Evening star., 1908-01-22
URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL
MEASURE CARRYING S24.174.-
45O.26 REPORTED TO HOUSE.
District Gets 1904, 1874 4.O7-Govern-
ment to Pay for Trials of
Land Fraud Cases.

An urgent deficiency appropriation BILL
carrying total of $24. ia $50 26-of which
*5o4.1Si-OI goes to the District of Column
bia-was reported to the House today
from the committee on appropria tions by
the chairman. Mr.. Tawney
The District d d not get all that was
asked by the Commissioners Although
the sum of $4,000 was declared the min
| imum amount necessary for the purchas Sc
of furniture for the new municipal build
ing. 100000 was all that the committee
decided to recommend for this purpose
The Commissioners asked $500 for per-
sonal services in caring for the new mu
nicipal building for the remainder of the
present fiscal year. but got only $500.
Cost of Land Fraud Cases.
One paragraph of particular interest to
local taxpayers that is included in the
bill provides that all expenses that may
be incurred in the approaching trial of
Hyde, D'mond. Benson and Schneider. the
Pacific coast land fraud quartet. shall be
paid wholly by the United States. This
will amount TO approximately $50. .ooo, and
in letter to the approp riations commit
tee some weeks ago Attorney General
Bonaparte recommended that the District
be made to pay half this sum. although
the matter had no connection with the
District in any particular. Much satisfac-
ton is expressed with the committees
action in disregarding this recommended
tion and charging all the expenses to the
United States treasury.
Another prov sion Of the bill authorizes
the District Commissioners to amend the
laf n, 60
as to provide that for the Identification
and registration of each vehicle the owner
| shall pay s.. after which the secretary of
the automobile board may issue an identi-
| feat on number tag.
Previously made appropriations for the
construction of sewers in the District are
made available for the purchase or con-
demnation Of such rights as may be re-
!, CURED.
The time Of completion of the Anacosta
| bridge is extended to January l. 1909.
Salaries Of Treasury Clerks.
A matter of particular interest in con-
nection with the hearings on the bill was
the announcement of Secretary Cortelyou
which becomes known through the pub
lication of the committee hearings-tha t
he would withdraw his recommenda ;ions
for immediate salary Increases in his
department. MIR. Cortelyou announced
tina: he would appear later before the
subcommittee in charge OF tt.e legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation bill
and endeavor to have these salary in
creases included in the bill for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1909.
A significant feature of the hearings
as published IS a letter from Secretary
OF the Navy Metcalf. stating that owing
to the fact Of several naval auxiliaries
having been placed out of commission
he would withdraw the request for de-
ficiency appropriation of approximately
| Sl1 ,uEi to provide crew for he hospital
ship Relief. 1t is understood that the
Secretary took this action owing TO the
| fear that should this appropriation come
before the House the membership. which
| fees pretty strongly on the Brownson-
Rixey controversy might show its dis
pleasure over the appointment of navy
surgeon to command the Relief by voting
1t down.
The amount recommended in the bill
-S2I, IA 40. 26-is $7S4 .905. % less than the
total sim of the estimates presented to
the committee.
| follows:
Treasury Department. S1,GSs. .337: Dis
| trct of Columbia, 1904. 1S4; military estab-
lshment S4.0SO, S15; Military Academy
$2.518: armories and arsenals $i,o1O: sol
diers' homes national, $500: soldiers
homes state and territorial S1S.519; back
pay and bounty claims $500 ZOO: naval
establishment. $1611 ,190: Department of
the Interior, S3f4,6 Department of Com
merce and Labor, $.,j3.000: Department
of Justice 81. 1863: judicial, $3.50; United
States courts S004 033; Post Office De-
partment, slab; postal service. 81. CO., S5I:
isthmian canal, $12.iss.3Oc: House of
Representatives. $7s. .732; Library of Con-
Eress. 81, 800: judgments. Court of Claims,
SIS. 500; audit Of accounts, $2D2,OlS.