Evening star., 1909-02-19

The biggest sundry civil bill ever framed
was reported to the House today by
Chairman Tawney of the committee on
appropriations.
The bill carries s137O22 O7O93. which is
s26. 663, ,:567.S5 less than the regular est-
mate, but $3l 300. l01 .4J more than the ap-
preparation for the current fiscal year
OF the total, $33, ,63S 900 is carried for the
isthmian canal which is reimbursable to
the Treasury out of the proceeds of the
sale of canal bonds.
In the bill the President is authorized,
with the consent of the republic of Cuba,
of the battleship Maine from Havana har-
Dor. and to report to Congress the eStI-
mate for this work.
New Building for Washington.
The construction of a building in Wash
ington. at a cost of s2,5OO.OOO. is author
lied. to accommodate the general land
Office, the Indian bureau, the reclamation
service and the geological survey.
Outside of the Panama canal appro-
pratt of $50, ,G3S. 600, the largest item Is
$19J74. .JO4 for river and harbor construc-
tion work already authorized by law. For
the construction of public buildings SIS
61S.646 Is appropriated. For maintenance
of public buildings already erected $1,32.-
600 is appropriated for custodians and
janitorS alone
Secretary of the Interior Garfield is
granted the 81 900 600 for which he asked
for the protection of the public domain
and the investigation of entries OF public
land. Last year Congress gave Secretary
Garfield half a million. as compared with
quarter of million the year before.
Now it has given him the full million, the
exact amount for which he asked.
Cost of Holidays.
The committee estimates result Of
an inquiry made during the hearings on
the bill, that the cost to the government
of granting half-holidays and leaves of
absence to government employees in the
District of Columbia aggregates fully s3,-
800, 900. OF the $5.6S2.OO0 appropriated for
printing and binding. s1OO.0oO is to cover
holidays granted to the 1000 employees in
the government printing office. $1o.ucn to
cover half-holidays each week DURING
July, August and September. and $325OD
to cover the annual leave granted to en-
ployeS at the big printing shop
On the recommendation of the Depart
ment Of Commerce and Labor, the per-
manent appropriation. including the mead
tax collected every Immigrant, Is
abandoned. Specific appropriation for
this service Is made.
During the present fiscal year the per-
manent appropriation has been exhaust
ed. The department is faced with
deficit of 100000.
General Supply Committee.
One revolutionary legislative provision
in the bill has to do with the purchase
of supplies for the government service
1t is provided that hereafter all ice.
fuel, stationery and other miscellaneous
supplies for the executive department
and other government establishments IN
Washington shall be advertised and con-
tracted for by the Secretary of Com
merce and Labor instead OF by the va
rious departments as at present.
The bill also creates general supply
committee composed of officers, one from
each department or government estao-
lshment, which shall be charged with
the duty of preparing an annual sched-
ule of governmental supplies to stand
ardize such supplies. eliminating all un-
necessary grades and varieties
The. public printer is authorized to pay
a rate and half for Sunday work to
compositors and other employees of the
government printing office not In receipt
Of annual salaries. Sixty cents an hour
is fixed as the rate Tor linotype ana
monotype operators.
The bill also contains the provision
| of the measure offered some time ago
| by Representative Smith of Iowa that
| the President shall advise Congress how
| the annual estimates, when made each
year, may be reduced to bring them
| within the revenues.
| The provision limiting the activities
| of the secret service force. incorporated
| fore.
Item of Local Interest.
| Some of the items of more than ordi-
nary local interest follow:
For engraving and printing, $3.369,oO0:
an increase of $14,242.
Smithsonian Institution. $710.oOO:
net increase of s299,42O.
Interstate commerce commission, W.
395 900; an increase of 100000.
Bureau of fisheries $169.950; a reduc-
tion of $4,000
Repairs to Interior Department build
ing 10000: an increase of $500
Improving the Capitol grounds. ST..
500: an increase of s2.5O0.
Lighting Capitol and grounds. S7S.JOo; an
increase of $4,000.
Geological survey, 81, 1880: reduc-
ton of $3.50. $50.
Government Hospital for :he Insane,
1867 800; an increase of $4,000.
Howard University, $162.2OO an increase
of $4,000.
Freedmen.s Hospital. $4,000: an in
crease of $1,000
Buildings and grounds In and arOuA0