Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-12-17

1mpOrIatlOn OF THIS art1cle mas been re-
markable, having grown from thirty eight
pounds in 1880 to 49,, 900 in 1882, and will
probably exceed 100000 pounds this
FAST MAIL FACILITIES.
Mr.. Davis made vigorous speech in the
house to-day, claiming for Chicago the
same privileges given New York, in rela-
ton to special mail facilities. He said it
was unjust that all the money expended in
this direction should go to New York to
simply start fast trains from that point.
Chicago, he said, is second only to New
York in the amount of mail handled, and
facilities ought to be given for distributing
the mail brought in there or originating
at that point as we'll as New York. On a
vote the proposition to give special facili-
ties to any point were defeated.
THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY
in the present congress is too timid to
command decent respect. 1t
is body of men made
arrant towards because of last
falls elections. It has no policy, no COM
mon purpose to serve, except to trim and
dissemble before the people. It is con-
gress of towards, every man going it
blind on his own hook, and interpreting
the lessons Of the recent political deluge
to suit himself. 1t reminds one of a covey
of birds which has been scattered with a
load of shot, every one webbing on his
own hook to get safety under cover. For
h &c @l,4 col
low, big and little, has developed into a
reformer. They are ready to swallow civil
service, assume economy, revise the tariff,
reduce the taxes, walk tight rope, or do
anything which will again bring them into
the affections of the people. This is not
confined alone to the most populous
branch, but is equally true of the senate,
about half of whose members have
the presidential itch. With such a loose,
disjointed, purposeless body, what can be
expected? What appreciation of the needs
of the country can body have whose
course is dictated by fear, when time is
wasted by sentimentalism, civil service re-
form humbuggery, and other deceptive
matters, at the expense of business inter-
ests which languish because of congress
sional non-action? 1t is a little early to
map out what this congress will 10, but it
has been in session long enough to show
its hand. It will vote against any appro-
priation involving any draft upon the
treasury except such as may be covered in
appropriation bills. This because there
was so much reckless extravaganza at the
last session that many of the fellows who
we're left have an idea that it was through
their profigacy which hit them. 1t was this
which defeated the bill for new congress
sional library, a bill as fair and just as
was ever presented for the consideration
of congrese. The senate will in some
shape pass Pendleton's civil service bill,
which is facetiously dubbed {" a bridge for
the exchanges of prisoners" 1t will get
over to the house, and then it will be dis
cussed and amended. While no bill of the
kind will become law, it will be kicked
and cuffed between the senate and house
until the session dies by Limitation. AS to
the tariff, this subject will be humbugged
with the same as the reform of the civil
service, Both branches will vie with each
other to get ahead. There will be wrangle
between the senate and the house, for the
senate means to get up bill of its own
by amending the revenue bill, and
in the end, if anything is
doue, it will probably be an
addition to the free list, and horizontal
reduction from 10 to 25 per cent.
On the important subject of reduction
of taxation it is hard to see far ahead. It
can be set down now as certain, however,
that the bill of the ways and means COM
mittee to wipe out the tax on tobacco will
not become a law. 1t may get through the
house, and probably will, but will fail in
the senate. It can be also anticipated with
out doubt that the bank check stamp will
be done away with, the tax on bank de-
posts, and on all proprietary articles.
There will be no trouble in congress get
ting through by the 4th of March, despite
the multiplicity of subjects which confront
it. The house has already sent the senate
five appropriation bills, and the appro-
prIation::committee will be ready with as
manS more after the holiday recess is
over.
AMERICAN SHIPPING.
Senator Conger's committee has evolved
certain amendments to the navigation
laws, which were reported to-day, and
which are expected, if enacted, to set the
American flag Tying on every sea. If this
will not do it, nothing will short of hiring
the flag to float at so much per annum.
The most important sections abolish con
sular fees and provide for drawback on
materials. One section provides that no
fee shall hereafter be charged by any con-
sular officer for any certificate, manifest,
| or other official service to American YES
| sells engaged in foreign trade, or to the
owners, officers, or seamen of such vessels.
The section goes on to provide that con-
sular officers who are paid fees shall keep
an account of all such services
by them, :. and of the fees
they would have earned, and shall
be paid that amount out of
the treasury. Three other sections provide
that all articles and materials of foreign
/ j. e.