Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-17
FORTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
(Second Sessiop.)


(SecOnd Session.
The Senate.
WASHINGTON, March Ex-senator Davis, Ills,
presented memorial of len ding merchants of
Chicago praying the enactment Of uniform
bankruptcy law. Senator Davis spoke in IA
vor of such q law.
The resolution of the New York legislature
requesting an appropriation for the improve
ment of communication through the great
lakes was referred.
COMMITTEE REFUSED.
On motion of Senator Thurman the resolu-
ton offered by Senator Kellogg, Friday, for a
committee to investigate newspaper charges
against him. was laid on the table. Thirty four
yeas Democrats, to IS nays Republicans.
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
Senator Eimunds introduced bill to fix the
day for the meeting of electors for President
and Vice-Pressdent, aad to provide
for and regulate 1.-THE counting of votes
for President and Vice President and decision
of the questions arising thereon. Referred to
the select committee on the subject.
STAR SERVICE DEFICIENCY.
At the expiration of the morning hour the
Senate resumed consideration OF the star route
deficiency appropriation bill and Senator Beck
continued his remarks. lie said it was No ar
gument for the postmaster general to make to
say he had not violated tho Law, because by au-
nulIing a contract he would be within the APP
propriation, but it would take out of the
treasury six hundred thousand dollars to stop
the contracts. How could man ba held
bIameless who had mado it neces-
sary to pay six hundred thousand
dollars out Of the public funds to cover up his
misdoings. He admitted Congress was under
rnr,td how tn, ha
priated. He would vote for the bill, but not
until the department had been plainly told by
Congress that it had done wrong. Congress
would then make no charge of fraud. 1t was
simply a statement of fact The laws had been
violated. He would not admit the department
could act independent and spend all the money
they chose without being accountable to Con-
gross. This would be to bring back the old bad
system, to correct which these very laws were
passed, that the department is now charged
with disre garding.
Senator Buck, in further remarks, said,
while the postmaster general may have done
what he thought best, it is 4 singular fact he
has never used his discretion to reduce expen
ses and keep within the appropriations, but al
WAYS to increase and exceed the appropriation.
Senator Teller opposed the preamble, the
postmaster general was by law given full dis
cretion over the increase of service. No officer
can exercise such discretion if the House or
fere with it. People of the East have little
idea of tho inconvenience suffered by those
living in the West on account of
restricted mail communication. These peo-
pie rely almost entirely for their
reading matter Oh what comes through the
mails, aud some of the largest dry goods houses
in Chicago and Other W estern cities are sup
ported by custom through the mails. Ho be-
iieved the postmaster general was giving bet
ter service than had ever been given before and
at rs low or lower rates considering the great
growth Of western States. He thought the de-
psrtment had used its discretion wisely.
Senator Garland opposed the preamble.
The worst that could be said of the department
was it had misused its discretion. If it had SO
misused it it had been under great pressure
from eminent men all over the country.
Senator BOOTH want to put the statement
on record that the service star routes to-
day is better and more expeditiOusly performed
than ever before. The matter carried is large
ly greater than ever before, the coat of appur-
tenances used by contractors higher than it has
been for five years and the cost of transpOrta-
tim moro than it has been at any time within
twenty five years, with the exception of sim
gle year.
Senator Kirkwood opposed the preamble.
Congress had appropriated $5,900,000 in gross
for the star service. What shall be the star
serv ice is and always has been in the discretion
of the postmaster general. The question is
whether the service ordered was neccS-
sary not. The postmaster general
had discretion TO close star routes
in other parts of the country to save money,
aud to put new service where required in the
West. If this were done in order to enable
him to keep within the appropriation, Eastern
people would perhaps begin to look at this
question more as the Western people now do.
He believed the postmaster general had acted
honestly and wisely. He would vote for the
hill but cainst the preamble.
Senator Davis Wv. Va.) stated tine debate
showed there was opposition to the bill ITSELF
lie was authorized by a majority of the COM
mittee appropriations to offer the following
as the third section, which would take the
place of the preamble: Nothing in
this act shall be deemed
or construed IA ratification of any unlawful
act or omission of any officer of the
United States affect any proceeding there
in"
Senator Blaine stated member of Con-
gress he was opposed to both the preamble and
proposed amendment.
Senator Plumb opposed the mendment pro-
hibiting further increase of trips. 1t was
unjust to the growing comm unities of the
West.
Senator Wallace pointed ous that 100000
was appropriated Fur necessary new service. Il
seemed to him the people could get along a
few months without increased trips. Pending
deh,te the Senate adiourned