The National tribune., 1882-12-21
HOUSE.
THURSDAYS PROCEEDINGS.

! calling on the Secretary of the Interior for
| information as to whether any of the lands
! heretofore granted by Congress to any railroad
company to aid in the construction of its road,
and to which such company was not entitled to
| patents at the time that the period expired
within which such railroad was required to be
completed, have been patented to such COM
| pany since the expiration of that period, and
| by what authority such patents were issued.
! Adopted.
The House then proceeded to the considera-
ton of the post-otfice appropriation bill.
| Mr. Caswell (Wis.) explained in detail the pro-
visions ofthe bill; the total amountappropriated
$43, ,948, ,520 being So 792, ,591 less than the esti
mate, and s695, $50 less than the appropriation
| for the current year.
| A long debate then ensued on the omission
from the bill of all estimates for fast mail facil
| tiles, representatives from New England con-
| tendidg that the appropriation for special mail
| facilities should be continued, while several
Western members contended that it should be
! discontinued for the reason that only New
| England and few Middle States were benefited
| by it.
Mr.. Bingham pa delivered an exhaustive and
| fOrclble speech on the subject of the reduction
| of the rate of postage. 1t bristled with figures
| and gave a detailed history of the administra-
! tiOn of the Post-O Office Department on that SUBJ
! ject He believed that the time was auspiciOus
| for q reduction of postage.
Mr.. Flower NY spoke in advocacy of his Joint
! resolution authorizing the President to veto
specific items in appropriation bills while giving
| his sanction to the remaining portions.
Mr.. Reagan TEX entered his protest against
the reduction in the rate of postage. He believed
| it to be mistake, and based that belief on the
fact that postal cards furnished all the needful
! facilities for cheap postage.
FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
! Mr.. Kasson Qa.), from the Committee on
| Ways and Means, reported back the bill amend
! ing the act to repeal discriminating duties on
! goods produced east of the Cape of Good Hope
and it was passed. 1.-THE bill relieves from the
! payment Of duty such goods as may be in
| bonded warehouses or on ship-board on the
| 1st of January, 1888, the date when the general
relief goes into effect
| Mr.. Reid (Me.) presented as question of
privilege a memorial of James II. Mclean,
| claiming to have been elected to succeed the
| late Thos. Allen, as Representative from the
Second Congressional district of Missouri to the
Forty-seventh Congress.
After some discussion the question was put
| as to whether the claimant should be sworn in,
and it was decided in the affirmative GA to
| 15), and Mr.. Mclean appeared at the bar of the
! House and took the oath of Office.
! The House went into Committee of the
| Whole, Mr.. Calkins (Ind.) in the chair, on the
post-otlice appropriation bill, all general debate
! being limited to two hours.
Mr.. Caswell (Wis.), on behalf of the Commit
tee on Appropriations, offered an amendment
| increasing the appropriation for . star" service
| from $1,000, 900 to S5,250 900.
| Mr.. CaSWclPs amendment was adopted.
| Pending action the committee rose.
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the House on Saturday, the 10Th instant,
| on motion of Mr.. Thompson (Ky.), the bill
| authorizing the board of commissioners of the
| Soldiers Home at Harrodsburg, KY, TO sell the
Harrodsburg Springs property at public sale
to the highest bidder was taken up and passed.
The House then took up the post-Office appro-
priation bill After debate Mr.. Robinson's
amendment approprating $600,000 for special
mail facilities, and Mr.. HiscOck's amendment
reducing that sum to 100000, were both voted
down. The bill makes no provision at all for
special mail facilities.
Mr.. Murch Me- moved to amend the clause
reducing letter postage to two cents by fixing
the rate at three cents for the first half ounce
and at two cents for every additional half
ounce Lost.
Mr. Atkins (Tenn.) moved to strike out the
clause reducing the rate of postage. Lost.
On motion of Mr.. Dunn (Ark.) paragraph
was added TO the bill providing that if the rev.
enue of the Department should be insufficient
to meet the appropriations, a sum equal to the
deficit should be taken from any moneys in the
Treasury.
The time for filing claims before the court of
the commissioners of Alabama claims was ex-
tended until May IA, 1888.
MONDAYS PROCEEDINGS
Mr.. Butterworth (O.) offered resolution de-
claring it to be the sense of the House that in
case the internal revenue laws be amended so
as to reduce or abolish the internal revenue tax
on tobacco, provision shall be made for allow
ing d rebate of the tax paid on stock on hand
at the time such law goes into effect, provided
that such stock is stamped and i'll unbroken
packages.
Mr.. Kelly Pa said it was his purpose to re-
lieve the tobacco trade of this agitation by
having action on the question at the earliest
moment.
The resolution was referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means.
Mr.. Page Cal chairman of the Committee
on Commerce, favorably reported back the bill
of the joint shipping committee, and it was
placed on the House calendar and made the
special order for Wednesday, the Sd of Januaay,
1883.
Mr.. Kelley, chairman of the Committe on
Ways and Means, reported back without re-
c0mmendation resolution for a holiday recess
from December % to January 3.
Mr.. HiScoCk On. " inquired whether the
business Of the Ways and Means Committee
would be facilitated if the House should remain
in session during the holidays?
ME- Kelly Teplled tnaU DOtn the business OF
the country and of the Ways and Means Com
mittee would be facilitated.
After long debate the resolution for holi-
day recess was defcated-yeas, 105; nays, 123.
Mr. RobesOn IN. j. offered resolution find
ing every member absent without leave from
the 22d of December TO the Sd of January $50 for
each days absence, and it was adopted-yeas,
Ill; nays, 102
Mr. Browne Und) announced the death of
the Hon. Godlove S. Orth, of Indiana, and in
respect to the memory Of the deceased the
House adjourned.
TUESDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
In the House. on Tuesday, the 10Th inst, Mr..
Rutterworth (O.) reported the army appropria-
tion bill.
Mr.. Townshend (Ill.), by unanimous consent,
introduced bill Oh. r. 70S3) amending the
laws granting pensions to soldiers and sailors
of the war of 1912, &c. so to grant pensions
to soldiers and sailors of previous Indian wars,
and their widows which was read a first and
second time, referred to the Select Committee
on the Payment of Pensions, Bounty, and Back
Pay, and ordered to be printed.
Mr.. Joyce (Vt.) introduced bill for the regu-
lation es tslegraph and cable companies; also