Morning journal and courier., 1880-12-14

bill to reduce the rate of postage on letters
 between different points in the United States from three cents to two cents each. Senator Blaine is understood to be in favor of the proposition and will advocate fhe bill when it comes before the Senate It is
 in the rate of letter postage until the Post office department becomes sself-sustaining. This long wished for event, it is predicted, will arrive in the course of about three years.
 Last year the expenditures of the department were over $3, GOO, 900 in excess of the re- ceipts. To reduce the rate of postage on ar
 dinary letters one cent would not add materi- ally to the bulk of correspondence.
 Secretary Thompson said this afternoon to the agent of the National Associated Press that the government of the United States has never declared it's opporsion to constructing
 an inter-oceanic canal across Panama or any other isthmus route by private enter
 prise and capital What the government
 is opposed to is the construction and man
 agement of canal by foreign powers. am
 unalterably opposed to this latter proposi-
 tion- The proposition of the managers of the Panama scheme to build the canal with money raised by private subscription and without any government aid whatsoever is not in any way antagonistic to the American doctrines as enunciated by President Mon Eoe.
 The President is reported to be greatly
 
 worried by the action of Secretary Thomp- son in accepting the presidency of the Amer can branch of the De Lesseps lcanal compa- n.y. A member of Congress said to-day that Mr. Thompson's act had caused great com motion among the other members of the Cab met. It is known that the Secretary resigned in opposition to the wishes of the President. He especially desired him not to identify himself with De Lesseps. The fact that Mir. Thompson had resigned was made public by the Secretary without the knowledge of Mir. Hayes It is believed that up to last Satur- day Mr. Hayes had not finally despaired of keeping MT. Thompson in the Cabinet. That the President and MT. Evarts are kindly dis posed towards the Nicaraguan project IS no secret. When s. l.. Phelps, of this city, went to Europe last summer in the interest of the Nicaraguan enterprise he took with hlm letters of introduction from the President and Secretary of State. MT. -Menocal, who obtained the concession from the, Nicaraguan government, also carried credentials from Mir Hayes and Mr. Evarts. The Presl- dent fears that Secretary Thompson's action may place the adm1n1stratlon Tn false light abroad The impression had gained ground in France particularly, where the canal question seems to have produced more excitement than in the United States, that the present administration was hostile to De Lesseps Snch is the fact Thompson's action will be used by the enterprlslng Frenchman to convince Europeans generally that they have been mistaken as to the attl- tude of the American government. gen tleman well informed as to what is passing 1n administration circles said to-day that the President was contemplating the proprlety ot sending a special message to Congress, a9aln enunciating his views in opposition to the construction of an inter-oceanic canal on American territory by foreign corpora tion. A bill will be introduced ID the House to incorporate the Nicaraguan Canal company. General Grant will be named among the cerporators While Gen, eraI Grants visit to Washington was arranged before the canal excitement prevailed, It IS known he will hold several conferences with gentlemen interested in the Nicaraguan pro iect during his stay. He is thoroughly post ed on the canal subject and it is intended ne shall be made president of the Nicaraguan company.