Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-02-06
OUR REPRESENT
Debate on the Postofice Appropriation
Bill-Railroad Transportation the Chief
Item Discussed-The st. Louis Bridge
Item Cut Down TwO-thirds. -

Debate on the POst0ffice Appropriation
Bill-Railroad Transportation the Chie
Item Discussed-The st. Louis Bridge
Item Cut Down Two-thirds. -
WASHINGTON, Feb. "A resolution wal
adopted to pay ex-Sergeant-at-Arms Thomp
son $4,000 for expenses incurred in connection
with the obsequies of the late President Gar
field.
Mr.. Rice, from the committee on foreign
affairs, reported joint resolution requesting
the president to give notice to Great Britain
of the termination of certain provisions of the
treaty of Washington relative to fish lines or
dered printed.
On motion of Mr.. Publes and by unani-
nous consent the house proceeded to the con
sideration of the bill reported from the post
office committee, authorizing the Postmaster
General to adjust claims of postmasters FOL
losses of stamps, money order funds, ETC., by
burglary, fire, or other unavoidable calamity
After much noise and confusion, the bill, not
being printed, was postponed until Wednes
day. The house then went into committee OF
the whole, Mr.. Calkins in the
chair, on the appropriation bill. The
question was on the item of $4,000, 600
for letter carriers and on various amendments
pending thereto. Finally it was adopted in
this shape, "under amendments offered by
bingham and Cameron for payment to letter
cry system s., OOO, 900, $lOO, 900 of which may
be used for the establishment of free delivery
system where it is not now established"
The item for the railroad transportation
haYing been reached, Springer made the point
of order on the provision in it authorizing the
annual expenditure of $25, 600 for special rail-
roae service across the st. Louis bridge. He
insisted that $4,000 was an exorbitant allow
ance for such service, and that it should be let
to the lowest bidder, whether by rail, or steam
boat, or horse train.
After quite sharp debate the chairman
overruled the point of order.
Mr.. Springer appealed from the decision and
the appeal was discussed at considerable
length. Finally the question was submitted
to the committee and the decision of the chair
sustained, 100 to AZ.
Mr. Hewitt moved to strike out the clause
as to the st. Lonis bridge and substitute for it
a clause that the compensation shall be COM
puted at rates prescribed in the act of March
3, 1878, authorizing the construction of the
bridge. The substitute was agreed to, 102 to
Q. The effect will be to reduce the compensa-
ton to $4,000.
Robertson offered an amendment authoriz-
ing the postmaster general to require mail to
be carried by fastest train without extra
charge.
Mr. Cannon offered as substitute provi.
sion that whenever any railroad company shall
fail or refuse to carry mails on it's fast trains
it's compensation shall be reduced so per cent.
Mr.. Holman offered an amendment to sub
stitute for reduction of so per cent of compen-
sation in case of land land grant railways.
Mr.. Haskell and Conner represented that
Holman's amendment would be to the disad-
vantage of the small land grant roads, while
it would not affect at all the Pacific roads,
whose compensation for carrying mails is de-
tanned by the government for sinking
fund.
Without action on any pending amend
ments the COMMITTEES rose and the house adj
iOurned