New-York tribune., 1875-03-04
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
REVIVAL OF THE FRANKING ABUSE.


Congress has restored the most objection
able features of the Frankng abuse. BY an
amendment to the Post-Onice Appropriation
bill, it is provided that all public documents
now printed OF hereafter to be printed by or.
der of Congress may be sent free through the mails
until the first day of next December a personal
frank of Member Of the present Congress. lt Is
also provided that the Commissioner of Agriculture
may hereafter send through the mails, on his frank
copies of the Agricultural report and such SEEDS as
he has for distribution OF course the limit OF time
during which Members of Congress may frank docu-
mens means nothing, since at the next session Con-
gress with this precedent before them, will be sure
to restore the abuse permanently unless pubic
opinion shall be strong enough TO prevent lneul'
The number of books printed since last December,
to which each Member OF this Congress VIII be en-
titled is about 500, the average weight OF which IS
two pounds, or for the Senate ana House aoPut
$4,000 pounds.
COLORADO A sTATE-NEw-MEXICO KEPT OUT.
One of the most closely contested questions of the
close of the session was over the admission Of Colo
RADIO and New Mexico. This had been made by the
Senate Republican caucus one of the party meas
ures which they had determined to pass this session.
Both of these bills had been passed by the Senate
last session, but they were slightly amended by the
Senate, which required the concurrence OF the
House. The friends of the bill rallied their entire
forces this afternoon and after the roll called
there was great delay before the vote was an
nounced. in order to give every member an oppor
tnnity to register his determination. The result
was that the bills which were both voted upon NJ
the same time under a suspension of the rules were
defeated for the want OF four votes Inc rol, stoou
1G4 in the affirmative and 81 IN the negatlve, tWo
thirds of the House being necessary TO carry u.
In the evening, among the bills that were carry
reached on the Speakers table were the enabling
acts for Colorado and New Mexico, which together
loI 20
When they came up separately Colorado received
l6f votes in the affirmative to 70 in the negative
two votes more than were necessary; put New
Mexico was defeated, the vote on 1t standing Ioi 10
BUSINESS ON THE SPEAKERS TABLE.
Hitherto the House has never, during the present
session. proceeded to business on tho Speakers
table and the only bills from the Senate that have
been passed have been taken up by unanimous con-
sent or under a suspension of the rules. The Civil
Rights bill passed by the Senate last session. which
stood at the head of the list has, until the President
signed the bill and it became law few days ago.
stood in the way of all business on the Speakers
table AT 10 o'clock this evening Gen. Butler moved
to suspend the rules 60 the Speakers table, refer
the Civil Rights bill to the Committee on the Judi
ciary and pass such bills not to points
of order if they got maJ9Tlity io vGte
and all others by vote of twO-thirds. his motion
was lost only 145 votes being cast in the aiirma-
tive and % in the negative, twothrds vote being
required. The cause of the defeat OF this motion
| was the fact that great many dangerous bills lie
| on the Speakers table which do not make appro.
prations of public money or property, and are not
therefore subject to points OF order. Mr.. =. T. Koo
erts then made motion to go to the Speakers taQle
| agreeing that no bill should be passed without
two-thrds vote, and this was agreed to-. At about
1O45, therefore the House proceeded TO business on
the Speakers table for the first time this session.
| A FLOOD OF APPROPRIATIONS IN THE SENATE
WASHINGTON March 3.-The Senate is considering
] 1,o Duor and Uarbor hill and has agreed To the
Eads Jetty project without any debate or question
Mr. West explained in FIVE minutes the features OF
the amendment and the proposition was so fair that
a vote was immediately taken pro JOrmd, no
one voting in the negative. This emboldened MI.
Alcorn. who Immediately introduced his amendment
for building levees on the Mississippi River, which
| ON a Yea and Nay vote received majority OF two
| The noodgates having been opened, nearly every
member Of the Senate was waving his hand with an
amendment providing for the Improvement OF every
river or harbor near his residence. Members became
| wild when they felt that their bands were IN the
| nublic Treasury and fabulous sums were
| voted away without inquiry. one amendncnt
followed another with such IaIndty as seri0nsly "
| embarrass the officers of the Seuate. Mr.. Sherman
| was in agony at the thought OF this robbery, ana
vainly endeavored to md some means ,,,a Oh
| stopping II, but was finally drawn into the
cnrrent and whirled away. waving an amend:
ment appropratng $500 to explore, clean out ana
dig dams in the Ohio River The Original Dill approS
| there has been added at least i5.OO0.OO. Many oi
| these amendments have no doubt been added In
order TO defeat the bill in the House aud unless ttat
bodv i, also bereft of reason by the knowledge that
| to omorrow tuey die, the bill is doomed.
TIE TRIBUNE OF Wednesday editorialy places kep'
resentative Randall Of Pennsylvania among those VINO
voted against striking the u sectoa OF the Force
bill This statement, without explanation, does MI
Randall injustice He first voted In the Affirmative ou'
learning that the motion was LOST he CHANGED MS vote
10 enable him 10 mako his privileged motion 70 rocon
sider by vnlco be gained delay 0stponsd the 70
ceptlon OF the bill by the Senate to Monday. g.
,sr s..~ls~ apsvt Of C~Vvsssssi Prest%aes ~ IVA ~
] Assso&h SeesAi