The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-03-22
Oar UosIingtu7s Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., March Is, 1878.



appeals without giving bonds was adverse
ly reported upon. favorable report was
made BY the Committee on Commerce to
aid the Polar Expedition inaugurated by
James Gordon Bennett. Mr.. Blaine, on his
speech upon the Fishery award, took occa-
sion to criticise very severely the appoint
meut of Mr.. Delfosse, Minister from Bel
gium, as one OF the Commissioners, and his
resolution 20 inquire into this appointment
was passed. bill providing for The ap-
pointmeut of commission on alcoholic
traffic vas concurred in. Mr.. Whyte, of
Md, offered petition from Baltimoreans
i'll opposition to the re-imposing of the in
come tax. a communication was then
read from the Secretary of the Interior IN
relation to timber depredations i'll Mon
tana territory. The above referred to bill
in relation to the Bennett Polar expedition
was then taken mp and passed, as was also
the bill for the relief of ex Surgeon General
Hammond, Messrs. 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 its passage. a bill to reg
ulate and properly adjust the counting Of
the electoral vote, similar in its main fea-
lures to the one passed by the Senate and
not acted upon by the House at the last
session, was offered by Mr.. Morrison. Mr..
verely denounced the communication of the
Secretary of the Interior hereinbefore alr-
ded to- The Military Academy appropria-
tlon bill was reported, with All amendment
increasing the amount appropriated by the
House to the sum OF SS3, 4G6, and passed.
House bill making competent witnesses in
United States and Territorial Courts Of
persons charged only with crimes was also
passed. A bill was introduced by Mr..
Voorhees, making legal tender notes receiv-
able for customs and all other dues to the
United States except where otherwise stip-
ulated by contract. Mr.. Matthews urged
tho substitute Of Mr.. Dorsey in relation to
the funding bill Of the Pacific Railroad.
In the House, a bill making appropria-
tions to cover the deficiencies for the fiscal
year ending June 30th, 1873, was fnvorably
reported. Mr.. Kelley, OF Pa, replied to
the speech of Mr.. Garfield previously made,
which was followed by rejoinder from
Mr.. Garfield, both of these speeches being
directed TO the discussion of our finances,
The Diplomatic appropriation bill was then
considered, and "A reduction of 800, 439 was
made from last year appropriation for that
particular service, which is considerably
below the estimate made by the State De-
partment. joint resolution was offered
and appropriately referred, providing for a
staple currency of paper, to be furnished
our people for business purposes. A bill
to provide for the issuing of silver celtifi-
Gates tor silver bullion or bars, and to re-
peal the act heretofore made for paying a
certain class of mail contractors from the
SOuth, were also introduced and referred
whereupon the House went into Committee
of the Whole on the appropriation bin for
the diplomatic service, in the considering
! OF which Mr.. Hewitt, Of New York ad-
dressed the House in denuncistion Of the
/ civil service of Mr.. Hayes, which lie stig-
matized as perfect failure. The Naval
appropriation bill, containing the total sum
of $14, 4,O45, 684, was reported by the Com
niittee favorably. The House then held an
evening session, with few participants, at
/ which speeches were delivered upon almost
all subjects. During the discussion upon
the Consular appropriation bill, Mr.. Cox,
OF New York, ridiculed, in one of his fun
| ny speeches, the attempts of Mr, Hayes at
/ CIVIL service reform, prociaiming that ''po-
| iitical detauchery had been the rule and
| trustwOrtbiness the exception in the re.
cent appointments made by the Admins
I tra!iou, The above Diplomatic appropri-
ate ball received some immateTal amend.
! ments, and was then passed. Mr. Regan,
of Texas, arose ia a personal explanation,
in which he declared his ignorance of the
! fact that naval contractors had received
J compensation from the late so-called Con.
| iederate states, for services rendered by
them previous TO the war. The bill ex-
| tending the time for payment of tax on
! distilled spirits in bond from one to three
| years passed by q vote OF 11S to 116 and
as this is somewhat Of an important bill. it
/ would be perhaps well for those Interested
! to poruse IL, it's length preventing us from,
making more than this allusion thereto.
| IN THE EXECUTIVE SESSION
| OF the Senate quite an anima ed discussion
| occurred over the confirmation OF Mr.
| Potts as postmaster at Petersburg, Va.
! the Republicans contendiug that as this
was the only Republican Congressional
DistI'ct IN the State, they were therefore
entitled to the spoils. Mr. Potts is Dem
/ ocrat, bat is very acceptable to leading Re-
pubiicans there, and this fact led both
Senators Burnside and Conover to vote
ior HIM, and he was confirmed by q small
majority, several Republican Senators be
ing absent, which has caused a very loud
com mpIaint by the Republicans at the ha
bitual absence from the executive session.
OF several Senators, which gives the Dem
ocrats control too often.
MR.. HAYES TAKES COMFORT
from the result in :he late New HamDsbi irf
election, in SO far that the Republican
platform, as he contends. endorses hi.
management of public affairs and consid
ers the victory as a quietus put upon VIM
r. Chandler, who he alleges never repre-
sented any considerable portion of the par
| ", even in that State.
| THE PRESIDENTIAL TITLE
resolution has been dra wn ND for pre
sentation TO the House, to inquire into Nr
Hayes right to the Executive office. |
will be introduced by a Democrat, who ha
been called upon by both Democratic Sen
ators and Members and urged not TO intro
duce it. as no possible good can come o
It. lie is determined, however, to offer it
but you can Test assured it will be referred
to committee, which is polite as we'll a
parliamentary way Of squelching an ob
noxious measure. We note this comins
episode that you may be prepared to avoi,
unnecessary alarm in that direction.
WHATEVER else may be said OF til.
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company, remark:
the Pittsburgh Post, one thing lie