The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-05-05
TAWNEY PROTESTS
 AGAINST EXPENSE Sundry Civil Bill Brings On a
 Lively Debate
TOO MUCH MONEY WASTED
Bills Are Introduced For Purpose of Giving Money To Test Water Power of Rivers and Test
 Ing Llenltes and Coal.

Washington, May Reconsideration of the sundry civil appropriation bill was resumed in the House today after Champ Clark of Missouri in the ab- sence of MT. Williams, had forced a roll call on the motion to take up the bill At the outset of the debate the House reverted to the provision cov- ering the appropriation for the geolog- ical survey. MT. Needham was prompt to offer attempt appropriating $2OO.- 900 for gauging the streams and de- termining the water supply of tiie United States over which a prolonged discussion arose as to it's admissibility under the rules. The chair, however, settled the question by sustaining e point of order against the amendment and it was lost. Mir. Needham was more fortunate with a subsequent amend ment appropriating s200000 for the further extension of the mineral re- sources and products of the national domain" Despite the arguments of MT. Tawney of Minnesota, that the amendment was simply whipping the devil around the stump on the theory
 
 ruled it in order.
 In opposing the amendment. Mr. Tawney declared that Congress should be honest about the matter. In the past he said more than one-half of the appropriations had been expended en- tirely outside of government functions, privately" he asserted, flor the benefit of investors in water power"
 Sherley's Amendment.
 Maintaining that the sum of s200 ,OOO was entirely disproportionate to the purposes for which it was inteded, Mr. Sherley of Kentucky offered an amend ment fixing the amount at $1O0, 000
 MT Smith of Iowa offered an amend ment in the nature of substitute, which was adopted, in the language of the law of last year, sppropriating l s1OO,OO0 for gauging the streams and ! determining the water supply of the l United States. He said the public 1 should come out squarely as to it's if- | tention so as not to encourage depart | ment heads to place their own con- l structicn on appropriations.
 An animated debate arose over an | amendment by MT. Norris of Nebraska | increasing from s50,000 to $10O ,000 the l appropriation for continuing the in vestigation of structural materials be- | longing to and for the use of the United States. The amendment was adopted S7 to ST.
 Mir. Tawney opposed a motion by MT. Norris to strike out of the bill the pro- viso which would have the effect of abol- ishing the advisory board of engineers to assist in the making of the tests He | ha ed Congress might as we'll abdicate in favor of the several departments it's va rious executive functions with respect to | the limitation of the expenditure of pub 1 lie moneys.
 An assertion by MT. Tawney that the l Carnegie Technical school in Pittsburg | had received in violation of law money | contributions for conducting tests brought | a denial from Mir. Dalzell of Pennsylva- | mia. The Norris motion carried, GA to 51.
 Testing Coal. An amendment by MT. Dalzell of Penn- l sylvania was offered increasing from $780, l 900 to S250,000 the appropriation for con- | tinuing the analysing and testing of coals, | lignites and other fuel substances.
 MT. Dalzell argued that the increased | appropriation would go far toward min | imizing mine disasters.
 In opposing the amendment MT. Camp | Dell or hanSdS cndrSeu that most or the | money heretofore appropriated for this | purpose had been expended largely in ex- l plotting mines in the old coal fields and | coke bearing coal fields of Pennsylvania, l West Virginia, Ohio, Indiana and Ken l lucky. Mir Bonynge of Colorado insisted, | however, that the Rocky Mountain coal | fields had not been neglected.
 The debate the amendment was | brought to a close by a vigorous speech 1 by Mr. Tawney against it. In the course | of his remarks he said
 "Confronted as we are with a deficit | of s6O,00O0OO or $65, ,0O0,0G0 at the end of the fiscal year, with the almost certain l deficit of not less than $150,00000 at the end of the next fiscal veal, and the actual absorption of our entire surplus during that time and the almost certain issuing of certificates of indebtedness in these governmental expenditures, do not think we are justified in going into the busi- ness of Investigating the coals and lig- mites owned by private individuals of the country"
 The amendment was adopted S1 to 79.
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