Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-02-20
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL IN
House Committee Reports Measure
Carrying Big Appropriation.
FUND TO ENFORCE HEPBURN Law
Amount Left at Same Figure as Last
Year--Provides $4,000, 600 for
work on Che Panama
Canal.

wASlIINGTCN. Feb. i9.--Two more dis
pdtes between the president and congress
were revived today when the house COM
mittee on appropriations reported the, sun
dry 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 railroads under
section 20 OF the Hepburn rate law. The
bill, the largest OF all the general supply
bills. carries an appropriation OF sis7, ,O22 OO7.
or s2soooOoo less than the estimates.
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.
II was this Limitation that drew forth the
severe criticism Of the president in his an
nual message last December For the en-
forcement OF section 20 OF the Hepburn bill
ss50.0o0 is appropriated. the same as last
year.
The sum of ss5o.oo0 was voted year ago
only after the president had written to
the speaker and had called several mem
bers to the White House to consult on the
subject. Testimony taken by the commit
tee showed that during the seven months
OF the present year only $4,000 OF the fund
had been expended and in this amount was
included the salary OF thirteen examiners
for whom maintenance was suggested by
the committee year ago from another
fund.
To Remove Wreck of Maine.
In the bill the president is authorized
with the consent Of Cuba to invite pro-
posals for removing the wrecked battle
ship Maine from Havana harbor and to
communicate with congress SIS soon as
may be practicable. estimates based upon
the proposals received hereunder.
The bill carries authority for the con-
struction OF a building at Washington at
a cost OF s25ooooo to accommodate the
geological survey. the reclamation service,
the general land office and the Indian
bureau. It is TO be erected under the su-
pervision of the superintendent Of the
capitol and to be under the direction Of
the secretary Of the interior.
The largest item in the bill is for con-
tinuation OF work on the Panama canal
For this purpose sss ess0Oo - appropriated.
or 100000 more than Is carried in the
current sundfy civil appropriation bill for
that expenditure. There will be de-
ficiency this year however, OF about g.
oOo.OoO The second largest item is sls,514-
5i4 for rivers and harbors construction
work authorized by law. Another large
item is sis.slse4s for the construction OF
public buildings. For the cost in main
tanning public buildings already erected
there is appropriated sl.9o2.0oe for GUS
todisns and janitors.
Protection for Domain.
The bill also recommends, at the urgent
request OF the secretary OF the interior,
for the appropriation OF s1OO0Ooo for the
protection OF the public domain and the
Investigation OF entries OF public lands.
with a view OF determining their validity.
This amount was Increased at the last ses-
sion from Es5o.OOO to s50o.0oo
During the hearings on the bill an in
vestigation was made OF the cost to the
government OF granting holidays. half holI-
days and leaves Of absence 10 government
employees IN the District OF Columbia. From
data which was furnished by the public
printer. It is estimated by the COMMITTEES
that this sum reaches fully 100000 an
nualiy. OF the s5.eSz. oo0 appropriated for
printing and binding $4,000 Is TO cover the
holidays granted to the 1000 employees IN
the government printing office. 10000 10
cover the half holidays each week during
July. August ana September and S2aS .0ou
TO cover the annual leave which Il granted
20 employees.
On the rseommendation OF the Depart
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