The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-08

Censrsss-ThIsd Day Of the Sessiea.
Our national legislature, having commenced
weli' Is rapidly swinging into the current Of
serious work. The warning notes Of the inde-
pendent press, uplifting It's voice to scare
away the corruptionists and lobbymen Of high
and low degree who cluster on the steps OF the
Capitol, have rather '.luttered tho yolsoians. -,
and they tread more warily than usual In their
approaches. Nevertheless, the book Of Jobs
has been opened, and we shall no doubt have
q lengthy chapter or two Of II to read era the
ides Of March.
In the Senate Mr.. Conkling introduced a bill
to promote telegraphic communication between
our Pacific States and the far East, and, con,
sequently, to complete the grand lines Of elec-
trio intelligence that are girdling the world
and inevitably making America It's midway
depository. The defect in the bill Is that il
guarantees the sole and absolute right to con-
struct the transpacinc line to one COM
pany, therein specified, for the term
of twenty-one years-a lifetime in
these days of rapid movement and
invention-and the honorable Senator took
especial care to remark that he performed hia
duty in this case without thereby intending
to commit himself. He is wise in this, because
the need Of an Oriental line from San Fran
cisco is self-evident, and an early date must
bring many and liberal offers to construct one
on most favorable terms, with the same pri-
GRITTY of use accorded to our government in
return for such aid and protection as the
present applicants request. Mr.. Summers
project Of bill to secure wages to ship
wrecked seaman, and to annul all contracts
forfeiting the same, in case of the ships loss
or failure to make the cost of freight, Is
good and timely word for "Poor jack" and
indicates one element for the encouragement
Of the American mercantile marine that had
been sadly overlooked. This suggestion was
appropriately followed by shipping bin from
Mr.. Wilson, encouraging the eligibility of
American shipping for trade to foreign ports,
and allowing not only drawbacks in their
favor, but also an exemption amounting to q
release of duties on machinery to be used in
our home maritime constructions. This looks,
indeed, like an earnest purpose to help our
suffering marine and rebuild o commerce
which in 1860 had crept close into the wake
of our one great rival and was whitening
every sea with American canvas-in other
words, spreading the prestige and example Of
the republic throughout the world. Bills ex-
tending the time Of application for discharge
under the Bankruptcy act of March 2, 1867,
most weighty and important amendment. and
to create Southern Judicial district in Cali
fornia, were advanced and memorials were
presented soliciting compensation for property
taken by the general government in certain
Southern States. With this fair warrant of a
working session the Senate determined to
make the calendar the order Of business, on
and after Monday next, until completed, all
bills to which there had been no objection
made to come up as recorded and each Sena-
tor to speak but once and for five minutes
only.
The House took hold of solid purposes at
the start with bills from Mr.. Sheldon, Of
Louisiana, to amend the Currency act Of July
IL, 1870; from Mr.. Lynch for the gradual re-
sumption of specie payments and from Mr..
McNeely to abolish the Freedmen's Bureau
favorable examination as method at least
free of the complicated provisos that have
overburdened and killed many Of its prede-
cessors. 1t simply calls for the destruction Of
the old United States notes by the Treasury
Department as they are received In the
way of business, and their replacement
by an equal issue of new notes, to be dealt out
for disbursements, payable in specie after six
months from date; the national banks to
redeem in the new United States notes, and
the latter to be taken for duties on imports
after they become receivable in coin.
| Scarcely, if at all, inferior to the above in
| Importance was the bill reported by Mr..
| Farnsworth, of the Post Office Committee, to
revise and amend the entire code Of statutes
relating to the Postal Department. Its speci-
fcations cover no less than thirty-two pages
of print, and form 'spiece de resistonce'
over which the House whetted its tee6h for
the remainder of the morning hour, after sun
dry resolutions, hereafter mentioned, had
been offered and referred. The salaries Of
letter carriers proved to be the subject Of
| tender solicitude, although nothing was said
about the penny wise and pound foolish policy
which results in our Western bound mails
being frequently left behind along the Penn
sylvania railroads, owing to the alleged made
quate rates allowed for their transportation.
! Still, the laborer is worthy of his hire, and
assuredly the situation Of carrier in such
| cities as New York. Philadelphia and San
| Francisco is no sinecure. The day is not dis
tant however, when, under just and far-see-
ing management, public employees who talk the
most and do the least win find positions
reversed. Satisfactory consideration is the
| true secret of prompt and faithful perform-