Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-31
DOMESTIC NEWS.

Affairs at the National capital.
Especial to the RECORD UNIoN.l
WASHINGTON, January S0th.-In response
to a resolution recently adopted by the House
of Representatives, the Secretary of the Navy
to-day sent to that body mass of statistical
information, giving the facts and figures, al
ready published in California, showing the
extent to which the channels leading to the
Mare Island Navy Yard have been filled up
by deposits of mining debris. Secretary
Thompson, in his letter transmitting this
information, recommends that provision be
made by Congress for the appointment of
a Commission of able Government en-.
gineers to make thorough personal
examination of the shoals, ETC., to
investigate their causes, and to report
what remedy should be employed In sub
stance he recommends the authorization of
such thorough scientific investigation of the
whole subject as would practically commit the
Government to the policy Of appropriating
means TO carry out the Commissions plan
This being quite in accord with Pages joint
resolution, it will be amended so as to pro-
vide that two of the five members of the pro-
posed Commission shall be navy engineers,
two of them army engineers, and one from
the Coast Survey instead of as at present re-
one an employee of the Coast Survey.
Representative Page, in his argument be-
fore the Committee Oh Postoffice Officials
yesterday, concerning Wells, Fargo & Co. 3
carriage Of letters, took the ground that the
people wanted more letter mail facilities and
not curtailment of their present facilities !;
and that unless it could be shown that the
transportation of stamped envelopes by ex-
press is public Injury instead of being. as
he claimed, public benefit, the Department
would not be justified in enforcing
against the express company any
regulation that is not applicable to
an individual or to any other COM
mon carriers. He called attention to the
fact that Wells, Fargo & Co., besides swell
ing the postal revenues by the purchase of
$50, 900 worth of stamped envelopes per an
nun, saves the Government the cost of trans
porting them, and the letters inclosed therein
He also remarked that the objection to the
employment of Postmasters as express agents
has no force, but, on the contrary, the Gov
eminent is thereby, in many instances, en-
abled to keep better class of men in its
service than could be obtained for the Post
office salary alone.
Representative Pacheco returned from
New York to-day, and brought his family
with him, to remain here during the rest of
the session.
Letter from Secretary Sherman.
WASHINGTON, January 30th.-The follow
ing letter of the Secretary of the Treasury,
in REGARD to the repeal of certain permanent
and indefinite appropriations, has been ad-
dressed to Hon. H. G. Davis, Chairman of
the Senate Committee on Appropriations
Sir Referring to Senate Bill No. $780, for the re-
peal of certain laws relating to permanent and in
definite appropriations, recently submitted for the
rlfraer
for statement of the appropriations which will be
affected thereby, l have the honor to state that
while the system of annual appropriations and ex-
pendtures is undoubtedly correct its general adop-
ton should not be forced without allowing sufficient
time for proper consideration of the estimates of
the amounts required to place the appropria-
tons to be repealed. Especially so as
the estimates Of the various Departments for
next year have been already submitted to
Congress, and in many cases reported upon by the
committees having them in charge. In view, also
OF the inconvenience, if not embarrassment, that
would for time attend this change of system, [
would respectfully recommend that the date of re
peal be changed 10 take effect from and after June
80, 1881, which it is believed is as early date as
would be wise to adopt for the repeal of so large
class OF appropriations The following form of bill,
which provides for disposition of such balances as
may remain to the credit OF the appropriations at
the expiration OF the period OF limitation, is be-
ieved to cover more fully all paints at issue than
the one already introduced and it is respectfully
suggested that it be substituted therefor, viz
bill to repeal certain laws relating to permanent
and indefinite appropriations: Be it enacted etc..
that all laws heretofore made for the appropriation
OF moneys from the general Treasury for permanent,
specific and permanent, and indefinite objects, ex-
cept far they provide appropriations for sink
ing fund for the payment OF the interest, premium
principal of the public debt, or Of the bonds is
sued to the Pacific Railroad companies for expen-
pertaining TO refunding the national debt,
not exceeding one-half of per cent Of
the bonds authorized by the Acts of July
.
be and the same hereby repealed, to take effect
from and after June 80, 1881; provided, that moth
ing in this Act shall be construed interfere with
the present requirements of the law in relation to
the payment Of annuties to Indians or any moneys
received and held in the nature of trust for spe-
cc purpose for an excess OF duties taxes paid
into the Treasury and provided, further that the
payment of expeudi ures which may be properly 4
FRED within year prior to June 80, 1881 under
any of the appropriations affected by this Act may
be made at any time within year after
that date At the expiration of that time
any balance remaining uneXpended of such ap-
preparations shall be carried 10 the surplus fund.
Section g And be it further enacted that all APP
preparations hereafter to be made shall remain
available for two years. for the payment OF expend-
lures prope ly increased within the time for which
they are appropriated, except appropriations for
the construction OF public buildings, rivers and
harbors lighthouses and forts which shall remain
available for like purpose for period OF four years,
at the expiration OF which period all appropriat ons
or balance of appropriations which shall have been
upon the books of the Treasury for said periods Of
two or four years, respectively, shall be carried tc
the surplus fund, and with the exception OF appro-
priations for the public debt the limitations herein
placed upon expenditures shall apply to all appro-
priations now upon the books Of the Treasury.
Section g. And be it furtherenacted that it shall be
the duty of the heads Of the several Departments OF
the Government to include in their annual estl-
mates to Congress estimates OF the amounts re-
CURED for expenditure under the appropriations
affected by this Act for service for the fiscal year
1859, and annually thereafter.
Section l. And be further enacted that all laws
parts Of laws inconsistent with this Act be and the
same are hereby repealed.
Accompanying the letter is long schedule
of appropriations which will be affected by
the proposed bill, as well as those excepted
from its operations.
The sonora Colonization Scheme.
New YORK, January 30th.-The Tablet
(Roman Catholic orgsn) publishes this week
an article on Sonora colonization, calling at
tention to a letter and advertisement of the
Sonora Land and Mining Company. 1t says ::
1t will be seen that this movement is one of
great Importance. 1t is made in the interests
of peace and has no element OF filibustering,
violence or even of annexation. Its consti-
tuition is peaceful, or it would not be
worthy of our appreciation but we have
good reason to believe that it will
prove an suspicious enterprise for the State
of Sonora, and that such body of colonists
will be valuable accession to our sister Re-
public. One of the founders of the colony is
Samuel Brannan, who was the chief founder
of San Francisco, and recently rendered such
valuable aid TO Mexico in her troubles that
he is Justly regarded as one of her best friends.
The members of the colony are picked men,
all of whom have much to lose and every
thing to gain for the growth of their families,
and such men as these are sure to succeed.
They are the safest and surest men to build
up civilization. Branuau is too well known in
Mexico to excite any alarm or jealousy in its
administration, its people, or the friends of