Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-22
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

The Work of COngress-TwO Cent Letter Postage Adopted by the Senate-The
 Business For This Week-Tnrif Dis-
 cussfon 10 Fill the Time-A Doubtful
 Outlook For Tariff Revision at This
 Session.
 WASHINGTON, Jan. 21.-In the Senate yes terday one piece of work was done which will be of interest, as it's advantages will be appreciated by people of all classes, namely the adoption of the two cent letter postage and the shortening of the intervening time when it will go into effect. Senator Sher- man, in speaking to the amendment, strong ly urged the adoption of government tele- graph in connection with the postal tele- graph system He would not suggest that it should assume control of existing telegraph lines, but that it should construct it's own lines The government could duplicate the existing lines for from $2O, 100000 to $25,- GOO, GOO, yet tax of $1o,oo0,0Oo year was now levied upon the people for telegraph messages so that by an expenditure of not more than $25 5,eoO, 900 the government could confer immense benefits upon the people, save them large sum yearly, and at the same time increase its own revenues. Sena- tor Edmunds, in continuing the debate, said what the United States needed now more than anything else was the construction of the postal telegraph at first between the great cities and immediate points and extend ed gradually until every postofhce in the country should have or be within immediate reach of postal telegraph. This ought to be done, and it would be done within very few years, and he hoped to move in the mat ter at the next session of Congress if no one else did sooner. He, too, was in favor of the government constructing it's own lines rather than buy out any of the existing cor porations. The time when two cent postage was to go into effect was made July l, 1883. In the House the naval appropriation bill was under discussion during the day, and oeneral debate on the bill was limited to one hour tomorrow.
 The tariff discussion will be uppermost in Congress this week. In the Senate the Nor Till bill will be considered to the exclusion of all other business after the morning hour. It is thought the resolution of MT. Merrill pro- viding for night sessions. which will come up to morrow morning, will not pass. The de- bate on the tariff, according to the decision of the Republican caucus, will begin in the House on Tuesday. All the large apIropria- ton bills except the legislative, sqndry civil and deficiency bills will then be out of inc way. The tariff bill is to have nrecedence over all other business except appropriation bills. The Repubh can caucus fixed rather close limits to the oeneral debate on the tariff bill, allowing onIy four hours in all for this purpose. After the general debate is exhausted oppor tunity will be afforded for five minute sneeches on amendments while the bill is be- ino considered in the Committee of the Whole If the low tariff members object to these restrictions to debate, as they probably will, no one can guess what will be the Parliamentary adventures of the bill It is pretty safe to say, however, that the discussion will run along in the House dur inp the greater part of the remainder of the session. Opinions still differ as to the pros nects of tariff revision at this session. The marked difference between the Senate and House as shown by the two measures as re- norted by the Senate Finance committee and the Ways and Means committee of the House, so antagonistic in many respects, the limited