Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-15
pending bill creating the MARITIME Canal
Company of Nicaragua"
Senator Coke offered an amendmant

WHICH was OrOereu printed, prOV1QlnB that,
for the purpose of equalizing the appoint
ments between the several States and Terri
tories and the District of Columbia, and
also between the political parties, 'tall per-
sons now in Office, place or employment,
who would haze been within the operation
of the act, had it been in force when they
respectively entered public service shall,
within twelve months from the approval of
this act, comply with the terms and condi-
tions of the applicants under this act for
original entrance into service or vacate the
places held respectively by them"
Senator Allison explained that the object
of his amendment offered yesterday, as
substitute for the first section of the Pen
dleton bill, was to provide that there shall
be three commissioners instead of five, and
that the commissioners shall be composed
of persons not connected with the depart
ment
Pending the consideration of the amend
ment the Senate, ON motion of Senator
Plumb, at 4:3O p. M, went into executive
session, and when the doors were reopened
adjourned.
HOUSE
WASHINGTON, D. c., December 13.-
At 1925 the committee rose and reported
the bill to the House and it was passed
Mr.. Kasson, of Iowa, then desired to call
up the civil service reform bill, but on the
statement of Mr.. Blackburn, of Kentucky,
that the committee on appropriations
wished to dispose of the military academy
bill, yielded for the present, but stated that
he would press his bill as soon as the mila-
tary academy bill was out of the way
Mr.. Hiscock, of New York, thought the
House should wait until the Senate civil
service reform bill should be before the
House. He would, therefore, ask the
House to consider the post-ofice appropria-
ton bill.
When Mr.. Blackburn's bill was disposed
of the House, at 1886 p. m, went into
committee of the whole, Mr.. McCook, of
New York, in the chair, on the military
academy appropriation BILL The bill was
considered, reported back to tho House and
passed.
The Speaker laid before the House a
message from the President transmitting
the report of the Secretary of State on the
subject OF consular fees. Referred.
On motion of Mr.. Townsend. of Ohio,
resolution was adopted making the ''steam
boat bilP' the special order for Wednesday,
the 18th of January.
Mr.. Randall, of Pennsylvania, offered
resolution requesting the Secretary of the
Treasury to ascertain as nearly as possible
the amount, or estimated amount paid for
ocean freight on exports and imports from
and to the United States for the fiscal year
ended the Both of June, 1882. 1t was
adopted.
Mr.. O'Neill, of Pennsylvania, presented
petition of jobbers and importers of tobacco
asking for a rebate equivalent to such re-
mot ho do h.
ferred.
The House then, at $40 O'Clock, ad
journed.
WASHINGTON, December 14.-Mr.
Upson, of Texas offered resolution
calling on the Postmaster General to
report all failures to carry out or comA
ply with the contracts for carrying
the United States mails since the 1st
of January, 1882, the names of fail
ing contractors, and to furnish ine
formation on the subject. Referred.
On motion of Mr. Caswell the
House, at 1890, went into commit
tee of the whole, with Mr. Calkins in
the chair, on the post-office bill.
Mr.. Caswell explained, in detail,
the provisions of the bill. The total
amountappropriated was $43, 948, $50
S2,792,591 less than esti-
mates, and $685. $50 less than the
for the current year.
For compensation of postmasters,
SO, 250,000 or $994,000 less than the
Mr.. Mcmillan, of Tennessee, called
attention to the fact that the appro
priations for "star" service had been
cut down to the extent of $2O,000,-
900 from the bill of last year. Either
that bill had been recklessly extrava
CANT, or the present one reprehensi>
bly, parsimonious
Mr. Caswell said the cost of the
'Estar" service, under the existing
contracts, was S4,756,0 900, which bill
proposed an appropriation of $5,
100000.
Mr.. Cannon, of Illinois, defended
the committee on appropriations in
failing to make provisions for special
facilities. He believed that the an
nual appropriations for that purpose,
if continued, would, in the near fu-
ture, amount to millions, and an inn
mense sum would be placed in the
hands of the Postmaster General to
be used at his discretion. FL thought
that the mails should be carried un-
der the general law, evenly and
alike to all sections of the country.
A long discussion ensued, partici~
paGed in by Messrs. Robinson, of
Massachusetts, Anderson, of Kan
sas, Ryan, Of Kansas, and Robson,
of New Jersey.
Mr.. Bingham, of Pennsylvania,
delivered an exhaustive and forcible
speech on the subject of the reduc-
ton of the rate of postage.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, entered his
protest against the rate of post ge.
He believed it TO be mistake, and
based that belief on the fact that
postal cards furnished all needful
facilities for cheap postage.
Without closing the general de-
bate on the bill, the committee rose
Mr. Cox, of New York, introduced
a bill providing for the forwarding
Of letters on which postage is un,
paid or under paid. Referred.
Mr.. Mackey, of South Carolina,
bill authorizing the
President to place Robert Smalls on
the retired list of the navy. Re-
ferred.
The House then, at 4:30, adj
journed.