mexico-I mean the Senator
from West Virginia, but it is about the
same thing. The Territorial Legislature
will, under existing law, assemble next
| December, but this little trick is to post
pone the meeting till May, 1897, when there
may be a Republican President OF the
United States and Republican Governor
and Republican Territorial officers"
| Cullom (R. OF Illinois in charge of the
bill. made an explanation OF the matter
and made remark as to Hill getting into
a .sspasm'' about it, Hill declared that
/ the .'spasm" was on the other side of the
chamber.
/ Carter (R.) of Montana made an expla
nation of the proviso, and stated why i
should be enacted.
After further discussion Cullom moved
to lay Hills motion on the table. Th'
motion being unbeatable, German ap
pealed to Cullom not to persist in it, anC