Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-08-24


2ss, SAT; the law, as finally .
81, ,967, ,49S. a
The reductions in this act ariel -
ly from the cutting of of the - ~
the higher class Of postmassers, -
have been confessedly too high, e
reduction of 10 per cent. on the Q ~
to be paid to the railroads for The -
portation of mails, among which ~
is known as the fast mail" -
roneous impression prevails q 8
latter service. The fast mails W -
provided for by law. Speed =
taken into consideration in detoEl =
the compensation. Weight - ke
number of postal cars were and az -
elements in fixing the pay Of railroads.
This extra line was first established less
than a year ago, by throwing an in
crease in the quantity of mail matter on
these principal roads, thus increasing
the number of postal cars, and, with ad-
ditional weight, causing an increased
amount of payment to special roads,
The compensation as fixed by act of
March, 1878, was a very great increase
over former rates. Prior to that time,
1915 per mile on all lines was the max
imum rate. Under that act the paw on
some lines was increased to sos per
mile per year, and on the fast lines as
high as S1,O16 per mile per year.
This Congress has reduced the rates
for railroad service generally 10 per
cent, which is a moderate reduction.
The compensation on star lines and
steamboat service has been reduced far
more than 10 per cent. since March,
1873; in fact, from 10 to 80 per cent.
The amount paid before the passage of
the act of March, 1873, was considered
high even for thatperiod. The reduced
price of every commodity which goes
into the cost of running a railroad is far
greater than 10 per cent. These roads
have reduced the compensation to their
employees, and together with gener-
al shrinkage of values, it goes to show
that the amount now fixed is compare
lively higher than it was at the time the
former rate was agreed to.
The Post Office appropriation act for
the year ending June 80, 1876, raised
the rates of postage on third-class mail
matter, so as to take it from the mails
and give the monopoly of its transport
tation to the express companies, while
at the same time the postage on news
papers was doubled. The latter impo-
sition has been removed by the legisla-
ton of this year, but the first still re-
mains burden upon the people in be-
half of the express companies, and is
estimated as worth to those companies
half million dollars per anntim in in
creased receipts from transportation OF
merchandise, &c. The House at every
opportunity sought to accomplish full
repeal of both provisions, but the Sem
ate was obdurate. and refused to con-
cede the repeal of the merchandise por-
ton Of the act.
Appropriations last year, S27, $685.
$50; department estimate for year end
ing June 80, 1877, S33, ,34S, 1850; re-
commentator OF House Committee on
Appropriations, S23, 155, ,O77.12; House
passed, S23, 179, 9,S19.52; Senate COM
mittee recommendation, S27,717,S77.-
2o; Senate passed, S27,715, ,S77. 30; the
law, as finally enacted, So, 1897, 167. 80.
The Army Appropriation act does not
show that extent Of reduction " which we
intended and had reason to hope we
should obtain at the opening Of the ses-
sion, because OF our Indian troubles, and
because of the determination of the Ad-
mini>tration to keep large force in the
South. The House bill fixed the army
at %, 900 soldiers, relatively divided be-
tween the three arms of the service, and
sought in addition to reduce the COM
pensation of certain officers which were
deemed dlsproportionate and too high.
The manner OF payment OF these COM
pensations IS IN some respects highly
objectionable, rendering it almost i'm
possible to compute with accuracy the
pay received by officers in the army.
The Senate was resolute against all
these changes, and the House was COM
PEELED te yield.
Appropriation last year, S26,644,-
35O.u9; department estimates for wear
ending June 80, 1877, S32, $50, AIS. %:
amount recommended by House Com
mittee on Appropriations, S14,S57, $780,
"a; Senate Committee recommended
S1S,5Ol ,6O1.24; Senate passed, Sl9.-
956. 1860; the law, as finally enacted.
10. 351 ,905.47. This act, which covers
the sundry civil expenses ofthe Govern
ment, is that upon which it is attempted to
engraft all doubtful schemes and unne-
cessary expenses, which to any other
general appropriation bill would be ruled
out of order as not germane. In refer
ence to this particular act the President
Of the United States saw fit, although
approving the same, to send a message
condemning the character Of our reduc-
tions. l propose now and here, with
due respect to the chief magistrate, to
inquire into the justice Of the criticisms.
In the first place he says:
Notably among the FIRST class is the
reduction in ordinary annual appropri-
ations for the revenue cutter service, to
the prejudice of the customs revenue" I"
This criticism is completely refu,ed
BY PLAIN statement of the facts, which
show that the amount appropriated is in
excess of the amount expended in the
revenue cutter service during the last
fiscal year. The expenditures for the
year ending June 80. 1S7c, were SS42.-
900, and the appropriations for the year
ending 80, 1877, $S74,S9l, the latter
exceeding the former more than $780,
600. Next as TO the amount given
to continue the Signal Service. This
service cost last year nearly million