Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-27
COM MITTEE WORK
Preparation Of the Legislative Ap-
preparation Bill.
Mr.. MERCER ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Effort to Be Made for Enlarged
Naval Delivery.
S II Up S UB SIDY TALL X

The subcommittee Of the House appro-
priations committee the legislative, judi
cial and executive appropriation bill con-
tinued its work of preparation Of that meas
ure today. Librarian Putnam Of the Libra
ry of Congress, Chief Clerk Michael of the
State Department and officials of the Treas.
ury Department appeared before the sub
committee with reference to the annual es-
Inmates of appropriations for their several
departments
Mr.. Putnam outlined in his last annual
report what he would ask for this year,
namely, 100000 for the purchase of books,
an increase of $4,000 over the current ap-
preparation; twentysix expert cataloguers,
four additional clerks in the copyright de-
partment and one additional clerk in the
law library.
Clerk Courts of the appropriations COM
mittee is now at work on the first draft of
the tortlf1cations appropriation bill. The
Dlstrlct OF Columbia appropriation bill has
been drafted, and will probably be taken up
after the legislative bill is out of the way
and then the Notifications subcommittee
will get to work.
Representative Mcclellan of New York
was at the Capitol today fortifying himself
Tor the fight on the Grout oleomargarine
Bal, which will commence December &.
Il ho!d that the bill is unconstitutional"
The taxing power was given Congress for
revenue purposes and not to be used as
TINS bill contemplates. l shall oppose the
bill to the end
Public Buildings.
Chairman Mercer Of the House committee
on public buildings and grounds has ar
rived and will call a meeting of the COM
mittee early In the session to determine
upon line Of policy for public building ap-
preparations. He realizes that some ap-
preparations will have to be made for work
on buildings heretofore authorized which
has been suspended on account of the rise
IN the price of building materials. 1t Is
probable that a suggestion will be made to
the committee to report an omnibus hill for
all such cases.
Something will have to be done for the
proposed new building for the Department
OF Justice. and it is possible that another
site will be proposed. Mr. Mercer is in
favor of building in the neighborhood of
the Library of Congress for the United
States Supreme Court and the Department
Of Justice.
Il am in favor of providing at this ses-
sion OF Congress an adequate municipal
building for Washington said Chairman
Mercer tc Star reporter this afternoon.
they are provided with municipal build
1Egs 1t makes me blush for the national
capital. We have been needing a new
building for years, the necessity has been
been tax without emo.
Now Is good time to act, and l would
like to see Congress authorize the construc-
ton OF building so that work could ce
commenced upon it next spring. l shall
presen- my views upon this matter to the
committee and ask its concurrence in q
plan for definite action.
Il hope that we can reach an agreement
for the construction of a building for the
joint use of the Supreme Court and Depart
ment of Justice on Capitol Hill, and until
the question of possible change in the
site IS settled will probably defer in
creasing the appropriation for the Depart
ment Of Justice building. They are COM
fortably housed for the present.
The Post Office Bill.
Chairman Loud Of the committee on post
offices and post roads is here, and will get
his committee together early in the session
to take up the post Office appropriation
bill, which is likely, he thinks. to be in
creased this year ss.0oo,ooo or slO.0oo,oOO
over the current appropria ations. There are
many bills before his committee relating to
increased compensation for postal employees
which will be urged by their authors in the
coming session.
Representative Acheson of PENNSYLVANIA
has bill before the committee to extend
the free delivery system to post offices Of
the third class and he proposes to ask the
committee to consider and report it..
The Ship Subsidy.
IL 10 Sdlu There Is great the
document rooms from arriving representa-
tives for data upon the ship subsidy bill.
Many republicans express themselves as
unfamiliar with the provisions Of the bill,
and since opposition has developed in the
republican ranks there is a general bur-
niShing up on the subject
Representative Mondell Of Wyoming, re-
publican, SAID today he was inclined to op-
pose the ship subsidy bill in its present
shape. Mr.. Capron of Rhode Island repub-
lican, when asked his opinion, was nom
committal, and Mr.. Brownlow of Tennessee,
republican, favored the bill.
The Military Committee.
The House committee on military affairs
today met for the purpose of considering
the new army bill. The business was most
ly of a preliminary character. the discus
sion being quite general on army affairs.
The republican members of the committee
apparently are in favor Of giving the Presi-
dent such an army as he may require. The
committee will consult with Secretary Of
war Root this afternoon, if he reaches
Washington. The draft of a bill already
prepared by Chairman Hull will be the
basis OF the measure which the committee
will consider. This bill provides for an
army of the maximum strength of 100 900
| men, with minimum of $4,000, and gem
eral officers at the rate of one brigadier
general for each 1900 men, with major gen.
erals In proportion. Chairman Hull states
| that there will be but one bill prepared and
| If any staff changes are contemplated they
will be incorporated in that measure
The river and harbor committee of the
House continued today the informal dis
cussion Of the river and harbor estimates
Sought Conference With Secretary
Representatives Hull, Brownlow, Parker,
| Mundel and Capron, comprising a subcom-
mittee Of the House committee on military
| affairs, assembled in the office of the Sec
retary Of War this aftrnoon, by prearrange-
! ment tor the purpose of comforting with
| Secretary Root Immediately upon his re-
| turn from his tour of inspection of eastern
| Cuba The Secretary was expected to ar
| rive here about II o'clock. but owing to
unavoidable delays on the trip from Cuba,
| he did not reach here until about O'Clock
| this afternoon. The members of the House
| committee met in his office about O'Clock
| and waited patiently until about 2 O'Clock
| and .hen arranged to come another time
They improved the time, however by con-
| sidering tentative plan for the reorganiza-
| ton Of the army, prepared by Arjutant
General Corb!n and his assistants In the ad-
jutant generals department in accordance
with the views Of Secretary Root, as freely
expressed before his departure for the West
! Indies.