The Portland daily press., 1873-02-12
Washington Matters.
The RAILWAY POSTAL SERVICE.


The Senate committee on appropriations
gave long hearing Monday morning to rep
resentatives of leading railroads of the coun-
try, who ask provision in the pending postal
appropriation bill to pay for the transporta-
ton of postal cars. The Only alternative
which the railroads offer is the early and per-
emptory discon inuance of the cars, which
they claim to be no " hauling at a great loss,
and principally as favor to the public. In
the present form of the postal bill, the rail-
roads will receive as much compensation for
carrying the mails in common baggage as in
postal cars, since the pay is to be in proper
ton to weight and frequency of service. The
committee will continue and dispose of the
matter tomorrow.
THE SALARY BILL-BUTLER'S sTRATAGEM
The movement to increase salaries accord
ing to the scale reported the other day by the
judiciary committee failed to develop its
strength in the House this afternoon. Cen
eral Buffers strategy to get the bill, in as an
amendment to the miscellaneous appropria-
ton bill was characteristic, since, had it pre-
vailed, no further opportunity would have
been offered under the rules to call the yeas
and nays, and members would have escaped
record on the rather important personal ques-
ton of an increase of their own salaries. 1t
is expected, however, that the attempt will
be renewed when the legislative appropriation
bill comes back into the House, and the
friends of the increase claim to be
able to override the point of order
which will inevitably be made against the
amendment on the ground Of its increase of
salaries. The Senate, though twice within
a few days rejecting by large votes PROPOSE
lions tor an increase of the salaries of men,
bers of Congress which originated in that
body, will probably agree to whatever adj
vance the House may ask.
OF the eighty-one votes in favor of Gen.
Buffers motion, forty-one leave Congress
the 4th of next March, and thus expressed
their Willingness to receive testimonial of
six thousand dollars each from grateful pub
lie on returning to private life.
THE NEWSPAPER FREE EXCHANGE PRIV
MEGE.
A question has been raised as to whether
the law abolishing ranking also cuts off the
free newspaper list in the way of exchanges.
Postmaster-General Creswell, in converse
ton on the House floor, said that the matter
had not been officially brought to his atten-
ton, but from cursory examination OF the
law he should certainly not regard it as in
terfering with the free transmission of news
paper exchanges. The act distinctly relates
to the Thanking privilege, words having dis
tinct meaning.
A OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES LAND sPECULA-
TON.
An important statement has been prepared
to show the effect of the proposed land bounty
legislation now pending in the Senate. Dur
ing the late war, there were enrolled in the
military service in the United States over g.
100000. The proposed bounty or home
stead transfer would require, at 100
acres each, the enormoussarea of 352 ,000,-
900 acres, making eleven States as large
as Ohio, and affording homes for popula-
ton, taking the ratio per square mile Of Mas
sachusetts, of not less than 55,000,000. Since
the first land bounty act for military services
was passed, in September, 1776, which cover
ed 2,O95, 12O acres, eleven other acts have
been framed and made law. The total area
covered by the twelve laws is u, 0Oo, 651 acres.
The average price obtained by the soldiers is
estimated not to have exceeded, at any one
time. thirty-five cents per acre. 1t is believed
that not one per cent of the beneficiaries OF
all bounty grants ever accepted it in kind,
while the balance parted with it at nominal
rates. By this means, the vast area granted
passed almost entirely into the hands OF spec
ulators and has since been sold to farmers at
greatly enhanced prices.