Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-02-05
The Higher Level Of 0flsial
Life DemOliShing Late
Dinners.
Logan Comes to the Rescue OF
the Heirs Of Colored
Soldiers.
Review Of the Present Po al
tion of General Appropria-
ton Bills.
Tho Senate Decides TO SIC Down ts
Another Week OF Tariff Talh.
CAPITAL NOTES

CAPITAL NOTES.
Special Dispatches to THx BHs.
A PUBLIC RECEPTION.
WASHINGTON, February 4.--Mra.
MoElroy, the presidents sister, xavea
public reception In the executiv Q man
sion last evening. She was assisted
by Mrs.. Brewster, Nc, Freling-
huysen, Miss Phelps, and Mrs. Knew
ais. 1t was brilliant aaair nnd was
Largely attended.
THE TEsT or o#ptcE.
The terms of Office of the naval Of
fioers end surveyor of the port OF New
York will soon expire, but the present
incumbent will hold over until the ap-
pointm ent of the civil service commits.
sion by the president. Membors OF
the commission will be announced at
an eatiy day.
TWO pySNasBg. ~
The. Japanese minister gave din.
ner lass evening 10 tho diplomatic
corps. Among the guests were Secre.
taries Eolger, Teller and Ginooln.
A dinner was also given By Henry
Watterson, of The Louisville Courier.
Journal, to his friends The guests
we're Senators Voorhees,, Williams,
Bsyard and Beck, ex-senator McDon-
aid, Representatives Carlisle, Black
burn and Knott, Mr.. Henry Waiter
son, ST., and David A. Wells, of New
York.
,rHE PosToFFtcE BILL.
The committee on conference,
which has been appointed to consider
the postofics appropriation bill, 1t is
expected will meet to-day. This com-
mittee Is 30 decide upon tlae for the
2-cent postage law to 60 into affect
and to determine whether or not
money shall be appropriated for the
fast mail Eervice. Indications are
that . compromise will DC ef-
fected, and that the now law
will 60 In effect October l,
1888, instead of January l,
1884, as proposed by the
house, and July l, 1888, as amended
by the senate. One of the reprt ssnt.
atiye es upon this committe has sat. that
they would be satisfied with October
L, and thought that the remainh g tro
members Of this committee fro t.Ae
house woald coincide with his, lew,
He claims az all objs c.icn to ~ /.
that the following three months con-
stibate the poorest quarter Of fiscal
year for postt flee business. Conse-
queKtly, with the reduction of 2 cents
there would be great deficiency.
Then the activity expected on
CENT POSTAGE
will not begin before fall, and this will
tend to increase the deficiency, The
posto flee department is also opposed
to the bill taking effect ON July l,
but cay that October l will be salts
factory, though January l, 1884 is
desired. The department dsslres
more time for arranging accounts
than would be given should Jaiy /,
1883, be determined upon. The ques-
tions of salaries for fourth
class Postmasters, the depart
mont claims, will require some
time for settling. A bill ia now be.
fore congress concerning the payment
of this class of officials. They are |
now paid per cent on the sale of 3
cent stamps. II is proposed their
salaries shall be determined by the
number of 2 cent postage stamps can
celed in their eff les. An effort will
be made to pass this bill this session.
A senator who Is a member of the
conference committee will strongly in
sist that the new law go into effect |
July l. 1t is thought that the amend
ment offered in the senate concerning |
the fast mail service will be passed by |
the committee on conference.
Ketchem was confirmed at Now
York.
PENSIONS FOR coLORED SOLDIERS.
Senator Logan has informed the |
senate he would offer an amendment |
to the sundry civil appropriation bill,
that the act which placed colored |
soldiers on the same footing as other
soldiers as to bounty and pensions be
80 constructed as to extend to and in
clude the heirs of such soldiers In their |
claims for military service, and that |
the accounting officer of the treasury
be directed to read Just the claims of |
such heirs as would be entitled to and
may have been denied the benefit |
of such act.
THE PENSION BILL.
The recent pension appropriation
bill reported to the senate by Sena.
tor Logan contains but one amend
ment by the senate committee on pen.
sions, provision relative to tha item
of $4,000 for contingent expenses,
by which one.half Is made immedi-
ately available. The bill appropriates
S86, ,575, 900, and reappropriates $l6,-
800, 600 of unexpended balances now
in the treasury of the former appro-
priation.
ANOTHER WEEK or TARIFF.
The programme of business for the
senate this week Is extremely simple,
the intention Of the majority being to
press consideration OF The finance
committees tariff measure, lasting
generally until a late hour in the
evening, to the exclusion Of all other
than formal Legislative business. Some
l III n