The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-12-17
THE HOUSE.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The house
Yesterday. after a session Of about two
hours. adjourned out Of sympathy for
the president, whose mother was bur
led at Canton in the afternoon. The
time of the session was devoted to the
consideration Of the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill 1t
was decided to postpone consideration
Of the item providing for the mainten-
ance Of the civil service commission
until after the other features OF the
bill had been concluded 1t was ap-
parent from the remarks made yester-
day that the entire subject will be ex-
haustively debated. There Is seeming
" no disposition to curtail the discus
sion and it probably will not be
concluded before the holiday recess
So absorbing is the topic that almost
the entire time, despite the fact that
the consideration Of the question had
been technically postponed, was con-
sumed in the debate upon It
Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, in
charge of the appropriation bill, ex-
planned its provisions in detail He
said he would offer amendments
to reduce the clerical force IN the
pension Office by 90 clerks, inVoIv-
ing a reduction of Sis, 900 In salaries
He did not discuss the appropriations
providing for the maintenance Of the
civil service commission, but stated
that the widest latitude would be al
lowed for debate, even if 1t should run
over the holiday recess he asked,
however, that the provision Of the bill
relating to the civil service and the de-
bate thereon should 60 over until after
the consideration of the other features
of the bill were concluded His request
was agreed to, and an hour and half
was set aside for general debate on the
rest Of the bill.
Mr.. DOckery. of Missouri, discussed
the amazing growth of the exPendl-
| lures Of the government during recent
years. The ordinary expenses Of the
Government, exclusive of the public
debt. the last eight years, exceeded
/ the figures of the preceding eight
wears 81. 600, OOO, 900 in round numbers.
/ In view Of this fact there were only
/ two WAYS, be said, to bring the re-
ceipts and expenses together. Either
/ taxation must be increased or expenses
curtailed. If the expenses were TO be
| reduced, congress alone could not &C
/ eompIish much without the aid Of the
executive branch of the government.
/ Despite the presidents appeal IN MS
/ message for economy, the executive
| branches of the government had sub
/ mitted to congress estimates for appro
! priations S27, 600, 600 in excess OF the
| appropriations for the current year
/ At this point the committee rose and
the house adjourned until to-day
A petition signed by nearly 100 citi
! zeus of the Indian territory was pre-
sented, asking for the opening tc
public settlement Of the KiOwa, Co
manehe and Wichita Indian reserva
lions. The petition sets forth that n
treaty exists with the HiOwas and tn
Comanches, and that the Wichita In
dams agreed some time ago TO the Al
Iotnent Of their lands, which are s
rich in mineral deposits that they ar
desirable for settlement The petition
pravs that they may be opened at once
A letter from William r Reagan, Q
Dunbar, ]. T, accompanies the pet
ton. which is the first Of series wit
the same object which viii be shortl
: presented. He also asks that oil .
; passed attaching these lands TO india
territory for judicial purposes, as,
nreseut. citizens in that vicinity haV
to trail to FL Reno. IN Oklahoma terri
tory. for all court matters