The Morning herald., 1878-03-18
xAsuIxarox LEEEER.

wAsHIMGTOn .LETTER. s.
(From our Special Corfespondent.l
WAsEsNafoN. D. G., March 10, 1878.
IN TIE ,sENATE. 4
The I'M suthorixing the District Of Col,
unbia Commissioners to take appeals WITH.
out giving bonds was adversely reported
upon. A favorsble report was made by the
Comnittse Of Commerce to aid the Polar
Ixpsdision inausurated BY James Gordon
Bsanstt. Mr.. Blaine in his speech upon
the flshsry award. took occasion to criticise
very severely the appointment OF MI.
Dslfosse, Minister from Belgium, as one OF
the Commissioners, and his resolution to
inquire into this appointment was passed.
A Bill providing for the appointment OF Q
Commission on alcoholic traffic was con-
Cured in. Mr.. Whyte, of Nd, offered
petitisn from Baltinoreans, in opposition to
the re.inposIng Of the income tax. A com
munication Was then read from the Secre-
tary Of the Interior in relation to timber
depredations In Montana Territory. The
above referred to Bill in relation to the Ben.
nett Polar Expedition was then taken up
snd passed, as was also the Bill for the
relief Of Ex-Surgeon General Hammond.
Nessrs. Thurman, Of Ohio, and Ex.supreme
Court. Judge Davis, then called up the Bill
in relation to the Sinking Fund, of the
Pacific Railroad, and advocated in strong
terms ito passage. A Bill to regulate and
properly adjust the counting of the Electoral
vote, similar in its main feature to the one
passed BY the Senate, and not acted upon
the House, at the last session, was offered
by Mr.. Merrimon. Mr.. Blaine then ad-
dressed the Senate, and severely denounced
the communication of the Secretary Of the
Interior herein before alluded to. The
Military Academy appropriation Bill was
reported With An amendment increasing the
amount appropriated by the House to the
amount of $3S ,466, and passed House BIZ
making competent witnesses in U. 8. and
Territorial Courts, of persons charged only
with crimes was also passed. A bill was
introduced by Mr.. voorhees,, making legal
tender notes receivable for customs and all
ether dues to the U. 8. except where other
wise stipulated by contract. Mr.. Matthews
urged the substitute of Mr.. Dorsey, in re-
latioa to the funding Bill of the Pacific
Railroad.
IN THE HOUSE.
A Bill making appropriations to cover
the deficiencies for the fiscal year ending
June soth, 1878, was favorably reported.
Mr.. Kelley, of Pa, replied to the speech of
Mr.. Garfield, previously made which was
followed by a reJoiuder from Mr.. Garfield,
b>th Of these speeches being directed to
the discussion Of our finances. The Diplo-
matte appropriation Bill was then consider
ed, and reduction of $102 ,439, was made
from last years appropriation for that par
tieular service. which 10 considerably below
the estimate made by the StateDepartment.
A joint resolution was offered and appropri-
ately referred, providing for staple cur
rency Of paper to be furnished our people
for business purposes. A Bill to provide for
the issuing Of Silver Certificates for Silver
bullion or. bars, and to repeat the Act here
tofore, for paying certain class of mail
contractors from the South, were also in.
troduced and referred, whereupon the House
went into Committee Of the whole, on the
appropriation bill for the Diplomatic SER
vice, in which Mr.. Hewitt, of New York
took advantage thereof to address the House
by densuncing the Civil service of Mr.
Hayes, ss perfect failure. The Naval
Appropriation Bill, containing the total sum
Of $11 ,04s ,es4 was reported by the Com
mittee fsvorably. The House then held au
evening session, with few participants, al
which speeches were delivered upon almost
any and oil subjects. During the discus
sion upon the. Consular appropriation bill
NJ. Cox, Of New York, ridiculed in one Of
his usual funny speeches, the forts of Mr.
Hayes, at Civil service reform, proalaimlng
that "political debauehery had been the rule,
and trustworthiness the exception" In the
recent appointments made by the ministra-
t!on. The above diplomatic appropriation
bill received some immaterial amendments
and was then passed. Mr.. Regan, Of Texas
arose TO personal explanation, in which
he declared his ignorance of the fact thai
naval contractors had received compensa-
ton from the late so-called Confederat,
States, for services rendered by them pre-.
vious to the war. The bill extending the
time for payment Of tax on distilled spirits
in bond from one to three years, passed b,
vote Of 11S to 116, and as this is some
what Of An important bill 1t would be per