The New York herald., 1879-03-01
GENERAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, Feb %, 1879.
THE PUBLIC pRINTINa-sTRoNG LETTER FROM
Mn. DEGREES ON THE SENATE AMENDMENT
TO THE sUNDRY CIVIL BILL.
The following sef-explanatory letter was sent TO
Senstor Anthony today
,...-..---~, WASHINGTON. Feb. %, 1879.
The Hon. H. d. ANTHONY, Chairman Of the Committee
Sin-My attention has been called to an amendment
proposed to the Sundry Civil bill. by which the
government printing Office costing $500,000 is
turned over to private parties for the trihing
Of per year. who are to do the public printing
The cost OF this work is regulated by Congress- it
fixing the wages at fair living rates to be paid en-
wages Of workmen would be reduced in these hard
times thirty per cent at least and the hours of labor
increased. The pay rolls of the last fiscal year
amounted to 81 .032 1888 81.
On this amount they could make clear profit of
twenty Per cent. amounting to s2O6377 81. This
amount will be taken from the wives and children
Of the employees and put into tho pockets of private
parties. The scheme is impracticable and cannot be
carried into effect for many reasons which have no
the custodian Of the Office. wish to say that shall
not be party to any such arrangement which must
prove disastrous to the public interest.
JOHN ID, DEFREES. Public Printer.
THE LEGISLATIVE BILI-AcTIoN OF THE SENATE
COMMITTEE.
The Senate Committee Appropriations tonight
completed their consideration of the Legislative
Executive and Judicial Appropriation bill, and will
report 1t to the Senate with numerous
amendments. the purposed effect OF which
is to make tho bill substantially con-
form to the corresponding bill Of last ses-
sion, as IL finally became law for the current
fiscal year. The committee gtrke out the House sec
tions which provide for repeating tho Federal Elec-
ton law and the test oath requirements of the Re-
vscd Statutes, and the House provision for changes
in the law concerning the method Of drawing Jurors
the clause by which the House proposes to consoi-
date the various scientific surveys of the Territories
THE AMERICAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION.
The President to-day approved the bill authorizing
the Secretary of the Navy to accept for the purpose
Of voyage Of exploration by Of Behring Straits
the ship Jeanette. rendered by James Gordon Ben
nett for that purposes also bill extend the limits
of tho port OF New York.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DIFFICULTY.
There is the best authority for saying that the pub
lished statements of reconciliation between Scna-
tors Conkling and Burnside are without foundation:
and upon tho same authority it can be stated that
General Burnside has made no rctractions of any
thing said by him in executive session.
IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.
The Chief OF the Bureau Of Statistics in his seventh
monthly statement for the current fiscal year in re-
gard to the imports and exports of the United States
says:-
The excess Of exports imports of merchandise
appears to have been follows:--
Month ended January 81, 1879 ......... So. s64
Month ended January 81 1878. ......... 500
Seven months ended January ~. 1sT9. 175 SOS 357
Seven months ended January u, 1s7S. 135, 52S
Twelve months ended January 81 1879. 297 $50 OG3
Twelve months ended January 81 1873. 49, TS1 IA
comparison Of the exports and imports of gold
and silver coin and bullion exhibits tho following:
Month ended January ~. 1872 excess of
exports Observation-Disclosures. s67is9s
Month ended January 81. 1878, excess of
exports. 1902 100
Seven months. ended January 81. 1879. ex-
Of imports ..................... 2.27o2oo
Seven months, ended January 81. 1878,
cess of exports. 4ol $50
Twelve months. ended January 81. 1879,
excess of imports .:.,.................. s9ss 4s5
Twelve months. ended January 81, 1878.
excess of exports. 25.os7 e25