Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-16
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
The Senate.
DUTY ON PAPER.
Second SESSION.

presented memorial OF the pubilsuets OF
newspapers of Chicago asking the present
duty on unsized paper, soda ash, and wood,
straw and other pulp, and on type, be abolish
ed. Senator Davis advocated the memorial and
said while he regretted it might not be practi-
cable at this session to reform the tariff as
whole, there was no reason why this particular
ly desirable change should not be made at once.
Senators Williams and Beck presented men,
oranda of the Press association of Kentucky
for the abolition of duty on all articles used
in making paper.
Senator Johnston aud Others presented SIM
liar petitions.
Bills were introduced and referred:
By Senator Johnston-For the suppression of
infectious and contagious diseases among do
mestic cattle.
By Senator Plumb-To amend section $3.50
of the revised statutes relative to public lands.
ARREST OF ELECTION OFFICERS.
Senator Bayard from the committee on judi
ciacy, reported fsvorably the Senate bill pro-
hibiting the arrest of election officers on elec-
ton day. Placed on the calendar. The bill
makes it unlawful for any marshal, deputy
marshal or supervisor of election, or 1ny per
son acting by their authority, to arrest or i'm
prison on election days any election officer
acting as such under and by virtue of election
or appointment under any State law for any
offense against the United States election law:
but warrant or process for such offense may be
executed at any time after the close of such
election day.
Senator Edmunds stated he and other men,
bers of the committee did not concur in the
majority report.
Senator Thurman, from the same committee,
reported with amendment in the nature of
substitute, Senate bill making the crime of
rape III the District of Columbia punishable
with death. Placed on the calendar. The sub
stitute provides the jury may fix the punish
ment for rape at death or Imprisonment for
life, or for term of years, and in case of a
plea of guilty the court shall have the same
discretion.
Senator EdmuRds stated he did not concur
in the majority report and would submit his
views in writing in a few days.
Senator Gordon presented a petition of a
large number of ex-Confederate officers in ref
erence to preservation by the secretary of war
of records in reference to the battle of
Gettysburg. Consideration of the bill for
the erection of public building in Denver was
resumed. The amendment requiring Colorado
to cede to the United States jurisdiction over
the ground on which the building is to be
erected, was opposed by Thurman, who
Thought such cession should be limited to the
cases of forts, arsenals, navy yards, ETC., and
advocated by Senator Edmunds. who said it
followed out the practice III such cases.
Senator Hoar opposed the amendment, hold
ny little Alsatias' shout not be erected all
over the country in which otatc laws were in
operative.
Pending debate, the morning hour expired,
and Senator Mcdonald submitted the views of
the minority of the Judiciary committee on the
bill to reimburse several claims for interest
maid on wa loans lately reDOrted aIVerSelv.
STAR ROUTE MAIL SERVICE.
Consideration was resumed of the star route
deficiency appropriation bill. The preamble
recites that the deficiency is caused by the
po.toffice department disregarding the law pro-
hibiting expenditure in excess of the appro-
priation, or making contracts in obligating the
government for the payment of money in ex-
cess of the appropriation, which deficiency, un-
less supplied, threatens to deprive the people of
the necessary mail services to which they are
entitled. 1t therefore exacts that 81, 1000,
be necessary, be appropriated
to meet the expenses of mail transportation on
star routes for the remainder of the fiscal year,
and that during the remainder of the year no
further expeditiug of the service or increase of
trips on any star route shall be made. The
further sum of 100000 is also appropriated
for placing new service according to law; pro-
after have power to expediate any contract,
either now existing or hereafter given. to
rate of pay not exceeding 50 per cent. of the
contract as originally let.
Senator Wallace explained the bill and give
the views of the committee. The postmaster
general on December s said the deficiency was
81, 72O 600, and asked the appropriation of
81, 900 900 to cover it. Tho sixth auditor says
81, 155 900 will cover it. These are very strange
figures. They demonstrate that either the
postoffice department did not know its own
needs or the sixth auditor of the treasury does
not know what their service needs for its COM
pletion to the end of the year, for there is
difference of 1856, 900 between their estimates.
The conclusion is forced upon us that they
did not know their own wants, or else
bad some other purpose to serve in the increase
or expedition of service, and proposed to have
enough money to do all the department saw fit
TO do during the year. 1t is our duty, of
course to take a charitable view of the subject,
and the committee simply call attention to the
description in figures. The Senate bill appro-
PIRATES 81, lie, 900, the amount shown to be suf
fcient by the Sixth suditor, so that from every
standpoint the Senate bill is
better than the House bill. The
people want fast mails and contractors
in good faith should not suffer by reason of
wrong action by the government. 1t is better
for us to wait until we put our hand on the
wrongdoer and discover where corruption ex-
lists, if it does exist, and then punish the con-
tractor or officer found guilty. We do not feel
warranted, in the absence of any proof of
fraud or corruption, in striking down
these contracts. At the same time let the
House continue it's search for the thieves, and
if they find them the Senate COM
mittee on appropriations will
be the first, without distinction of party, to
pursue the scoundres whether in the depart
ment or ont of it. When wrong is found, the
Senate, acting in its judicial capacity, will be
ready to strike, have no doubt. l have no
defense of the postoffice department FIR these
unreliable figures OF for the attempt to spend
more money than the law authorized, but the
simple fact that the.e is in this case re-
auirement that the service should go on its
present basis, and that there is no ground in
fact or law for stopping the service
warranted us in reporting the bill
as,wc have and sustain the contracts to the end
of the year, and if we find before the bill for
next wear is completed that these wrongs do
exist, and that any of these people are con-
uccted with them, will be the first to aid in
FORGETTING any contracts so held. But We be-
lieye the demands of business require the ser
vice to be kept up, and in the absence of proof
of corruption We make no charges, but simply
return the amended bill and ask its passage.
Senator Maxey supported the bill as amend
ed, but did not concur in the premable. The
postmaster general had acted under the law.