Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-21
ton, if possible, without recourse to war
The senate, after an executive session
adjourned.
House..


House.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-In the house, Mr.
Browne, of Indiana, made motion to re-
consider the vote postponing the bill per-
mitting retired army officers to hold civil
Offices in the territories. 1t prevailed, and
the motion to postpone was Withdrawn.
Mr.. Brown, of Indiana, called up the
: motion to reconsider the vote by which the,
bill permitting retired army officers to-
hold civil Offices in the territories Fwas in
definitely postponed. The motion pre-
| vailed, and the motion to postpone was
withdrawn.
! amendment providing that when retired
army officer shall accept territorial
Office, his retired pay shall be covered into
the treasury This gave rise to noisy
discussion between Mr.. Haskell.of Kansas,
and Mr.. Townshend, of Illinois, as to-
whether the amendment Disseminated
against worthy veterans.
Mr.. Reagan,of Texas,opposed the bill as
tending to uila up a moneyed aristrocra-
cy.
Mr. Dunnell, of Minnesota, favored the
bill, holding that retired officers stood in
| the same position as pensioners.
The amendment was lost and after an
hour spent in an attempt to secure a quo
rum the bill passed.
Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania, chair
man of the committee on postofices aa6
post roads. reported back the resolution
calling on the postmaster general for in
formation as to failing star route con-
|tracts or since the LIST of July, 1882. Adopt
ed.
Mr.. Willets, of Michigan from, the COM
mittee on Judiciary, reported back thssen--
ate bill to prevent and punish counterfeit
ing notes, bonds Or other securities of for
house calendar.
whole, Mr.. Reed, of Maine, in the chair,
on the postofice appropriation bill.
Mr.. Robinson, of New Jersey, continusdi
his argument in support of his amend
ment fixing the compensation of land
grant and bonds subsidy railroads for.
carrying the mails. The amendment VAS
objected to as uncertain, because it said
so per cent. of the amount now allowed to
them by law. He failed to see the exact
point of that objection. Whatever was al
lowed to them was allowed by law.
J. Mr. Upton, of Texas, inquired what was
now paid them.
Mr.. Robson replied the amount might
be uncertain, but if it were, it was because
the companies disputed the constructions
of the law which the executive Department.
charged with its construction had pus up--
, on it.
Mr.. McLane, of Maryland. argued Robe
sons amendment, he understood to
say the compensation to these,
roads should be one-half what it is row..
whereas the contract was, it should be
reasonable compensation, and the law
said the judiciary should decide what was
, reasonable. This action would be a re-
! pudiation of the contract.
, Mr.. Caswell, of Wisconsin, adhered to,
his opinion that when a contract embodied
in an original charter was executed and the
right of companies have been vested, con-
|: gress could not reduces the compensation,
l allowed under that contract without re-
pudiation.
Mr.. Robson said as there seemed to be-
a bubble over his amendment he would
: accept the amendment of the gentleman
? from Arkansas. If the defenders of these.
Z roads did not wish to take one side of the
sword let them take Lne oraer.
Mr.. Robinson, of Massachusetts,, pro-
tested Indignantly against the gentleman
from New Jersey making SUCH remark.
> Mr. Mills. of Texas, advocated the pas
sage of law (which would compel these
corporations to pay into the sinking fund
more than they were now required to do.
Congress should compel them to pay so
per cent. of their net earnings and SO per,
cent. OF the profits of their lands into thrt;
fund.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, took similar
position.
Mr.. Robeson's amendment, as modi-
fed by the the acceptance of Mr.. Dunn's,
l amendment. was adopted, GA to 90.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, raised the,
point of no quorum, but withdrew it upon
condition that there should be a yea and
nay vote in the house.
The question then REQUIRED on Mr.. Hol-
; mans amendment, which fixes the COM
, pensation for carrying mails by land grant
railroads which have received over 5000
acres per mile at so per cent. of the rate
allowed other railroads.
Mr.. Hewitt, of New York, offered sub
|, stitute for Mr.. 'Robeson's. The amend,
ment is as follows: 'SThe secretary
!, Of the treasury is hereby directed to report
to congress plan by which the sinking
fund created by act of May 7, 1878, shall
, be enlarged by additional payment to be,
made thereto by companies affected by
, to the United States for principal and in
|. terest of bonds advanced to said compa--
mics shall surely be paid at the maturity
thereof or at the expiration of
any extension thereof which
the secretary of the treasury
shall deem necessary to be made in order
that annual contributions to the sinking
funds shall be withinl the ability of said,
companies to make, and that the debt may
!, be discharged with ease and certainty
Mr.. Holman's amendment was lost by,
Al to 10.
Mr.. Hewitt's substitute was ruled out on
point of order.
On motion of Mr.. Mills. of Texas, an
amendment was adopted directing the
, postmaster general to make a thorough,
investigation into the railway mail
service of the United States
and report to the next session
. of congress what is the reasonable value
0f tranSnOrtatiOn Of mails and what 9;f