The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-14
SENATE.

Government Revenues and Expenses
SENATE.
Washington. December 9.-The senate
did considerable business today, al
through no very important measures
were considered or passed and there
was very little debate.
Senator Roar presented a petition
signed by q, 269 natives of Hawaii pro-
testing against the annexation OF those
islands to the United States.
An attempt was made by n Nc
Bride to secure an appropriation for the
relief OF the Klondike miners, but the
net result was a resolution calling on
the secretary of war for all Information
he had IN that subject.
The resolution reported by the Pacific
railroad committee, asking the attorney
general for information concerning the
sale Of the Kansas Pacific and request
ing the president to obtain a postpone
ment of such sale to such a time as will
give to congress a reasonable time to
consider and act upon his recommended
ton, was adopted.
A resolution was offered by Senator
Chandler, of New Hampshire, and re-
ferred to the committee on nava af-
fairs providing for an investigation Of
the question of drydOcks and naval sta
ions.
Senator Callinger, of New Hamp-
shire, chairman of the committee on
pensions, requested that at the cOnclu-
sion of the morning business today an
hour be set aside for the consideration
OF private pension bills, Of which he
said there were over 200 on the cal
endar endorsed by the committee. Il
am satisfied" he sad, that in private
matters We have gone to the extreme
limit and that it is now time to call a
halt" Senator Gallinger thought that
the practice Of pensioning remarked
widows and several other similar
classes Of claimants ought to be
stopped. He thought too, that the re-
commentator Of the commissioner Of
pensions that a law should be enacted
speedily, providing that no pension
should be granted to a widow if her
marriage to the soldier had been sub
sequent to the passage Of the law I'M
der which he was drawing a pension,
ought to be enacted into law.
The order requested by Senator Gal
1inger was then made and forty five
private pension bills were passed.
"A bill was passed to pay the Rich
mOnd Locomotive Works it's claim for
damages and losses incurred in the
construction Of the 'battleship Texas.
Senate German secured the passage
of a bill to provide for the purchase Of
additional land in Baltimore, Md, and
for the erection thereon of a new gov
eminent building.
Upon motion Of Senator Lodge the
immigration bill was made the unt1n-
ished business on the senate calendar.
senator Carter. chairman of the CEN
sus committee, secured unanimous con-
sent for the consideration on Monday
next Of his bill providing for the taking
of the federal census in 1900, Senator
Lodge agreeing not to press the immi-
grafton bill on Monday or Tuesday, in
view Of the aXiety of Senate Carter to
secure consideration OF the census
measure.
At 2:4O o'clock p. m. the mate ad-
journed till Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house today entered upon the
consideration of the pension appropria-
ton bill and stirred up "a debate that
promises to continue for, several days.
Several Of the southern democrats Of
fered criticisms of various classes OF
pensioners and Private John Allen, of
Mississippi, who led the assault in a
speech replete with his characteristic
humor presented a series of amend
ments, designed, as he said, to correct
some of the most glaring evils. The
northern democrats, however, vie with
the republicans in their professions OF
friendship for the soldiers, and n Of
them, Mr.. Norton, of Ohio, declared
that the republicans could not make
the bill too large for him..
Mr.. Stone, IN charge OF the bill,
yielded to Mr.. Cannon, chairman OF the
committee on appropriations, who
took occasion to make a general state
ment OF the estimates submitted by
the secretary of the treasury for the
public service Of 1899. tor the purpose.
he said, of disabusing the minds of
members and the country Of a false
impression made by a comparison OF
these estimates with those of preced-
ing years. The estimated revenues for
1899 were $4S2, 0C0, 600, the expenditures
1904 600, 900, showing an estimated de-
felt Of $22, 900, 900. Under the last sun
dry civn act, the secretary OF the
treasury, he pointed out was COM
PEELED to estimate this year for s4S,OOO.-
900 OF river and harbor work, $50, 600, 600
Of which had not been authorized by
law. If this sum. not heretofore In
cluded in the estimates, were deducted,
there would be an estimated surplus OF
IS, 00O, 600 instead of a deficit. Last
year the estimated deficit under the
last, tariff act was $40. VT, 600. If the
ST., 900, 900 for river and harbor work.
for which the government then stood
pound, had been included the estimat-
ed deficit would have been 1858, 600, 600.
Mr.. Cannon said that it might be that
the expenditures for pensions for 1899
would exceed the estimates. The COM
missioner of pensions estimated the
expenditures at $14S, 600, wv. If he
should prove to be right, Mr.. Cannon
pointed out that the S140, 900, 600 APP
propriated by this bill would pay all
pensions for the rirst eleven months of
the fiscal year, and a deficiency ap-
preparation could be easily made
Mr.. Allen. democrat, of Mississippi,
attacked Mr.. Cannon's statement in
a speech in which there were flashes