Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-20
SUNDRY CIVIL
APPROPRIATION
BILL REPORTED
AS RECOMMENDED, MEASURE
CARRIES S137,O22,OO7
$35o,ooo Is Urged to Enforce Part of
Hepburn Rate Law-$2, 100000
Authorized for Federal
Building
[Bv Associated Press.l


VIZ ASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Two more
w disputes between the president
and congress were revived to-
day when the house committee on ap-
preparations reported the sundry civil
appropriation bill.
One was in regard to the limitation
of the use of the secret service Of the
treasury department.
The other was the appropriation for
the examination of accounts of rail-
roads under section 20, Hepburn rate
law.
The bill, the largest of all the gen.
eraI supply bills, carries an appropria-
ton of $137,022,OO7, or $26,000,OO0 less
than the estimate.
The committee incorporated in the
bill the same limitation on the use of
the secret service operatives as was
included in the bill which became a
law last winter.
1t was this limitation that drew forth
the severe criticism of the president in
his annual message last December.
To Enforce Hepburn Act
For the enforcement of section 20 of
the Hepburn rate law, $35O,000 is ap-
propriated, the same as last year.
The sum Of $350,00O was voted a year
ago only after the president had writ
ten to the speaker and had called sew
eral members to the White House to
consult on the subject.
Testimony taken by the committee
shows that during the seventh month
of the present year only SAL, 900 of the
fund had been expended and ina this
amount was included the salary Of
thirteen examiners for whom mainten-
ance was suggested by the committee
a year ago from another fund.
In the bill the president is authorized
with the consent of Cuba, to invite pro-
posalS for removing the wrecked bat
tleship Maine from Havana harbor.
The bill carries authority for the con-
Struction of building at Washington
at a cost of $1,000, 900 to accommodate
the geological survey, the reclamation
service, the general land office and the
Indian bureau.
For Panama Canal
The largest item in the bill is for
the continuation of work on the Pana-
ma canal. For this purpose $33, 1856, 900
is appropriated, or $4,000,000 more than
is carried in the current sundry civil
bill for that expenditure. There will be
a deficiency this year, however, of
about $5,500,000.
The second largest item is 19,574, ,514
for rivers and harbors construction
work authorized by law.
Another large item is $18,618, SAG, for
the construction or puDIlc buildings.
The bill also recommends, at the
urgent request of the secretary of the
interior, the appropriation of 1000 900
for the protection of the public domain
and the investigation of entries of pub
lie lands. with a view of determining
their validity.
This amount was increased at the
last session from $3.50, 900 to $500, 900.
During the hearings on the bill an
investigation was made Of the cost
to the government of granting holi-
days, half holidays and leaves of abb
sence to government employees in the
District of Columbia.
Holidays Are Costly
From data which was furnished by
the public printer, it is estimated by
the committee that this sum reached
fully $3,500,000 annually.
On the recommendation of the de-
partment of commerce and labor, the
permanent appropriation, including the
head tax collected on every immigrant,
is abandoned, and specific appropria-
ton for this service is maintained
During the current fiscal year the per-
manent appropriation has been ex-
hausted and the department is faced
with a deficit Of $500,000.
The amount of bonds authorized to
be Issued for the construction of the