Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-07-26

| River and HarbOr BIll-The Tariff
for Revenue Tssue Raised Again
The star Route TrIaIR-maeVeaah
on the $tRnd-RerdeII's Confession
ReciLed.
WASHINGTON, July 25.-In the Senate,
Mr.. Plumb, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported favorably bill to grant the
right of way over the public lands and mill
tsrY reservations to the jacksonville, st.
Augustine and Halifax River Railroad Com.
pany. Placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Jonas, of Louisiana, presented me-
mortal from steamboat owners, captains and
pilots for increased appropriation to the
Lighthouse Board. Referred.
Mr.. Morgan, from the Committee on Pub
lie Lands, reported the House bill, allowing
certain parties to lay pipes and aqueducts
under Lake Ponchartrain to connect its
northern shore with New Orleans Passed.
The Senate indulged in an hours debate,
without action, upon printing the reports OF
the tenth census, when the conference re-
port on the river and harbor bill was pre-
sented and adopted. The appropriations
for surveys OF the Delaware and Chesapeake
canal, and the Hennepin canal, are reduced
to $50 600 respectively, and prOyiso is
added in each instance that the govern
ment shall not be thereby committed
in favor of proceeding to the construction
of said improvements. The amount voted
| for the Potomac flats improvement Is re-
duced from $5O9OOO to 100000, and the
appropriation for the Mississippi river
| below Cairo from S., 900, 600 to 81, 1913 900.
which is the amount fixed by the House.
| The latter item is further amended 80 as to
| provide that the work of improving the
river shall be prosecuted under the direc-
/ tion of the Mississippi River Commission as
proposed by the House instead OF by the
Secretary of War, as provided by the Sen
| ate. The total OF the general appropria-
tions for the Mississippi river is IS, ,4S3 900.
The total OF bill with these changes is
| SIS, ,743, ,S75.
Mr.. Hale presented the conference report
on the deficiency appropriation bill. The
| only item upon which concurrence had not
been reached by the former conference was
| that In regard to Senatorial mileage for the
| extra session. Upon this Toint disagree
ment had again occurred The report Was
| accepted and the Senate insisted upon its
disagreement, and ordered a new conference
| committee.
Consideration Of the revenue reduction
| bill was resumed, the question being upon
Mr.. Hale's amendment to the sugar duty
| government tests Of the saccharine strength
of sugars in determining the duties. This
/ would leave the section to provide simply
| that the sugar duty shall be what it was be
! fore the 25 rer cent. additional duty was
| put on. The amendment was adopted
| yeas "a, nays 25.
Mr. Harris moved to substitute for the
| section provision for a reduction of ten
| per cent. on all imports after January 1st,
| 1888, and an additional ten per cent.
after January lst, 1884. This started
afresh the general debate on the
revenue question, MIR. Vance, of
North Carolina, being the principal speaker
| In opposition to the bill.
Pending the discussion the Senate ad-
| jcurned.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
In the House, the Speaker announced the
regular order OF business to be further con-
sideration of the bill allowing drawback
/ upon the imported material used in connec-
| tion with domestic materials In the cOnstruc-
| tion of steam and sail vessels for foreign
| account, and the pending question to be the
motion OF Mr.. Kelley, of Pennsylvania, to
| recommit the bill to the Committee of Wavs
and Means.
Mr.. Tucker made another effort to amend.
but failed, and Mr.. Kelley's motion to re-
commit was agreed to-yeas 100, nays SO
A concurrent resolution was adopted for
printing thirty Thousand copies Of the Agri-
cultural Report.
The report of the conference committee
on the river and hsrbor bill was presented.
| and after short debate rejected-yeas SO,
nays 81.
Mr.. Strait, OF Minnesota, moved to recon
slider, and Mr.. Cox, of New York, moved to
lay that motion on the table, pending which
the friends of the bill as it now stands
mustered their forces and at 4:30 carried an
adjournment.
The conference report will come up to-
morrow on the motion to reconsider.
HUBBELL's LITTLE CIRCULAR.
The Cabinet to-day considered Attorney
General Brewster's opinion recently pub
lished, that members of Congress are be-
yond the reach Of the law against political
assessments, under which Gen. Curtis was
last week convicted and fined in the United |
States Court In New York.
The President expressed himself to the
effect that no persons in any one of the ex-
ecutive departments declining to contribute
shall on that account be subjected to dis |
charge or criticism, and no attempt to In |
jure him on this ground will be counte- |
nanced or tolerated. These conclusions are |
in accordance with the views expressed by |
the President In his letter Of acceptance Of |
July l, 1880.
The opinion Of Attorney General Brewster |
Thomas, chief of division In the office Of |
the Second Comptroller of the Treasury. |
Mr.. Thomas letter was addressed to Secre- |
tary Folger, and was by him referred to the |
Attorney General. A letter from Secretary |
FOlger to Mr.. Thomas is among the docu- |
ments submitted at the Cabinet meeting to
day.
After answering Mr.. Thomas inquiries |
upon the legal question, and quoting from
the Attorney Generals opinion, that a mem |
Der of Congress is not an officer of the gov |
ernment within the meaning Of the law in
question, the Secretary says: at follows |
tnat executive officers and employees of the |
United States not appointed by the Presi- |
dent, with the advice and consent Of the
Senate, are not liable to the pains and pen
alties OF section 6S of the act Of August, |
1876, for the act OF giving to member of
Congress money, property or anything OF
Value.n
Secretary Folger concludes his letter as
follows:
"But will take this place to say that | |
wish it felt throughout the Treasury De- |
partment in all its ramifcstions of service |
that no servant Of the United States therein |
need feel the slightest pressure upon him to |
give, II he does not wish to give. II he has |
that belief In the soundness OF the principles |
of the Republican party as to desire their |
sustenatiOn and success, and be willing and |
desrous of showing his faith by his works, |
aud feels that he is able to aid, let him give |
O! his substance or Of his income as he sees |
fit Or II he is OF another political faith, |
or the claims of his family, or the needs of |
self pinch his purse, and he wishes not to |
give, let him freely refrain. Therefore l |
would have him think and feel and do as II |
In che religious meeting house Of his choice, |
preachers should lay before him needs of |
some cause. If it was commended to his /
Judgment, and he felt able and willing to |
spare Of his pelf, he would give. IL it was |
otherwise, he would hold fast that which |
was his own. So, absolutely so, in the mat
ter In hand. Let it be understood and felt |
by all who hold place under me, that which |
ever way they take, they may take 1t un-
molested bv me therefor. say as | mean. /
l will do as l say Very respectfully,
'CHAs. j. FoLGER, Sec'y."
THE STAR ROUTE TRIALS.
In the star route trials to-day ex-Attorney |
General MacVeagh and ex-Postmaster Gen |
ersl James were on the stand and testified |
to their interviews with Rerdell, one of the
defendants, whereat Rerdell exposed the |
whole conspiracy. Mr.. MacVeagh first
took the stand, and at the first question put |
To him bv the prosecution Col0nel Ingersoll, |