Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-04
WASHINGTON.
THE PROCEEDINGS IN CONGRESS
YESTERDAY.
Ehs Bill to Restore the Tranking Prlvi-
lege Defeated in the Senate--The APP
preparations Covered by tho Deficiency
Bill--Various Matters of Interest In and
Out of Congress.
Senate,

WASHINGTON. June Ex-senator Blaine sub
mitted resolution that the President be re-
questcd to communicate all correspondence be-
tween our government and the government of
her Britannia majesty in regard to inviting
other maritime powers to accede to the three
rules prescribing the duty of neutral govern
ments rs set forth in the sixth article of the
treaty of Washington. Agreed to.
Senator Dorsey, from the committee on rail-
roads, reported with an amendment in the ns-
ture Of a substitute the Johnston bill supple
mentary to the act to incorporate the Texas
Pacific railway company. Placed on the calen-
dar.
Senator Edmunds moved to take up the bill
relating to Presidential elections and to pro-
vide for and to regulate the counting of votes
for President and Vice President, and the de-
clslons OF questions arising thercfrom. After
brief discussion the motion was defeated by
vote OF rs yeas to nays q.
Senator Morrill, called up the House bill to
authorize the secretary of the treasury to con-
stitute superintendent of minis or assayers
III assay offices Of the United States, to receive
gold coin and bullion of deposit for the pur-
poses provided by section 254 of the revised
statutes. Passed.
Senator Spencer submitted an amendment
to the army appropriation bill, appropriating
$780, for building military post gar
IleCu near INC DUCK Hills. hclcCrSu.
Senator Maxey called up the House Joint
resolution providing for the issue of arms to
territories. Passed.
at the conclusion of the morning business
the Senate took up tho bill establishing post
routes.
Various amendments of the committee add
ing new routes were agreed to without debate.
The committee reported other amendments fix
Ing the compensation to be paid to railroad
companies for transporting mails, relating to
classification Of mail matter, etc.
Senator Ferry in explanation of these amend
ments said those in regard to transporting
mails covered substantially the proposition
submitted by the commission appointed by the
act of 1876 to consider the subject of mail
transportion. They embraced substantially
the single idea of changing the basis of COM
pensation from the weight of such matter to
the space occupied by it. The saving to the
government by the change would be over n
more compatible with the present demands
Of the age Another idea included in
the amendment rapIdity in
transporting mails, as inducements we're held
ont to railroad companies to deliver mails as
quickly as possible. In regard to the classiti-
cation of mail matter, he said the amendments
did not change the rate of postage, only the
classification of matter which was divided into
four classes, the first, written matter, second,
periodical publications under registration,
third, miscellaneous printed matter, and fourth,
merchandise. All the above amendments were
agreed to without discussion.
Senator Hamlin submitted an amendment
that the President ard Vice President, Senators,
Representatives and delegates in Congress, the
secretary of the Senate and clerk OF the
House of Representatives, may send and re-
ceive free through the mails written or printed
communications not exceeding two ounces in
weight, the name of the President, Vice Presi-
dent, Senators, Representatives, or delegate,
secretary of the Senate, or clerk
Of the House to be written on the envelope, &c.
Quite lengthy discussion ensued as to the
propriety of restoring the frarking privilege,
and finally the amendment Of Senator Hamlin
was rejected by vote of yeas 49, nays 20, as
f,,ll