The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-12-18
XIV CONGRESS.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Mr. Wallace
said he would, if possible, have arrayed
the democrats solidly against this effort to
arouse sectional agitation. He disputed
Baine's figures as 10 the representation
from the south since the act of 1872. The
same irregularities that Blaine pointed out
existed in the north. He denounced the
character Of the men who conducted the
elections in Philadelphia. A white man
too poor to vote was driven from the polls
in Pennsylvania, while a negro was given
tax receipt.
Mr.. Blaine's amendment authorizing q
committee to take testimony, etc., was
agreed to without division.
Mr.. Morgan made a lengthy speech
against the resolution. He defended the
southern people and denied that there had
been discrimination against the negro. lie
gave notice that his investigation should
be full and fair and that he would demand
that Mr.. Blaine be chairman of the COM
mittee, although he had refused. The COM
mittee must go also to Massachusetts, New
York and out west to Colorado and Nevada,
Mr.. Teller denied the existence Of any
frauds on the part of the republicans in
Colorado. They courted the fullest inves-
tigation,
Mr.. Blaine resolution as amended was
agreed TO yeas Sc, nays 6,
The House resolution for the holiday re-
cess was amended to make the adjourn
ment from the goth of December to the 7th
of January and it was adopted by close
vote.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE house
went into committee of the whole on the
postal deficiency bill. 1t appropriates
$450.000 aud prohibits the increase of
postal car service; this Mr.. Blount ex-
planned that the increase in the cost of
service had increased ut the rate of 81 per
cent, not on the postal car service itself
but on the whole railway service. Since
July, 1873, it increased IS per cent on the
postal car service ITSELF The deficiency
arose in the determination of the depart
ment against the will of congress that the
service should increase. Congress had
not been treated with common courtesy by
the post Office department. The def
cheney was due to the department itself,
which gloried now in its victory over
congress.
MIR, Hale defended the department.
The postmaster general had simply done
his duty. The weight of the mails was
constantly Increasing.
Mr.. Foster said Mr.. Blount should know
OF the increase in the postal Car service.
The departments estimates for last year
were $S,700,000, but congress appropriates
$5O00OO less. Hence the deficiency.
The economy Of the appropriations COM
mittee was to blame.
Mr.. Clymer-The postmaster general
or subordinates have been direlict and
concealed facts But for the saving of
$30,OO0.000 annually by the democratic
party the treasury would have been bank
rupt.
Mr.. Foster expressed amazement at
this statement. The saving in 1877 was
$ls,000,O00. In 1873 it was 81, 695. 900,
but there was an increase this year of
S4,OO0,O00. The republicans had made
liberal appropriations so that all depart
ments could be run properly, and there
was generally q large surplus. The dem
ocrats caused deficiency bills amounting "a
oodS,OOO,0OO In two years against $4,000.
vOOto the Tour preceding years. The actua
Agufes showed that the reductions in two