Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1881-02-28
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/ before the conference, and, as it is the duty
of the president pro tenn. to swear m the new
Senators, DC, when the Senate reconyenes
Immediately after that hour, attention
| ing some one for the position whose
| term will continue into the next session.
| 1t was agreed that caucus meeting shall be
held before the 4th of March to select cam
didate and also to elect successor to Senator
Wallace, the present chairman of the caucus.
credentials of new Senators and ascertain
whether defects exist in them upon which
objections could be based to the swearing in
of any of the Senators select. The sense of
the caucus was decidedly in favor of main
tanning the present organization and officers
is understood that the suspended nomina-
tions of Messrs. Matthews, Billings and
others were somewhat discussed with refer
ence to the best method of disposing of
them; but material differences of opinion
being developed no action was taken.
The committees of conference on the post
Office appropriation bill, the Legislative, ex-
ecutiye and judicial appropriation bill and
the District of Columbia appropriation bill
respectively, have all reached final agree
ments, which will be presented to both
houses, and doubtless be ratified by Monday
or Tuesday. The amounts in controversy on
the postoffice bill (namely the additions pro-
star service, steamboat service and special
facilities on trunk lines of railroad) have in
each case been compromised at one-half the
Senate increase. The principal controverted
portions of the legislative bill are the pro-
visions made by the Senate for large in
crease of clerical force in the Interior and
War departments 20 facilitate the. settlement
of pension claims. These provisions are all
agreed to by the House conferees, and will
therefore undoubtedly remain in the bill.
Reports have reached the Postoffice de-
partment to the effect that the postal author
velopes covering letters from the United
States as prepayment for postage, and that
double rates are collected on letters
under such enclosures the same
as on letters not prepaid The
ties on the subject, with view to ascertain
ing the facts in the case. If these reports |
prove to be true the department will en-
deavor to correct what is considered on the |
part of the Havana officials, the officials here
maintaining that such treatment of letters |
under cover of stamped envelopes is unau-
thorized by the regulations of the universal |
postal convention.
Mr.. Blaine will not resign as Senator until |
after the new organization of the Senate is |
made and the Cabinet appointments are sent |
in and confirmed. |
Inc 1urOre Wn1cn was created by Judge |
Folgers visit to Mentor seems to have abated |
and his name has to a great extent passed out |
of the public mouth. Considerable interest |
is felt as to who will be selected to represent |
Pennsylvania in the Cabinet, it being taken |
for granted that the Keystone State will re-
ceive Cabinet appointment. 1t is known |
that the name of Congressman Harmer has |
been considered among others, but beyond |
that little is known.
Inquiry among the members of the House |
developes the fact that the sentiment on the |
subject of the funding bill seems to have |
changed slightly during the past twenty-fo |
hours, and gentlemen who were previously |
of the opinion that the bill would fail are |
now quite confident that it will pass without |
change adopted. That is attributed to the |
fact that the fifth section is better understood
now by bankers and by the members of the |
House than it was before. 1t seems that its /
provisions are by no means as severe upon |
the banks as has generally been believed. |
This added to the fact that Secretary Sher- |
man, while he thinks the bill is not |
the best that could be devised, is favorable to |
its passage, preferring it rather than to |
have refunding legislation fail altogether.
Then again there are quite a number |
of Democrats and Republicans who will vote |
for the bill rather than risk the failure of |
such appropriation bills as would necessitate |
an extra session. Mr.. Carlisle, the author of |
the fifth section, will make a speech on it to-
morrow in explanation OF its provisions, and |
try to make clear such points as have here |
tofore been misunderstood.
Speaker Randall admits tonight that all |
hope of passing an apportionment bill this
session has been abandoned. 1t is reported |
here tonight that the President will veto the |
river and harbor bill in case it should reach |
him in its present shape. There is no doubt |
but what many millions of dollars uselessly |
appropriated by the bill could be used to bet
ter advantage in the payment of the public |
debt than in improving creeks that are of no
value to commerce.