Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1871-01-25
Washington City Gossip.

From a communication of the Postmaster
General tie the Senate, we learn that an eff
fort has been made to ascertain how much
free matter passed through the po.tofficeS
for period of six months, from January |
to June so, 1870. The total number of of
fees that made report was only S,5S3, some
20, 900 failing TO report The returns from
the reporting offices show that in six months
there were transmitted B, l40, ,796 franked
letters. The postage on these amounted to
of other franked matter, on which the pos
tage would have amounted to $3.50, S4S.
From the estimate of the Postmaster Gene
raj, had all the Offices reported for one year.
the amount would have reached 81, 543, :
327 ~.
The House bill ceding back the jurisdic-
tion to Ohio, of the grounds of the Soldiers
Home was concurred in by the Senate. 1t
was opposed for the reason that it did not
give the inmates of the Soldiers Home a
right to vote in Ohio, but was finally pass
ed
Mr. Axtell, independent Democrat, made a
speech in the House, in support of the ap-
preparation for the bureau of education. This
motion was strenuously opposed by the lead
ers of the Democracy, who exhibited on the
floor the same spirit and temper which has
prompted their constituents so often to burn
the school houses and churches of the freed
men. Mr.. Axtell, who was elected from
San Francisco under circumstances of the
most fattering kind, personally had the mo-
raj independence to differ from the mass of
his party, boldly advocating the constitu-
tionality of the bureau. 1t was under this
well worn plea of unconstitutionality that
the appropriation was sought to be choked
of. Mr.. Axtell met his political colleagues
squarely on this issue, arguing broadly that
whatever is good fer the Republic is consti.
tutional. Good doctrine, that
A bill has been presented to the Senate,
requiring the Secretary OF the Treasury to
redeem all nickel and copper coins, when
presented in sums of not less than $40.
This will relieve many of the postofices of
an incumbrance.
The letter of Special Treasury Agent
Wicker, to the Secretary of the Treasury,
inclosing communications relative to the un-
lawful acts Of wreckers on the Florida coast
will unquestionably be cause of general
surprise. This class Of robbery and indeed
often of murder, demands instant attention.
That there should be at present no law that
will meet these illegal practices is certainly
very strange. In October. Spanish aud Brit
ish vessels, were plundered and burned on
the coast. By all means let stringent meas
ures be at once resorted to, to prevent such
crimes in the future.
In the House of Representatives at Wash
ington on Wednesday last, the legislative
appropriation bill was finally passed. Two
important amendments to the bill as origin
ally reported were made, increasing the APP
preparation for the Bureau of Education
from $l4, 500 to S26, 500, and the salaries of
the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of
the Supreme Court to $500 and $4,000
respectively Both of these pieces of Re-
publican extravaganza viii be endorsed by
the country.
A bill introduced by Mr. Wilson te regu-
late the appointment of inferior officers in
the civil service was referred to the Com
mittee on Retrenchment. The bill provides
that government employees receiving more
than ST 200 per snnum shall be appointed
only after examination as to their qualifca-
tions before board, and if, after three
months probation, they are found efficient,
they are to be appointed for four years and
then be eligible for re-aPpointment upon
the recommendation of chief of bureau.
Il prohibits the removal of such employees,
except for incapaeity or improper conduct,
forbids the levying of political assessments
upon or payments by such employees, and
prohibits them from being delegates to or
members of political conventions, commit
tees, or similar organizations, on pain of
summary dismissal.
The Senate passed the House bill abolish
ing the Office of Admiral and Vice Admiral
of the navy, with an amendment that the
Office should cease upon the occurrence of a
vacancy.