Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-16

raj Bills.
WASHINGTON, May 13.-Representative Tur-
ner, Of Georgia, was on the floor OF the House
to-day, having just returned from visit to
Georgia. Mr.. Turner has been working very
hard for his constituency during the whole
session Of Congress. Work is his strong point.
He has made rapid strides in the good opinion
of the House as a working member and man
of sound intelligence and good business ca
pacity. He has accomplished for his district
what it is very hard for any mem
Der to do. He has secured an increase
in its river and harhor appropriations Through
his efforts an appropriation of $4,000 for the
Improvement of the Flint river from Monte
yuma down will be made. and also an appro-
priation of S20.0 % for the improvement of the
Chattahoochee from Columbus down Both
OF these figures represent an increase of 5000
each. This IS bic accomplishment for new
member. especially when it is remembered
how hard ii is to get an increase of appropria-
tions, especially for the South.
THE AMERICUs POST OFFICE.
1t is very doubtful if Postmaster Bell at
Americas will be able much longer to hold his
grip. His official scalp is not firmly grown on
TO the roots of his head It will be remem-
bered that in a recent letter to the NEWS
stated that a special agent had heen sent to
Au6ElCuS TO investigate JDo cOnQILlOn ana the
general conduct of the post office there That
agent has returned and has made his report.
1t is very lively document. It is about as bad
a report as ever was-made concerning the
general conduct Of any officer. There are
some politics Ia the report. 1t states that Post
M aster Bell voted for Hancock. 1t is asserted
hv the report that Mr.. Bell is a Democrat in
Georgia and Republican in Washington. An
other allegation is that his Office has been run
bv two young men who have made it a rendez-
vous for questionable characters. There was
found in an old box several hundred letters
which should have been sent to the dead letter
office months ago. 1t is alleged that Bell has
been compelled to call in the old Postmaster to
help him make out his regular reports. The
special agent further states that Postmaster
Bell and Ebert Head were sureties for the old
Postmaster in fifteen thousand dollars and ten
thousand dollars respectively; that the old
Postmaster was defaulter in $2,800 which
was through the efforts of the suretieS com
promised at $1,000 The agent calls on the de-
partment to collect the balance of the defal-
cation. Postmaster Bell is here after his own
interests and has some very strong influence at
who think that Bell must follow the example
of the Chinese and go. He also thinks that he
stands remarkably good chance to be Bells
successor.
DEAF ORATOR.
Representative Ketcham of New York is as
deaf as an adder. He has recently made sew
eral speeches in the House, and all of
them have drawn out a great deal
of fun. This. not because Ket-
cham ia at all funuY-he is as serious as an
owl-but because of attending circumstances.
No member of the House ever makes a speech
without being interrupted by Questions from
all Sides Ketcham. when speaking, not being
able to hear these Interruptions, just went
serenely on his way. Members from all parts
or the House were propounding questions to
him. It made no difference to him. He went
along serenely in his own sweet way and paid
no attention whatever to the interruptions
Members howled at him and hurled
interrogatories by the bushel at his head
1t might have thundered, but Ketcnam would
not have been in the least interrupted bv it.
To make the scene a little more ludicrous,
Ketcham, unlike most deaf men, speaks in a
very low tone. 1t was with difficulty that he
could be heard. After Ketcham's first two
speeches members gave up the idea OF trying
to ask him questions and went to work talking.
They talked louder than Ketcham spoke. II he
had not been standing up nobody would have
known that he was the orator of the occasion.
In fact a member who entered the House for
the first time during the day. while Ketcham
was speaking. asked one of his colleagues in
surprise: why, has the House taken a
recess?"
THE LOUISIANA INTEREST AND THE TARIFF COM
MISSION.
The Louisiana interest is very busy as to
what will be the complexion Of the Tariff Com
mission. They want the sugar and rice inter
ssts represented on the commission. They
have two or three candidates to represent those
interests, whose names they have presented to
the President for favorable consideration. 1t
is very startling the number of interests that
want TO be specially represented on the Tariff
Commission 1t is counted up that there are
so far twentY-seven distinct and separate
industries that have applied for spe-
cial representation on tine Tariff Com
members of the commission, it don't take
much arithmetic to show that there are going
to be some big chunk disappointment The
President has said that he would appoint the
commission an Hp Wi do N in
order that the commission may bs able to get
to work as early as possible. The immensitY
OF the subject 10 be considered certainly de-
mands an early organization of the commits
sion, as that body is under the provision of the
bill creatiog it ordered to report to the House
by the first Monday in December next.
THE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL.
The river and harbor bill has been reported
to the House. 1t apDropriates pretty big
amount of money-the individual items you
have heretofore been acquainted with-for the
benefit of the people, There are demagOgues
On the Democratic side who allow big steals
to go through, and never say anything; but
when the river and harbor bill comes up they
assume the cloak of virtue. and cry aloud that
such an expenditure of public funds is theft
from the Treasury. These are very virtuous
frauds; and although like Sam Cox, of New
York, very well, must admit that he is their
chief. He only, like the men who labor with
him. wants to make a little cheap reputation in
Northern Radical journals under the role Of
Gratis" In such roles Cox and his confreres
are unequalled. They are in fact very cheap
Democrats, and such are the very worst sort of
the political earth. Wait and hear Cox ct al.
howl against the river and harbor bill.
THE AGRICULTURAL BILL.
The Senate will in all probability pass the
bill creating the Agricultural Bureau depart
ment of the government, with It's chief as a
member of the Cabinet. There has been con-
siderable opposition in this as in preceding
Congresses to such a course, but the public de-
mand for the passage Of the bill has been over
come 1t is now conceded that the agricultural
interests of the country demand recognition in
the nature Of that presented by the bin which
has passed the House. Members who voted
against it in the House have heard from their
constituents in such way that they wished they
had not voted against it. The opposition votes
in the House, it will be remembered. only num-
bered seven. The Senate may make some
amendments-though that is hardly probable
to the bill. At any rate the ual passage of it at
this session seems to be practically assured
There is a good deal in the agricultural in
huence."
THE LIGHTHOUSE BOARD AND ST. JOHNS RIVER.
Representative Page, Chairman OF the
Commerce Committee of the House, has
reported favorably from that committee
a substitute for the bill TO extend the
jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Board over the
st Johns river. Fla. The substitute provides
that the jurisdiction of the Lighthouse Board
be extended over the st. Johns river, F'la for
the establishment of such lights, day beacons
and buoys as may be necessary for the
use of vessels navigating that stream.
1t also authorizes the Lighthouse
for all such lights as are used to point out
changeable channels and which in consequence
cannot be made permanent An appropriation
of $4,000 for the work thus indicated is the