The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-02-20
Last NIGHTS Dispatches.
XIV CONGRE ESS.
SENATE.


WASHINGTON, Feb. l9.-The senate
committee reported in favor of striking out
of the house bill the clause providing that
the postmaster general shall make no de-
ficiency in the appropriation tor the current
fiscal year by placing postal cars on any
line, and the senate struck it out.
The committee also reported an amend
ment increasing the appropriation for trans
portation by railroad from 50 000,0 to
SO, 400, 900, of which 100000 may be ex-
pended to maintain aud receive from rail
roads necessary and special facilities for
postal service, aud SIC 6SS to pay the bal
ance due for salaries and expenses of the
special commission on railway mail trans
portation. Agreed to
The house bill to fix the pay of letter
carriers, and the senate bill to incorporate
the United States Railway Mail Service
Mutual Benefit Association, passed.
The amendment of the committee in-
creasiDg the appropriation for postal clerks,
route agents, local agents and messengers
from $l,350,00O 10 S2,770,0O0 was agreed
to. After an amendment providing that
from and after July /, 1879 railway postal
office cl, rks, route agents aud messengers
saall be designated as postal clerks and
divided iuto five classes, whose salaries
shall be from $500 to ST., 400 per annuW.
Other amendments were agreed to,authoT-
, jZing he postmaster general 60 issue postal
ca d. fer circulation 10 the msils of foreign
coautries under the provisions of tho Uni.
yersal Postal Union OF June l, 1878, such
cards to cost two cents.
Mr.. Edmuuds raised the point that un
) der the twenty-ninth rule the amendment
could not be considered, because it pro
posed general legislation to a general ap
preparation bill
A lengthy debate eDsued.
Mr.. Conking argued that this was leg
. islatiou entirely proper, but an amendmen
6 to an appropriation bill to repeal test oath
{ and all laws by which piracy upon the bal
= : lot box may be prevented would be genera
II legislation and could not be attached to al
appropriation bill.
Mr Beck said the post-route bill Of tn
D last session failed to become q law on &C
d count Of this Brazilian mail subsidy. NCI
D the house had sent to the senate bil
s. simply making an appropriation for tn
3 postofhce, and the senate proposed to loa
it down with this Brazilian subsidy.
Mr.. Bayard argued that this was
scheme to further commercial enterprise
The question being upon the poin
raised by Mr.. EdmuDds, that the amend
ment could not be considered because
p proposed general legislation, the senate, b
as a vote Of yeas 80, nays &c, decided that
II could be considered.
r. Mr.. Eaton submitted an amendment
'e reduce the subsidy from 100000 per al
n mum to 100000. Rejected-29 to rs.
Pending discussion, Mr.. Edmunds II
Ve ported from the judiciary committee q
1T amendment to tie house bill for the distr
In button of the Geneva award, Placed c
1d the calendar,
s- Mr.. Edmuuds said that personally,
opposed the bill.
le Mr.. Eaton submitted an amendment
is the Brazilian subsidy amendment, maxim
ar the contract for four instead OF ten year
Mr.. Bailey said this was legislatlng t
KS, John Roach, who was the only mao in q
ice country who could take the contract. II
"a New Orleans line would never be starte
20. Baltimore merchants had already tWen
- or thirty vessels now trading with Rio a
the effect of this bill would be to dive
%. their trade to New York.
- Mir. Conkliug said something had be
aS9 said about violation OF contract, He W
Vi not one to propose a compromise, but W
not amend the bill SO as to provide that
service shall be performed by Chine
company and then Congress could end
for contract whenever it chose to.
uri Mr.. Blaine said the United States pi
rly So, 100000 for the recent thirty-fo
ay, months cruise of the steamer Teness
ar Congress this session bad paid thousar
by for the protection of commerce in tneSou
Atlantic which does not exist.