Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-31
SENATE AND HOUSE.
The Proposed Investigation Into the
Federal Bond Sales.
ANOTHER BILLION OF DOLLARS.
IL Is Charged That the Present Re-
publican Congress II to Distinguish
Itself by Making Appropriations to
That Amount.

WASHINGTON, March 3o.-The bsll to
approve a compromise and settlement De-
tween the United States and the state
of Arkansas, arising out Of mutual claims
for the principal and interest due
on State bonds held by the United States
for lands claimed by the State under
the swamp-lands act and other acts. was
taken up in the Senate to-day, and was
passed after a debate lasting couple
of hours. No other business was trans
acted except the passage of some bills
on the calendar that were unobjected
to-incIuding one for public building at
indianapolis TO cost $A0oo.O0o
When the resolution providing for
select committee to investigate The facts
and circumstances of recsIt bond ISSUES
was reached. objection TO its immed.nte
consideration was made by Senator's
Hi Democrat. OF New York, ana Platt
(Repubacan), of Connecticut, but Mr..
PETER PopulisO, OF Kansas. the author
OF the resolution. gave notice that he
would ask for its further consideration to-
morrow.
The two Colorado senators CTeiler end
WolcotD showed much earnestness in
having the resolution taken up.
After brief executive session the
Senate. at 5:15. adjourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
The Senate Joint resolution was agreed
TO appointing Bernard X. Green as sue
cesscr TO the late General Casey as su-
perlntendent OF the new Congressional Lii
brary building.
The sundry civil appropriation bill; was
then taken up In Committee Of the Whole,
after notice had been given by
Mr.. Hit CRepublcan), OF Illinois. chair
man OF the Committee on Foreign Az
fairs. that when the appropriation bill
has been disposed Of he will present q
conference report on the Cuban resoiu-
tions.
General debate on the sundry civil bill
was limited to one hour. and Nr Cannon
Republican). of Illinois. explained tie
various items going to make rp the
$l700G.0O0 which were carried in last
years bill and omitted In this. The ap-
preparations made in this bill COR rivers
and harbors. public buildings, and fCrtih-
cations. under the continuous contract
system, covered but eight. months. This
was due to the fact that these appro-
prlations were Immediately available, and
the next sundry appropriation bill would
become a law before the expiration OF
those eight months. This reduction Vas
about three millions = Then the nst
bill contained the sugar bounty TefuEd,
which this did not.
Mr.. Cannon gave the appropriations
made by the past three Congresses, and
stated that In his opinion they for the
first session Of this Congress would not
fall below $500 OOO,0 900. In the present con-
dition OF the Treasury. with the receipts
each quarter less than the expenditures,
he appealed to each individual member
that no new work be entered on.
Mr. Sayers Democra) of Texas, criti-
cised the policy of limiting the contract
appropriations TO eight months, and inti-
mated that it was done for political ef-
feet. to make a good showing in the COM
ing presidential election.
ANOTHER BILLION DOLLARS.
Mr. Dockery OemocraD, of Missouri.
also attacked the policy He gave II as
his opinion that the amount appropriated
by this Congress would exceed a billion
dollars. He did not see, however how a
reduction could be mades without repeal
ing some laws authorizing contracts.
This concluded general debate, and the
bill was read by paragraphs for amend
ments. The first amendment agreed to
was one appropriating 10000 toward the
completion OF, and the purchase OF sddl-
tional land for. the public building at
Newark, n. j.
Several efforts to increase the limit OF
cost OF public buildings, and to secure
appropriations for immediate action on
buildings already authorized were made,
but In each case were unsuccessful. In
the course OF the discussion on these
points Mr. Cannon stated that additional
appropriations would not expedite matters
any in regard to work on the buildings
not vet begun. The trouble was the lack
of money and the Secretary OF the Trea-
sury, in consequence thereof. had adopted
a conservative policy In regard 10 them.
When the section making appropriation
for the life-saving service was reached.
the salaries OF the superintendents OF the
following divisions, which were cut down
I'm the adjustment Of salaries made two
years ago, were restored 10 the old figure
OF 81. 800: Rhode Island and Long Island,
New Jersey. Virginia and North Carolina.
Lakes Huron and Superior. Lake Michi-
gan. Washington. Oregon, and California.
Mr.. Wagner CRepublican). Of Pennsyl-
vania, stated that he had been instructed
by the Committee on Interstate and For
eIgn Commerce to report bill TO increase
the salaries OF division superintendents 10
s2lOO a year. and OF surfmen 10 s65 a
month. and moved 10 make the pay Of the
latter as recommended by his committee.
instead OF $50 as in the bill, but the motion
was rejected on a point OF order made by
Mr. Cannon.
After passing over twelve pages of the
bill the committee rose. and. on motion
OF Mr.. Cannon, at sos o'clock. the House
adjourned.