Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-12-16
WASHINGTON NorRa

Congress will make its report at an early
day.
The Civil Service Reform Committee
of the Senate have agreed upon a bill
making political assessments crime.
The House Appropriations Commit
tee have agreed to n provision reducin G
letter postage to two cents.
The House Committee on Education
and Labor has authorized Chairman
| Sherwin to report favorably his bill APP
propriating S10,0 900 annually for the
next five years to advance the public edu-
cation. 1t is proposed that this sum
shall be distributed among the Several
States and Territories by the Secretary
of the Treasury upon the ratio of illit-
eracy.
As the Senate has adopted Mr..
| Hoar's substitute for the equity system
of bankruptcy bill reported by the Judi
| ciary Committee, the friends of the
| Lowell draft, believe this will be passed
| by Congress during the present session.
| Numbers of kilograms from different
parts of the country, and especially from
| New York, have been received by Sena-
| tors asking them to support the Lowell
| draft. Mr.. Hoar's bill is similar to the
| one now pending in the House, it having
been reported last session.
A bill has been agreed upon by the
Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads of the House of Representatives
providing for the reduction of the post
age on ordinary letters from three to two
cents. The Post Office Department ia
vors the proposition.
The House Appropriation Committee
completed the Diplomatic and Consular
Appropriation bill, which was at once re-
ported to the House. The bill appro-
pirates 81, 25S, 255, which is decrease
from the amount appropriated for the
current year of $751; 5O.
The Ways and Means Committee
unanimously adopted n resolution to pro-
coed ut once to n consideration of the
Tariff Commission report and to frame a
tariff bill. The clerk OF the committee
was directed to prepare schedules of the
rates now existing and of those proposed
by the committee.
MIR. Mcpherson, Clerk of the House
of Representatives, has prepared a list
of the members of the Forty-eighth Con-
gress, showing that the Democrats will
have at least tifty-two majority.
FOREIGN ITEMS
1t is expected that a decree will be
issued in few days degrading Ar
and the other condemned pashas an
confiscating their property.
Mr.. Palnell is about to sell his prop
erty i'll county Wicklow, Ireland. Its
extent is 5000 acres and the total en-
cumbrances are 9l3, goo.
Earl Spencer has committed the
sentence of death passed upon the five
men who pleaded guilty to participation
in the Joyce murders.
China is making preparations to re-
sist the French designs on Tonauin.
Spanish Republicans have resolved
upon coalition of the members of all
shades of their political belief.
Charles Alexandra Lakeland, the dis
tinguished French advocate. IS dead.
General Sir Evelyn Wood will take
command of the Khedive's new army.
Arab is said to be content that he is
to be exhiled TO Ceylon.
Colonel Lays torpedoes have been
adopted by the Sultan.
Sir Hugh Allen, the Canadian steam
ship owner, died suddenly at Edinburgh.
Losses by the fire in London, which
destroyed the Alhambra Theatre and
other buildings, are estimated at 49,
100000 One fireman is missing
1t is said that Mr.. Davitt will sub
pona Mr.. Gladstone and Mr. Trevelyan
to testify at his trial.
"A Dublin lawyer accused the Land
League of being the author of three
fourths of the crimes committed III Ire
land
A German bark is ashore on the
island of Tersclrelling. The captain and
ten of the crew are said to have been
drowned.
An unknown steamer has foundered
near Pensance, with all on board.
At Montreal the employers have re-
fused any compromise with the striking
lasters, and will have no conference with
them.
Floods in France continue and the
Deputies have been appealed to for n
grant of 100000 for the relief of the
sufferers.
Severe snowstcrms have fallen
throughout Great Britain.
-Four of Arabs companions were
arraigned in Cairo and pleaded guilty to
charge of rebellion. They were
sentenced to death, the Khedive after
ward committing their sentences to exile
for life.