Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-27
SENATE COMMITTEE AMENDS THE
sUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
WHAT THE BILL PROVIDES
1T WILL CARRY A TOTAL OF ABOUT
FIFTY MILLIONS.
Many Missouri River improvements
Provided FOr-ApprOpriation for
Paris Exposition Increased
Half Million-As to
Hawaiian Cable.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26.-The senate
committee on appropriations has completed
consideration of the sundry civil bill as
passed by the house and reported 1t TO
the senate. The most important amend
ment made provision for cable to
Honolulu. The amendment provides that
the cost of the cable shall not exceed ST.
100000.
The text of the amendment follows:
THAT there shall be constructed by the
United States, under the direction Of the
secretary Of the navy. for military. naval
and postal purposes. submarine tele-
graphic cable and connecting land lines
from Pacific port in the state of Cali
fornia. to be designated by the president,
to the city Of Honolulu, in the Hawaiian
islands.
THAT the secretary of the navy is here
by authorized, empowered and directed to
detail one or more vessels Of the United
States for the purpose of making surveys
and taxing careful necessary soundings IN
order to determine the most practicable
line for said cable.
"The the construction and laying OF such
control and direction of the secretary Of
the navy and he is hereby empowered and
required Immediately after the passage Of
this act to prescribe and cause to be pre-
pared plans and specifications for the con-
struction and laying Of said line of tele-
graphic cable to be constructed and put in
operation at the earliest practicable date.
Contracts for the construction and laying
of said line Of telegraphic cable and for
supplying the necessary instruments and
appliances connected herewith. except
such work as can be advantageouSly and
efficiently done by the navy department.,
shall be awarded to and executed by the
lowest responsible bidder or bidders after
such notice by advertisement for sealed
bids as shall be deemed reasonable and
sufficient by the secretary Of the navy.
Provided, that in all advertisements for
bids it shall be provided that ali appliances
and materials shall be of the best quality.
adapted for the highest efficiency. That
when such telegraphic cable is completed
the operation of the same shall be under
the control Of the postmaster general, who
shall establish rate of toll for commercial
messages not exceeding Is cents per word
to Honolulu and for press message at
rate not exceeding one-third of the above
named rates, and the sum Of $500. 900 Is here
by appropriated toward construction of
said cable. and the total cost Of said line
shall not exceed s2.5O0,O0O. to be paid for
from time to time as appropriations shall
be made by congress-
The total increases of tho senate amount
to 81, ,093. .406: the bill as reported to the sem
ate carrying 81, ,963, $50. The more important
changes follow:
Public buildings at Altoona, Pa, s125, 900;
light and fog signal near Point Ar
guello. Cal. $4,000; expenses steam
er Thetis in procuring and trans
porting reindeer to Alaska $4,000: two
revenue cutters for great lakes $1S5.OOO;
limit Of cost Sssoooo; revenue cutter on Pa
cific coast S12, 500; limit Of cost $685. 200; to
pay widow of General Calixto Garcia
amount Of bail forfeited In United States
courts In Southern district Of New York
$500.
A proviso is added to the appropriation
for the protection Of forest reserves SO as
to provide that keepers shall enforce the
laws of the states In which such reserva-
tions are located and legalizing homestead
entries upon the Black hills forest reser-
walton made prior to September 10. 1899.
The total appropriation for the geological
survey is increased from s677.oOo to $747, 900.
improvements Rock Island arsenal, $50, ,7Ol !;
improving Yaquai bay. Ore. $15O.ooo; COM
pletion levee Mississippi river from Flint
creek to Iowa river. Ia, $4,000: revetment
work, New Madrid, NO.. $4,000 improve
ment hdrbor Helena, Ark. $4,000; i'm
provement Missouri river from mouth to
Sioux City, increased from 100000 to $780,
600; Boonville. No., 10000; improving first
reach of Missouri. $4,000; monument to
Sergeant Charles Floyd, Sioux City, IS, 900;
National Soldiers home Hot Springs, s.
D.. $4,000. limit of cost 100000: Canadian
commission expenses. Sc, coo; Paris expo
sition appropriations authorized increased
from st50,0O0 to 81 05o,000 appropriated by
amendment. $SS0.0OO, Of which $4,000 for
clerk hire; for construction of buildings in
connection with the exposition, $3.50 OOO
for a monument to Lafayette in Paris to
be dedicated as feature of the expose
ton, $4,000 worth Of bullion to be pur-
chased, from which $1,000 silver dollars to
to be struck, commemorative Of General
Lafayette. the proceeds to be used in the
erection of the monument; Industrial COM
mission, appropriation therefor .increas-
ed from $4,000 to $4,000 per annum.
Proviso attached to appropriation for
government printing Office, fixing pay Of
book binders and printers at 50 cents an
hour: new government printing Office, $780,
900, limit of COST s20O0,0o0.