The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-11
IN THE HOUSE.
The Appropriations Bill Was Passed Without
Amendment--Dingley's Figures.
(By Associated Press)

Washington, Dec. 10.-At the opening of
the session of the house today it was
agreed that when this house adjourned
today it be to meet ON Monday.
On motion of Mr.. Foss, republican, of
Illinois, Saturday, December IS, was SET
apart for paying tribute to the memory
of the late e. D. Cooke, of Illinois.
The house then resumed the consid-
GRAFTON eff the pension appropriation bill,
which was debated yesterday.
Mr. Brown, republican, of Ohio, at
tackled the civil service law because 1t
protected some of the pension examining
boards appointed under the Last admin
ismation. He styled it an "abomina-
tlon," and was Justify applauded by
many of his colleagues. If disloyalty to
/ the law was disloyalty Ito the republican
party then he was disloyal. Great ap-
plause in the galleries).
At the conclusion of Mr.. Browns re-
marks the house by unanimous consenit
agreed to clos4 general debate ON the bill
at 3:15 p. m.
Mr.. Bromwell, republican, of Ohio, said
| he concumed with much said by his col
league, Mr. Brown, but he insisted that
true civil service reform was cardinal
principle of republicanism. H believed,
he said, that Grover Cleveland had Gsne
more to discredlt the true Split of civil
service reform than all the agenciss COM
hined, and he thought Mr.. Mckinley
could be relied upon to bring it back
into its proper chanel.
Messrs. Carmack, Gaines and Sims
(democrats) of Tennessee, spoke briefly
in favor of retrenchment in pension ex-
penditures
Dingley Does Some Figuring
These remarks drew an important
statement from Mr.. Dingley regarding
the prospective revenues and expendi-
lures for the coming fiscal year. Pre-
hminary to the stateme nit, Mr.. Ding ey
gave new Interpretation of tlhe esti-
mated increase in pension expenditures,
contending that the maximum was
reached in 1893, when the p nsion pay
ments reached $159, ,0OO In 1894, they
fell to $141, 100000; 1895, Sal 100000; 1896,
$39, 100000 and in 1897, $141 100000 If the
expenditures for pensions during the
next fiscal year should be $158,000,0 900
as had been estimated, the increase, Mr..
Dfngley said, would not be due to new
legislation, but to more rapid admins
tration of the present laws. 1t would
therefore involve no additional expense
in the end
The question as to the revenues and
expenditures for 1.-THE next fiscal year.
proceeded Mr.. Dinglev, was practical
one (which congress had to face. The
statement of the secretary of the treas
ury, he said. had caused much misap-
prehensfon owing Ito the fact that under
new provision of the law, he had been
obliged to include i'm the estimates of
expenditures s57, 100000 for public works,
which neither he nor the secretary of
war, nor any other well informed per-
son believed would be expended. Count
ing this estimated deficit, he sad, will
be $21, 100000.
Mr.. Dingley said qle took it for granted
that congress would exercise reasona-=
BILE economy. The estimated deficit for
the present year no. counting the money
obtained and to be obtained from the
Pacific railways. was $2So0o,000. The
anticipatory importations had Mr..
Dfngley argued, placed in the treasury
before July l $3S,000,e00. These importa-
pions had reduced the deficit last year
from $50, ,oO0,Oo to $1s.oO0,OO0, inasmuch
as the importations were for consump-
ton this year.
Mr.. Dingley contended that in equity
that sum should be properly charged
to the receipts of the present year. If
they were so charged, instead Of a de-
felt, there would be surplus this year
of s1O,OOO,O 900.
Z Mr. Allen, democrat Of Mississippi, con-
cluded the general debate with a humor-
Gus speech.
: During the five minutes debate, Mr..
Linney republican. of North Carlonia,
made an argument in favor of over
throwing the civil service law, which SIT
the galleries in roar
All amendments including those pro-
posed yestedray by Mr.. Allen, of Missss-
sippi, were either voted down or ruled
OUT on points of order.
The bill was then passed by the house.
AT 4:15 p. m. the house adjourned until
Monday.