The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-15


TIVE APPROPRIATION BILL.-The legislative.
executive, and judicial appropriation bill,
rs reported from the conference committee
and passed by both branches OF Congress
Saturday, contains in lieu Of the House pro-
vision recurring reduction OF ten per
ccntum on the salaries OF all collectors OF
customs and employees OF the customs ser
vice who now receive more than 81 200 per
annum q new section directing the Secrc-
tary OF the Treasury merely to institute
careful scrutiny OF the present condition
and competence OF the force employed III
the collection OF revenue from customs,
with view OF reducing the number or the
same
Another section added to the bill prevents
all executive officers or employees or the
United States not appointed by the Presi-
dent and confirmed BY the Senate from re-
uuesting, giving to, or receiving from any
other officer or employG any money or tnlng
of value for political purpose. Offenders
against this provision arc to be lmmcdmtely
discharged from service, and shall also De
deemed guilty Of Il misdemcanor, punish
able on conviction thereof by line not eN,
ceedine $500. The salaries OF the ofhcers ana
principal employees in the various mlnts, as
say offices, and sub-treaslries throughoutthe
country are not ut all diminished from the
amounts respectively appropriated for the
last wear. Some small reductions are made,
however. in salaries OF few OF the subordl-
nate clerks and other employees in these
establishments, and the bill provides, as
heretofore stated. for the discharge OF seven
hundred and siXtv-fvc clerks from the pre-
sent force employed in the executive de
partmentS ut Washington. BY change
made by the Conference Committee yester-
dav on the suggestion Of Secretary Morrill,
the bill now provides that all these clerks
shall be discharged on the 10th OF October
instead OF September 10, October 10, and
November 10, in three instalments.
The salaries OF members Of Congress and
OF the President arc provided for at the
present rates. The contest in the committee
regarding the United States "deslgnated
| repositories" resulted in the adoption OF O
| provision for discontinuing the dcposlto'
ries at Buffalo and Pittsburgh from and al
ter the 1st day OF September next. The
depositories at Charleston, S. g., and Tue
son, Arizona, are retained.
The committee also inserted an appropria.
ton OF $4,000 to defray the expenses OF
the survey of the Union and Central Pacific
resolution of the House OF Representatives
adopted on the 18th ultimo.
The bill, as passed by the House, aggrc.
gated S13,392, ,233. This total was increased
by the Senate (by the restoration OF existing
salaries, ETC., to STOPS, 1856. The bill, as il
goes to the President, aggregates Sl5,3l3,
800, showing that the conference committee
made very nearly an equal division OF tht
differences between the two branches OF Con
gress, the total being increased by only
S163.l6G, more than one half OF the tota
amount OF all items in controversy. There
were no less than 9j4 contrOycrted points
and at least two thirds Of the amendment:
by one house or the other were further
amended in the conference. The amount O.
clerical labor on this bill has therefore beer
unprecedented, and it is considered very
remarkable circumstance that on q minute
comparison to-day the work Of the clerks o
the two appropriation committees has beer
found without single error.