National Republican., 1878-05-14

Ottices and Post-Roads, reported an amend
ment to the Post Office appropriation bill au-
thorizing tho Postmaster. General to contract
for an ocean mail service between the United
States and China and Japan at rate not ex-
ceeding $50 per mile per annum for n term Of
ten years Laid on table.
On motion of Mr.. ROLLINS the bill to
amend law Of the District of Columbia re-
lating to the inspection Of -four was taken up
and passed.
The morning hour having expired, the Sem
ate took up tho Post Office appropriation bill.
Mr.. DORSEY, who reported the bill, briefly
explained the action Of the committee. The
bill as 1t carno from the House appropriated
S33, 10000 and the committee had increased
this amount to S33 100000, which was S2,i3l,-
900 less than the estimates and SlO9OOO less
than the appropriation Of last year.
The most important amendment proposed
was in relation to the compensation to rail
roads, which had been increased $535, 900 In
the matter of letter-carriers the committee
had added Sl35,000, making the amount the
same as 1t was three years ago. This, he said,
was about the only bureau of the Post. Office
Department that was self lfsustaining. The
surplus Of four cities was Ss97 900 Of which
$40, 900 came from New York, Sl32,OOO from
| Philadelphia, $4,000 from San Francisco, and
5000 from Boston, which covered the def.
cioncics and left surplus of $BG0,Ooo. The
| lettcr-carrier system had not been extended
to any new cities for the past threo years,
| The committee also recommend an increase of
$4,000 for railway. postal clerks, which was
less than the Department thought 1t could get
along with.
The bill was then read by paragraphs, and
the amendments proposed by the committee
were all agreed to.
Mr. MAXEY offered an amendment TO the
bill, authorizing the Postmaster General to cs
tablish direct mail communication semi.
monthly between the United States and Brazil
by means of two monthly lines-one between
New York and Rio Janeiro and the other be-
tween New Orleans and Rio Janeiro, via Gal
weston. The compensation Is limited to $50 per
mile per annum, and the distance shall not
be computed to exceed 5000 miles. The
steamships are required to be of not less than
5000 tons burden, American built and owned,
and constructed of iron, capable of making
thirteen nautical miles per hour, and be so
constructed as to be adapted to tho armed
naval service of the United States in case OF
war. The steamships employed in this service
are to be exempt from all port charges and
custom-housc dues, provided a similar i'm
muuity is granted by the government of Brazil.
Mr.. EDMuNDS made the point of order that
the twenty-ninth rule prohibited the reception
of an amendment which proposed general legis.
lation to any appropriation bill.
| Tho point OF order was debated until 5:05 p
m, when, on motion of Mr.. DORSEY, the Sen.
ate adjourned.
HOUSE OF FREPRESENT4TIVES
The SPEAKER announced the irst business
in order to be the unfinished business of Sat.
State commerce, and upon which the main
question was ordered.
Mr.. REAGAN moved to reconsider the vote
ordering the main question.
The SPEAKER felt it his duty to advise the
House that II the motion to reconsider pre-.
vailed the bill would lose its special character
and would go over until tomorrow.
The motion to reconsider prevailed, and the
bill went over.
Mr.. CONGER inquired if It would be in or
der to strike out the cnactng clause.
The SPEAKER said it would not now.
Under the regular Mondays call of tn,
States the following, among other bills, wer,
introduced and referred:
BY Mr.. CLAFLIN: Providing that persons
sentenced to imprisonment and hard labor by
the courts Of the District OF Columbia shall b,
confined In the Jail of the District of Colum
bia, aud appropriating $3- 800 for the erection
of walls and workshops about said Jail.
BY Mr.. WAIT: To Incorporate the Nutiona
Electric Light Company of the District of Co
lumbia.
BY Mr. WILLIS On. ": To declare vol,
an ordinance of the city Of Washington au
thorizing hack-stand near the Arlington
Hotel.
BY Mr.. MAYHAM: To provide for the set
Element of all outstanding claims against tn
District Of Columbia Also bill for the relic
} of J. W. LeBarncs.
BY Mr. LAPHAM: Authorizing the President
If he deems 1t necessary, to increase the ei
tective force of the army during tho recess o
Congress by the enlistment of 5000 vOlun
teers, to be used IN case of hostilities on tn
part ofSitting Bull.
BY Mr.. HARDENBERG To incorporate tn
Georgetown aud Little Falls Railway Com
pany.
BY Mr. JORGENsEN: To impose tax on III
sale of wines and liquors in the District q
Columbia, and to provide for the collection q
the same.
By H. J: To authorize and re
{ quire the Heads of the Executive Depart
mcnts of the Government to attend the scs
sions of the House; to have seats assignC
them on the floor, aud to participate in debate
ON matters affecting their respective Depart
= ments.
e By Mr.. BRENTANO: To amend section >
Q of the Revised Statutes of tho United State,
t relating TO the District of Columbia.
By Mr.. WILLIAMS (Mich.): For the relic
4 of certain employees of the United States il
: the District of Columbia.
By Mr.. WILLIAMS (Wis.): To organize til
National Labor Association of the Unite
t States.
Tho morning hour having expired, Nj
T STEPHEN IGa.) moved to suspend the rule
: and pass bill to retire the five and thrce-cen
. silver coins now in use, and making subsidiar
silver coins legal tender to the amount of 81
! The rules were suspended and the bill passet