The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-01-17

fciency appropriation biz was taken
up in the house today under an agree
ment which limited the general debate
to today. 1t was the general expecta-
ton that it would open up a stormy
debate upon the question of expansion,
in view Of the large army and navy
items it contains but the members
early became very much ens. ossed in
a discussion of an item of $4,000 for
rural free delivery, in -hich ali are
personally interested, and the subject
of expansion was barely touched upon.
The last hour of the debate was en-
livened with an attack by Air. Rich
ardsOn, the minority leader, upon the
secretary of the treasury for his course
in connection with the sale of the New
York custom house. He rehearsed the
ChaTgus that Secretary Gage had been
guilty technically of embeZzlement in
connection with the sale Of the custom
house in dep0siting the proceeds in a
national bank which was a government
depository instead of the treasury of
the United States. but said that this
charge would not hold.
Under Obligations to the Bank.
Ills purpose, he said, was to show
that the National City bank had been
favored on account of the cOntribu-
ions of it's directors tC the Republican
campaign fund of 1896 and TO show
that the course of the secretary in al
lowing the purchase price to remain in
the bank while, at the same time, pay
ing rent for the property and keeping
IL exempt from taxation. was not deal
ing fairly with the trust funds Of the
government
MIR. Hopkins UllsO champfoned the
course of the secretary, declaring that
his reply TO the house resolution an
severed every charge brought against
him and displayed business ability that
must meet the approval of all fair
minded people. he insisted. further
more. that the title to the custom
house passed TO this bank when it pusx
chased and took possession of the prop
erty and that it had not been exempt
from taxation since it had been pur-
chased.
The debate caused very little excite
ment, and there was no attempt TO re-
new the assault upon the secretary at
t1r Mr. Hopkins closed.
The urgent deficiency bill will be
taken uD for consideration under the
fiye-minute rule tomorrow.
Rural Free Delivery.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal the house today went into COM
mittee of the whole and took UP the
consideration of the urgent deficiency
appropriation bill Tt was agreed that
the debate on the DILL should continue
throughout today and that tomorrow
lhe bill should be read for amendment
under the Eve-minute rule
Mr.. Cannon (Ills), chairman of the
appropriation committee, explained the
items of the bill. Mr. Cannon was
asked by Mr.. Loud (Cal) about the
itsm of S150.000 for rural free delivery, J
and replied that it had been found that
1000 had been appropriated for the
present fiscal year That money had
been largely expended. and unless this
appropriation was made much of the
service now i'm operation would have to
be discontinued.
Mr. Cannon frankly confessed that
the manner of the expenditure of this
money did not meet his approval He
belize ed il the duty II the executive TO /
cut the garment according To the leg
isldCive appropriation. The department
had no right 10 create a condition
which necessitated a deficiency appro- /
priatiOu. lie should vote for the APP
preparation, but he should fail in his
duty did he not call attention to the
naladminisuation of the department.
Approved By People.
Mr.. William Alden Smith of Michi-
gan declared that what the depart
ment had done had met the approval
Of the people.
MIR. NcRae of Arkansas made a gen
eral plea for economy, saying the
revenue ibis year would not exceed
S6c9 000. 600. while the treasury esti-
mates aggregated S13S 000.000.
Nessrs. Loud tCaLl. Livingston (Ga)
and Griggs (Ga), Barney CWis), But
Ter pa and Lands CInd3 all praised
the rural free delivery system.
Afr. Robinson (IndJ expressed the
opinion that congress. in the regular
postofiCe appropriation bin, would vote
100000 for rural free delivery.
air. BAH CTeN) first introduced in
the debate the question of expansion. J
He had read extracts from the Dee
laration of Independence, the speeches I
Of James Wilson tPa.) in the consti- I
tutiOual convention. and of ADra ham
Lincoln at Gettysburg. 1t was "a long
step. he said, from the conceptions Of I
the government portrayed in these ut
terances to the declarations of the
spokesmen of the present administra-
ton.
Spirit of Expansion.
Mr.. Davis of Florida said ne deplored
the spirit of expansion which had ia
ken possession OF portion of the peo-
DIE. Yet not for all the world would
De withheld from our soldiers fighting.
bleeding and dying in the Philippines,
all the moral and material support they
needed. Mr. Davis was applauded by
The Republicans.
Mr. richardson CTenn.) briefly re-
viewed the concentrations for the mill
ltary department. showing that i'm time
of peace The appropriations for it. with
the deficiency provided in this bill.
reached Sl21 .000, 600. He then proceeded
To criucise the transactions Of Secre- /
Jary Gage in the matter Of the sale of
the NeW York custom house to the Ma
uonal City bank Of New York Mr.
Richardson said one Of the newspapers /
nau gone SO far as to charge that Mr.
cage mad been guilty Of embezzlement, /
technically and legally and was, there
lore, subject 10 Impeachment
Gage Violated Law.
Mt Richardson said he did not go to
mat length, bat the secretary of the
treasury, he said, had certainly violat-
eH -1e letter of the law. Mr.. Richard
son SAID -h4L in his opinion, the sec
rotary was not guilty of embezzlement.
ana expressed the opinion that he had
a perfect right 30 deposit the money
IH government depository such as
the National City bank then was. But I
ne desired 10 so beyond that The Gus
tola mouse was sold to The bank July
l9es' lot e9755,VU0. Just before the sale
lJuhe - the secretary received d letter /
from A. B. Hepburn, saying:
VI course, this bank is very strong,