National Republican., 1882-02-22
House OF Representatives.

Al t4:JO, after q thirty minute executive session.
the Senate adjourned until Thursday.
House OF Representatives.
The morning hour having been dispensed with
the House (at 1885 went into Committee of the
Whole (Mr. Calkins in the chair, on the post
Office appropriation bill The clause under con-
sideration was that Nppropriating slO655OOO for
transportation by railroad routes Of the United
States mails There were three proposed amend
ments pending. the first being that offered by Mr.
Robson, providing that the mails shall be carried
Without extra charge upon the fastest trnlils run
over the railroad by which they are carried when
ever the Postmaster General shall deem it de-
srabe.
TO this Mr. Cannon, of Illinois, offered an
amendment providing that If the railroad COM
panies shall fail to carry the mails on their stes
trains their compensation shall be reduced so per
cent.
Mr. Holman offered proviso that all land grant
railroads which have received IN excess Of three
thousand acres per mile shall receive only so per
cent. of the compensation allowed 10 other rail-
road companies for carrying the mails. Mr. HOl-
mans substitute was rclected-G5 10 50.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Cannon was ac-
ceptcd by Mr.. Robson, and Mr.. Robesons amend
ment MS thus amended was agreed to-s5 to 60.
The clause appropriating sSOO,0OO for inland
reached Mr. Singleton, of Illinois, offered prOvso
| prohibiting the discontinuance of steamboat mail
service on the Mississippi River between St Louis.
| Mo-, and 81. Paul Mimi, SO long as the navigation
of that river remains open.
After long discussion the amendmentwas ruled
! out on n point of order.
Mr.. Hooker offered an amendment providing
! that the Postmaster.General shall not have the
power to discontinue any mail service on any of
the rivers OF the United States unless the service
he better performed by railroads star routes.
| Ruled out on point Of order.
After long discussion In regard to the trans:
pOrtntion of mails between East ST. Louis, H. and
| 81. Louis, Mo-, the clause was finally amended so
as as to authorize the Postmaster General to pay
for special service between these points sum not
exceeding the lowest rate for which It would be
done by private individuals but such payment
shall not exceed s25,0OO annually.
| The clause relating TO star route transportation
| having been reached, MIR. Updegraf of Ohio, of
iered an amendment providing that when II mail
contractor refuses, to perform his contract the
| Postmaster General shall have authority TO make
temporary contract without advertisement.
Ruled out on q point of order.
Mr. Holman offered an amendment, providing
that whenever any contractor shall sublet his con
tract for the transportation Of mails on any route
| for less sum than lie contracted to perform q Z
service for, the Postmaster General may declare
the original contract at an end, and enter into u
contract with the sub contractor without adyer-
tisement 70 perform the service on the terms
! which he has agreed with the original contractor
! to perform the service.
Mr.. Atkins moved to amend Mr.. Holman's
amendment by the addition of the following:
IrOUioicd That the subcontractor shall enter into
good and sufficient bond and the original contractor
shall not be released from his contract until good
! tractor.
Mr.. Bland offered substitute providing that II
| shall not be unlawful for any contractor TO suble
his contract but he shall be required to fulfil the
| same according TO law.
Pending further action the committee rose.
| Mr.. Cox, of New York, presented resolutions o
| the New York Legislature on the subject OF i'm
| migration. Referred.
| MIR Lacey from the Committee on Post. Offices
and Post Roads, reported back the bill to cstab-
lish postal savings depository as branch of the
Post Onice Department.
| Mr. House moved that when the House adjourn
It be TO meet on Thursday next, pending which
MIR. Camp moved that the House adjourn. Lost
Yeas 60; nays, 81.
adjourn over, but number of Republicans re.
fused to vote, thus leaving the House without u
quorum, the vote, as announced, being-yeas, 20
SIr. Camp Immediately raised the point OF nc
quorum and moved to adjourn, but the Demo.
crats were equally persistent, and, voting down
this motion, ordered n call the House.
The call having been concluded there was Il lul
in the proceedings to enable members to come
10 some amicable compromise, but instead of do
ing so, the determination of both sides seemed 10
, increase.
MIR. Robson, of New Jersey, stated that if the
House adjourned on To- morrow II would have tc
sit on Saturday, when business in the Departments
might be attended to.
Mr., House replied that Saturday was not Wash.
| ingtons birthday.
Mr. O'Neill charged that while the Democrats
were in the majority they had refused TO adjourn
over; TO which Mr.. Sparks retorted that they had
never resorted to hibusering tactics TO prevent an
adjournment
| For eleven years he had been n member Of the
| House, aud he had never voted TO adjourn over
but u large majority were in favor of adjourninE
over tomorrow, and II was in his opinion folly to
! buck against q majority.
Mr.. Robson also asked leave to make state
| menL
| He suggested that instead of adlouTning over to.
morrow the House should adjourn over Saturday
| when business before the Departments could Dc
| attended 10. For the last six years the other side
| had refused toadjourn for WashinglOn's Birthday
| aud for the last two weeks of this session every
datory motion had come from the Democratic
| side, Let II so on with its dilatory motion.
Mr.. House charged that Mr.. Robson had perpe-
trated II fraud on the House. When he had asked
to make statement no onesupposed he was goinG
TO make political speech.
Another motion to adjourn having been voted
down, Mr. HlscOck himself moved to adjourn over
and, the motion being agreed TO, the House Ia
| seyen elOGk) adjonrned untll Thursday.