The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-03-16
Last Nights Dispatches.
xLVx CONGRESS.
SENATE.

| SENATE.
| WASHINGTON. March 15.-Mr, Nc.
Donald submitted the views of the minor
| ity OF the Judiciary Committee On tas
bill to reimburse several states for inter
est spaid on war loans, lately reported
adversely.
Consideration was resumed of the Star
route BILL 1t enacts that $1.l00,OO0, OF
so mucn thereof &C may be necessary, be
appropriated to meet the expenses oil
inland mail transportation on star routes
year. During the remainder of the year
no further expediting of service or increase
of trips on any star route shall be made;
that further sum of 100000 be appro"
priated tor placing new service, provided
the Postmaster General shall hereafter
have power to expedite any contract either
now existing or hereafter given, the rate
not exceeding fifty per centum upon the
contract as originally let
Mr.. Wallace said the Postmaster Gen
eral, 10 December, l87S.said the deficiency
was 81. 10000, and asked an appropria-
ton of $2,0O0,000 TO cover it. The Sixth
Auditor says $l.l55.000 will cover it.
These are very strange figures. They
demonstrate that either the Postofice De-
partment did not know it's own needs or
the Sixth Auditor of the Treasury De-
partment does not know what the SER
vice needs for its completion TO the
end of the year. for there is a difference
of $565,000 between their estimates.
The conclusion is forced upon us that
they did not know their own wants or else
had some other purpose to serve in the
increase or expaditiDg of service. and pro-
posed to have enough money to do as
the department saw fit to do during the
year, tbs our duty, of course, to take
charitable view of the subject, and the
committee simply cali attention to the
discrepancy in the figures. He contended
that the Senate bill was better than the
House bill. We were not warranted in
striking down the Star service becauce
there may have besn fraud or corruption
Let us appropriate enough not to cripple
the service and then seek after the fraud,
and when the guilty person is found the
Senate, regardless of party. would strike
and punish the scroundrels.
Mr.. Msxey supported the bill, but held
that the Postmaster General acted within
the law and should not be accused of
crime for exercising his discretion. He
defended from personal knowledge the
extension of some rours.
Mr. Beck held that the postal depart
ment had been reckless in expenses. and
its estim stes were suspicious. The omis-
sion from the blue book of all information
respecting routes and contracts was q
trick to blind Congress The law had been
violated aud Congress coerced to appro-
priatc against its judgment.
Adjourned.
HOUSE,
WASHINGTON. March 15.-Bils were
introduced: By Mr.. Singleton. in relation
to telegraph communication. Referred.
1t provides that all telegraph messages
delivered for transmission to any telegraph
company svailing itself of the provisions
of title 65. Revised Statutes, and copies |
thereof made by such companies at the |
place OF destination or any intermediate
point. shall be protected from unreasonable |
search and seizure or from production as
evidence in political and legislative pro-
ceedings to the same extent as commuui- |
cations sent by nail
By Mr. Covert. for q scientific commis
sion to protect the sale of butter against
etc.
By Mr.. Kelly, resolution directing
the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish a
detailed statement of the amount of bonds
purchased by the treasury from January. |
1874, to January. 1859, with full particu |
lars.
By Mr.. D0wney, apprnprisriug $25 900 |
to enable the Secretary of the Interior TO
protect and improve the Yellow Stone |
National Park.
By Mr.. Fort. asking information from
the Secretary of War respecting pro>
posed canal between the Illinois river via
ksnkakee, and the " abash & Erie Canal. |
Several other bills were introduced.
xat
being the third Monday In the month the |
Speaker recognized gentlemen authorized
by committees to move to suspend the |
rules. The bill relative to tbs investment |
of the Pacific railraad sinking fund was
postponed four weeks on account Of the |
illness Of Mr. McLane.
Mr. Dunn, from the Public Land Com |
mittee, moved to suspend the rules and
consider the bill relating to public lands of
the United States.
The first section provides that when
public lands have been entered upon
and the government price paid therefor
in full, no suit. civil or criminal, shall |
thereafter be had or maintained by or in |
the pane OF the United States for any
trespass upon or tor or on account of any
material taken from said land OF o. |
account of any alleged conspiracy IN |
relation thereto prior to the approval OF
the act.
Sec. 2. Any persons who have hereto |
fore under any homestead laws enter ed |
upon lands properly subject to such entry, |
or persons to whom tights have been
transferred by bonafide instruments in
writing, may entitle themselves to said |
lands by paying 81 25 per acre. The
amount therefore paid to the government |
Oh said lands shall be taken as part pay
ment of said price. provided that this in no
way iuterieres with the rights or claims of
others who may have subsequently, entered |
such lands under the homestead laws,
Sec 3. The price of land now subject to
entry. which was raised to $3.50 per acre
more than twenty years prior TO the pas
sage OF this act by reason of the grant OF
alternate sectio MS for railroad purposes,
shall be reduced to 81 25.
Sec. 4. This act shall not apply to any |
lands, and no person who shall be prose !
cuted for or proceed against on account of
any trespass committed or material taken |
from any public labds after the passage of
this act, shall be entitled to the benefits
thereof.
The motion to suspend the rules was
seconded-l44 to 38. After debate the |
motion to suspend the rules and consider
the bill was defeated-yeas 1l4-nays SO
not the necessary two-thirds number,
r.