New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-17

several departments of the Government, legislation
for any increase Of salaries of public officers has
been held to be in order, while any amendment or
provision reducing salaries has invariably been ruled
out of order. notable instance of the operation of
this rule occurred at the time the Salary Grab
passed, in 1878, that most unpopular measure hav
ing been ingraftcd upon the Legislative Appropra-
ton BILL The Committee now proposes to strike out
Of the rule the clause which has been thus con-
strued, and substitute for it another making any
legislation in order the effect of which is to rctrcnch
the expenses of the Government. This amendment
was voted for in Committee by Messrs Kerr, Ran
dali, and Cox Mr. Blaine did not vote for H. and
Gen. Banks was not present. The Committee will,
if an opportunity presents ITSELF report this amend
mcnt Tomorrow.
The Committee on Appropriations will probably
report the Diplomatic and Consular bill to the
House on Wednesday next. The reductions made
in this bill when compared with the estimates, will
he in the neighborhood of 100000. The salaries
of four rst-class European missions will be reduced
from $500 to $4,000 each, and corresponding
reductions will be made in the salaries OF ministers
TO several other countries The missions to the five
Pacific Coast States Of South ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chili-will be consoll
dated into two, and the Minister to the Argentine
Republic will also be accredited to Uruguay and
Paraguay. TO which we now send one representative
Jointly. The Committee on Appropriations is rap
idly collecting material for the more important
bills and hopes to report some of them at an early
date. The first great appropriation Dill TO DC
finished will probably be the Legislative
BILL by which about 900 900 were appropriated
last year. Following close upon this, if, indeed, 1t
does not precede it, will be the Foriications bill.
The remaining ones will probably he reported rs
rapdIy rs the House can act upon them. Should the
Tooth rule be amended tomorrow, the House Com
mlttce IN Appropriations will, after the morning
hour move to 60 into Committee of tho Whole OH
the Military Academy Appropriation bill. When
this is disposed Of rs it probably be tomorrow,
no other bills will remain upon the calendar except
the Centennial BILL which can then be reached on
Tuesday.
The friends of the Centennial bill have made
very careful canvass of the House, and assert that
they are sure Of 80 votes in its favor. If they have
made no mistakes in their canvass the bill can prob
ably be passed before the hour of adjournment on
Tuesday. 1t is not believed that the Amnesty bill
will any longer stand in the way of this measure
Tho Democrats who were most interested IN 1t say
that the Republicans having killed the bill twice,
and the latter time by means of trick they see no
reason why the subject should be revived at present
The responsibility for its failure lies wholly with the
Administration party. The Democrats explain that
had il not been for the deception Of certain mem
bers the bill would have passed Friday. Mr.. Lynch,
a colored member from Mississippi, Mr.. StOwcll OF
Virginia, and Mr. White of Kentucky, voted against
the bill on the understanding if not with the promise
on Mr. Baines part, that he would bring the bill up
again on a motion to reconsider. He did this, but
withdrew it few minutes later, thus taking the bill
from the House altogether.