Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-12-17
LOWER HOUSE TALES MONEY
Appropriation for District of Colum-
bia Causes Long Discussion.
HITCHCOCK ATTACKS BALLINGER
Nebraska Man CriticiSes Official Con.
duct of Secretary of Interior in
Coal Land Cases-secretary
Meyer Questioned.

WASHINGTON, Dec. le.-Performing the
functions of a municipal legislative body
the house today devoted nearly five hours
to consideration of the District Of Colunl.
bia appropriation bill. The measure pro.
vides an appropriation of $40 l5e, 473 for the
expenses Of the district for 1911.
General debate was concluded, but The
reading Of the measure, paragraph by par
sgraph, proceeded slowly. Several mem
bers made points of orders against certain
sections in the interest OF economy and
the reading had not been concluded when
the house adjourned at 4:55 p. IN.
Mr.. Macon of Arkansas had the para
graph appropriating g. 400 for an automo-
bile for the engineer commissioner Of the
district stricken out In spite of the pro
tests of Representative Tswney of Mime
sofa, chairman OF the appropriations com
mittee and Representative Gardner Of
Michigan, in charge OF the bill.
Democratic applause greeted an attack
made by Representative Hitchcock of Ne
braska on the official conduct Of Secretary
Of Interior Ballinger in connection with the
so-called Cunningham coal land cases IN a
speech demanding congressional investi-
cation Of the general land office. Repre-
sentative Shepard of Texas addressed the
house during general debate on the DILL
urging the house to revive the committees
on expenses for the various departments
in order that sweeping Investigations Of the
departments might be made.
During a brief session Of the senate to-
day a resolution by Senator Cullom was
adopted calling upon the secretary of tie
interior for information respecting mining
disasting and facilities Of the federal gov
ernment for rendering aid in such cases
At ZIG O'Clock the senate adjourned until
next Monday.
Secretary Meyer Questioned.
Secretary Of the Navy Meyer was before
the house naval committee for extended
Interrogation today The line Of inquiry
was entirely on the subject Of the secre-
tary's recommendations for the reorganiza-
tion8of the department. The two things
which the secretary asked of the commit
tee in the way Of explanation were the
ahoiishment Of the bureau Of equipment
and the shifting Of vsrious amounts in
appropriations from one bureau to an
other.
The secretary ezpleined in detail why
the bureau Of equipment might well he
disposed OF and the duties Of that section
distributed among other bureaus. The
equipment bureau had been necessary. he
said in the days Of wooden ships, with
their great miscellaneous equipment, but
was not in the days OF the modern steel
siiipG
The questions Of members Of the commit.
tee indicated no manifest hostility 70 the
secretary's recommendations and plans, but
great interest was shown in ascertaining
his opinion as to the probable outcome OF
the departures which he is urging
The subject Of the recommended increase
in naval strength Of two battleships and
one repair ship was not touched upon to-
day but viii be taken up when Secretary
Meyer again appears for interrogation.