The record-union., 1896-03-07

bhO AIIStEIGb xAbtOfuGys
| WASHINGTON, March 6.-After
seven days consideration, four of which
were devoted to the fee and salary
amendment, the House to-day passed
the legislative, executive and judicial
appropriation bill. Before the adoption
OF the fee and salary amendment it was
changed so as to forbid the beginning of
a prosecution under the internal reve-
rue law upon the complaint Of a private
citizen, except by the written approval
OF the District Attorney, and further to
forbid the appointment OF any Federal
Court officer, including United States
commissioners, as receiver in any case
before a Federal Court.
Messrs. Bartlett and Quigg made an
unsuccessful effort to secure the ex-
emption of the Southern District of
New York from the operation of that
isection of the law which puts in the
Judges of the District Court the ap-
pointment of United States Commits
sioners,all the present Commissioners
being legislated out of office on the Both
of June next. Bartlett said that the
bill was seriously defective, in that it
failed to make provision for validating
or continuing the proceedings which
will be pending before the hundreds of
Commissioners when they go out Of
office
The Postoffice appropriation bill was
next taken up and discussed until the
hour of recess
Beside discussing these two bills the
House passed the House bill requiring
pension agents to make all payments
by check, and agreed to Senate amend
ments to the House bill making seven
years continued and unexplained alb
tsence sufficient proof of a soldiers death
in cases of application for pensions.
| Hull (Rep.) of Iowa unsuccessfully en-
deavored to get consideration of bill
TO relieve General w. P. Carlin Of liabil-
! ity on account of the expenditure of
| II, $50 made by quartermaster officer
in the fall of 1893 in searching for q
party of students VINO were snowed-in
in canyon in Bitter Root Mountains.
and who, without the aid of the regular
army, would have perished.
Wilson (Rep) of Idaho asked if this
was the party consisting of General
| Carlin's son and some other young men
who deserted citizen of Idaho and left
him to die.
Hull responded that there was moth
ing in the record to show that fact
The bill went over.
The House then proceeded in commit
tee of the Whole to the further consid-
Grafton of the fee and salary amend
ment to the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill
An amendment was agreed to prohib-
1ting the beginning of any prosecution
under the internal revenue laws upon
complaint of a private citizen, except
by the written approval of the District
Attorney.
An amendment was agreed to, on mo-
tion of Adams (Rep) of Pennsylvania.
giving to clerks of courts, as we'll as
commissioners. authority to administer
oaths
Bartlett Dem) of Georgia offered an
amendment which was adopted, for
bidding the appointment of any Fed
eral officer or commissioner as receiver
in any suit in the Federal Courts.
Upon the motion of the committee.
and at the suggestion of the Depart
ment of Justice, the bill was amended
SO as to raise the per diem of United
States Commissioners from So to SO so
day, with restriction of one per
diem allowance for any one day
At zoo p. m. the House passed the
legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill, and then took UP the
Postoffice appropriation bill.
Loud (Rep.) of California, explaining
the provisions of the bill. said that the
estimates on which the bill was based
amounted to S94,S17,9OU. The bill rec
ommends an appropriation of S91 ,943,-
751, or $2,S74,142 less than the esti-
mates, and S2.397, 100 more than the
bill for the current fiscal year
The estimated postal revenue for the
fiscal year 1897, in the opinion of the
Postmaster General, will be $50, ,T63.-
120, or $1,S02.322 less than the appro-
priation recommended by the commit
tee. To meet whatever deficiency may
occur in the several appropriations
made by the bill, a sum equal to such
deficiency of the revenues of the Post
office Department is to be appropriated
from the treasury.
In the preparation of the bill Loud
said the committee had segregated GER
tain items from the general appropria-
tion for free delivery service, believing
that to be a better plan.
In the accounts of the Office of the
Second Assistant Postmaster General
Loud said the committee had found that
$4,000 Of the appropriation for the
star route service had been diverted to
other purposes, and the appropriation
for that service was reduced by that
sum, which was appropriated to WAGON
When the accounts OF the office of the
Fourth Assistant Postnaster-G General
were reached in the course Of Loud's
explanation, Quigg (2ep.) of New York
asked if the increase of So, 600 made in
the appropriation for inspectors would
permit a continuance of what has be-
come known to ilI-fame as the "spy
system
Loud answered that in his opinion it
would not, but in further answer to
Quigg's questions, went into the subject
somewhat at length
In conclusion, Loud gave it as his
opinion that unless conditions in the
Postoffice Department and postal serv-
ice were changed by Congress, the an
nual deficiency, which had increased
from about S5,000,000 in 1883 to $10.-
COO, 900 in 1890, would increase in the
future more rapidly.
The reduction of the item for street
car fare for carriers met the opposition
of the Chicago members.
The committee rose without having
concluded general debate on the bill,
and at 5 o'clock, on motion of Loud,
q ffarlr n m