The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-01-21
Washington.

| 0NGRESS-POST-OFFICEA APPROPRIATE
! BILL-G0vERNMENT POSTAL TELEGRAPH
LETTER-POsTAGE FINED AT TWO CENTS
NAVAL APPROPRIATION BILL-THE CAUCUS
AND THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DETEC-
TIvEs.
From Our Regular Correspondent
| WASHINGTON, January 20.-The Senate
was occupied to-day during the morning
hour with the consideration Of the cheap
postage clause OF the poSt-office appropria-
ton bill. Senators Lapham and Miller, OF
New York, offered amendments fixing the
postage on drop-letters at one cent, and re-
ducing postage on seeds. These amend
ments were opposed by the committee on
the ground that they involved general
! legislation. and could not be cngrafted on
! an appropriation bill under the rules Of the
Senate. Mr.. Anthony, replying to Mr..
Allison on this point, said that ne did not
wish to complain OF the strictness with
which the chairman OF the Appropriation
Committee held the Senate TO its rules. He
had the highest consideration for that gen.
tlcman, and personally esteemed him
greatly. He hoped some day to see him
at the other end Of the avenue. Even now
whenever he approached him in his Official
capacity he felt like addressing him as
ellis Majesty" such was his high
and lofty bearing. Mr.. Miller protested
against the exclusion Of the Senate. by its
own rules, from the consideration Of legs-
lation so important to the whole country,
and hoped the Senator in charge OF the bill
(Nlr. Plumb would not insist on this tech
nicality. Mr.. Plumb declined to waive the
objection; whereupon Mr.. Miller said /:
"Then the gentleman insists on tying the
bands Of the Senate, and | must submit
but | call the attention Of the chairman Of
the Committee on Rules (Mr. Frye to this
matter, and suggest that his coml5ittee take
the necessary steps to remove tie shackles
from this body"
GOVERNMENT POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
In the course Of the debate Mr.. Edmunds
moved to strike out the whole cheap-post-
age clause as ii came from the House, and
asked unanimous consent for the consid-
Grafton OF his motion. In discussing it he
took occasion TO say that he was in favor
OF Government postal telegraph; that he
thought the Government should furnish
the people with cheap and prompt trans
mission OF all kinds OF intelligence. But
he wanted the stock-operators i'm New
York to understand that he was not in ia
vor Of the Government buying out any
telegraph company. He intended. at the
first session Of the next Congress. to intro
duce 4 bill authorizing the Postmaster-Gen-
eral to buy the necessary posts, wires, and
apparatus, and to construct Government
telegraph lines along all the great CONNER
cial highways Of the country.
LETTER-POsTAGE FIXED AT TWO CENTS.
Mr.. Edmunds called for the ayes and
noes on his motion to strike out, and it was
deieated-ayes, 10; noes, 40. SO the
clause fixing letter-pOstagc at two cents
per hali-once, TO take effect July /, 1882,
stands rs reported by the committee.
THE HOUSE.
The House was occupied the greater part
of the day with the consideration OF the
naval appropriation bill. Mr.. Whitthome
criticised several Of its provisions, espe-
c!ally the one retiring officers and that pro-
viding for the construction Of steel cruis-
ers. He pronounced the first unjust to
officers who had served their country faith
fully, and thought the appropriations made
in the second inadequate for the purpose
and intended to create a deficiency to be
provided for hy the coming Democratic
House. Mr.. Thomas, Of the committee,
defended the bill in an elaborate argument,
which he read from the manuscript.
TIE CAUCUS AND TIE TARIFF.
The action Of the Republican caucus yes
terday evening in resolving to give the tar
III preference over all legislation in the
House, except appropriation bills, greatly
improves the prospect Of lis passage, and
with 1t the reduction OF the tax and the
rebate on tobacco. There has been little
doubt expressed by the tobacco interest
here as 10 The passage OF the desired leSlS-
lation in their favor, provided any tariff
bill was passed; but the fear has been that
the consideration of other subjects would
interfere with and defeat the passage Of
any tariff bill this session by both houses.
Most OF the tobacco-men have gone TO their
homes. Colonel BurwelI is still here look
ing after the interests of the tobacco trade.
THE WASHINGTON DETECTIVES
are being very closely investigated. The
Citizens Committee claim that they have
already enough evidence to convict / m
with the thieves who have infested this
city, and they are piling it up daily. II
half that is charged against them is true
the sooner the system is re0rganized the
better for the District.