Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 April 1896 — WORK OF CONGRESS. [ARTICLE]

WORK OF CONGRESS.

THE WEEK'S DOINGS IN SENATE AND HOUSE. A Comprehensive Digest of the Proceedings in the Legislative Chambers at Washington —Matters that Concern the People. Lawmakers at Labor. The question of reforming the fee system of the United States District Attorneys and Marshals occasioned much debate in the Senate Wednesday. Mr. Hoar opposed the change from fees to salaries by means of an appropriation bill, as it was a large subject, needing separate treatment. Mr. Allen (Pop.) of Nebraska attacked the high salaries. He declared that the offices of District Attorney were given frequently in payment of political debts, and instead of requiring a high degree of legal talent the places sometimes went to “shysters” who could not earn a living out of office. Mr. George (Dem.) of Mississippi attacked the entire policy of giving high salaries and showed that the Governors aud Attorney Generals of States received less by half than the bill proposed allowing Federal District Attorneys. Mr. Allen also criticised the provision allowing the Attorney General to designate the number of Deputy Marshals. He spoke against the "horde of officeholders." Under Buchanan the Government spent $50,000,000 annually and now it is $500,000,000. In that time the population had doubled, but the expenses had increased teufold. Officers were thrusting tlieir hands into the treas-'' ury and by hook and crook, mainly by crook, seeking to increase their salaries. The purpose of this provision was to add to the offices controlled by an executive officer. Mr. Hoar responded warmly that the Senate could not waste its time investigating the details of the number of Deputy Marshals in each of the seventyseven districts in the United States. If it did it would become a laughing stock. If the Government could not trust the Attorney General with this duty then the American Government had better shut up shop and apply to some Populist club to carry on its affairs. After an extended debate the salaries for District Attorneys and Marshals were agreed to as reported, with a few minor changes. The legislative appropriation was not completed when at 5:30 the Senate went into executive session and soon after adjourned. The House discussed naval appropriation. The Senate spent most of Thursday on the legislative appropriation bill, but did not complete owing to Mr. Sherman’s motion to strike out the proposition for the change from fees to salaries for United States district attorneys and marshals. A joint resolution was adopted allowing ex-Presideut Harrison to accept decorations from Brazil and Spain. The joint resolution was passed providing for the ! appointment of a commission under the direction of the Secretary of War for the preliminary survey, with plans, specifications and approximate cost thereof, for the construction of a ship canal of approved width and depth, from the lower shore of Lake Michigan to the Wabash river, and for the further investigation of the practicability of the construction of such waterway. The naval appropriation bill was passed by the House without substantial amendment. The bill carries $31,611,034 and authorizes the construction of four battle ships and fifteen torpedo boats, the totcvl cost of which will be in the neighborhood of $35,000,000. The Senate indulged in an acrimonious political debate Friday. The controversy over Mr. Hill’s motion to strike from the legislative appropriation bill the proposed change of the date of assembling the New Mexico Legislature from December to May. Mr. Hill bitterly denounced the change ns a political trick. Mr. Elkins protested. The debate took a wide range, Senators Gorman, Faulkner, Cockrell and other Democrats attacking the provision as political, while Senators Elkins, Carter, Cullom and other Republican Senators defended it. Mr. Cullom sought to table Mr. Hill’s motion, but a motion to this effect failed by a vote of 21 to 29, whereupon Mr. Cullom yielded to the Hill motion and the New Mexico provision was struck out. The Senate passed the legislative appropriation bill, carrying $21,500,000. Aside from providing the usual appropriations, the bill is important in effecting a reform of the system of compensation for United States District Attorneys and Marshals; salaries being substituted for fees. The appropriation committee attempted to take up the sundry civil appropriation bill in the House, but the members who were interested in bills on the private calendar defeated them by a vote of 142 to 77. The Senate Monday passed the bill appropriating $2.000,000 for a public building at Indianapolis. Much time was spent in discussing the settlement between Government and the State of Arkansas. The House took up the consideration of the sundry civil appropriation bill and disposed of fifteen of the 100 pages before adjournment. Few amendments were added to the bill. The Senate resolution authorizing F. Green to exercise the duties and powers heretofore conferred upon the late Gen. Casey in relation to the construction of the library of Congress was adopted. The Senate resolution authorizing ex-President Harrison to accept certain medals presented to him by the Governments of Brazil and Spain was also adopted.