Mr. STEVENS. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose the amendment of the Gentfrom NewYork, as I understand it. I merely want the House to know the condition of this whole provision. Last year Congress granted an appropriation of $160,000 to be distributed at the discretion of the SecyTreasury among the clerks and officers of the Dept. That provision was not acceptable to the House, but was assented to in the committee of conference and agreed to by the House in order that the bill might pass. I then made up my mind that I should vote for no more such appropriations with so large discretion allowed in the expend iture. The SecyTreasury distrib uted that money in a manner which some gentlemen may consider right, but which I deem a great abuse of it. Instead of making allowances to those who had salaries of $1, 2$1, 400, he paid the auditors $1,000 additional; the chief clerks $800, and so on. All those who did not need any extra allowance received it; and the Secretary's only justification, as far. as I know, is to be found in the Bible, where it speaks of taking from those that have not and giving to those that have. [Laughter] I will refer to the estimates. It asked for an appropriation for temporary clerks in the Treasury Dept, provided that the SecyTreasury be, and is hereby, authorized in his discretion to classify the clerks authorized according to the character of their services; and provided further, that the SecyTreasury may award such additional compensation to the officers and clerks as in his judgment may be deemed just and may be required by the public service. That continued the discretion. The Dept asked $250,000. The committee struck out all discretionary power and left the SecyTreasury $50,000 for temporary clerks, thinking there may be a time when regular clerks may not be needed and temporary clerks might be employed to the extent of $50,000. We struck out all discretionary power on the ground that this discretion was exercised without discretion and with gross partiality for the last 2 years. It was disagreed to by the House at the last session, but was adopted in the report of the committee of conference. I do not care whether the $50,000 is voted or not. The committee reduced it from $250,000 to $50,000, and I do not care whether it is all stricken out.