The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-06-09
" ASHINHT0S.
The Post-office Augmentation ELL.


WASHINGTON, June 8.-The Senate Commit
tee on Appropriations to-day took action the
Post-office appropriation bill, and agreed to
report it, with an amendment striking out all
legislative sections by which the House pro-
vided new rates of compensation for railway
mail service, and proposed a readiustment of
the salaries of postmasters throughout the
country IN new system, and provided for GER
tain changes in rates of postage on third class
matter.
Tbe committee strike out these sections on
the general ground that their duty is confined
to reporting appropriations in accordance with
the existing law, and that the questions in
volved IN these legislative provisions are now
before another committee of the Senate,
specially charged with this consideration.
The Senate committee retain the House
provlso that stamped envelopes and newspaper
wrappers shall not be sold at less than their
average cost, including clerk hire and other
expenses.
The committee also recommend an increase
of the item for railway post-ofice clerks from
81, 125, 900 to 81, 100000 for route agents from
5000 to $1000O 900; for transportation of for
eign mails from 500, 900 to $3.50, 700; for adver-
Using from $25 600 to 1000 and for miscella-
neous purposes from $50, 900 to $100, 600. Com.
mlttee entirely strike oat the House appropria-
tion of 1850 900 for official postage stamps to be
used by the Post Office Department The
amounts voted by the House for the compensa-
ton of post-masters for inland mail transporta-
ton and for pay of letter-carriers were respect.
lively $6,S00,OO0, $15, 100000 and 1900, 900.
The Kerr Investigation.
The Committee on Expenditures in the War
department today heard the testimony of Hon.
Morgan Jones, who was a member of the
House OF Representatives from the city of New
York IN 1866, in the Kerr investigation. Law
renee Harvey, whom witness had known mapv
years, called upon him in that year and asked
him to appoint Aug. p Green to a lieutenancv
info mad Lok
would get nice present it the appointment
were made. Witness told Harvey be had moth.
ing to do with that aud he had known Green
longer than Harvey had. He had no appica-
ton from his own district. but appointsd a
young man from New York who had been
known to him from boyhood. Otherwise ne
would probably have appointed Green
Hon. Nelson Taylor, formerly a me nber of
Congress from New York, testified he took an
interest in Greene, because of the testimonials
ney's account. Witness appointed young
man from his own district
Various Matters.
Ex-Gov. Shepherd and Fred Douglass have
been chosen delegates to Cincinnati for the
District of Columbia.
Gen Sherman is in receipt of large number
OF letters asking protection from Incian raids
on the frontier and in the Territories.
All isqu'et at the Red Cloud Agency
Dr. Bliss, Senator Mortons family physi-
clan, says Morton's health is good, and his
prospect for a long life equal to chat of any
man of his years.
The Alabama Court closes July o.
The remains of Gen. Mcpherson will be re.
inferred under the Mcpherson statue in this
city.
The Senate confirmed VIM. Writ Sykes of
New York, Consul at Cardiff; Jas. s. Rutan of
Pennsylv ania, Consul at Florence.
The House Committee on Appropriations
to-day decided to insert in the army appropria-
tion bill provision for the reduction of the
army to the extent of two regiments of infap-
try and two of cavalry.
Senator Howe to-day introduced bill
to fix the salary of Commissioner of
Pensions at four thousand dollars per wear.
Several successive commissioners resigned With
in the past six mouths on account of the small
ness of the present salary of $4,000 per annum
which the House has now voted to reduce to-
gether with all other salaries of bureau officers
and clerks 10 per cent