National Republican., 1883-01-18
THE SENATE AND HOUSE.
The POstoAlce Appropriation Bill Again Under
Discussion.
The Clause Relating to Fast Mails
Given Particular Attention.
The Venezuela Case Given an Elaborate Airing in the
Lower House.
More OF the Tariff Debato-Tho whisky
Bill Not Touched.
THE SENATE.


to provide for the appointment of commits
sion to investigate tho subject of railway
transportation. He said he did not commit
himself to all the provisions of the bill, but
he thought tho subject worthy Of considera-
tion, believing that railway transportation
required some sort of regulation.
On motion of Mr. Plumb,
THE PosToFF1oE APPROPRIATION BILL
was taken up.
Mr.. Davis, of West Virginia, called his at
tentou to the item of $1S5, 900 " for necessary
and special facilities on trunk lines of rail-
way" and asked an explanation of it. The
use of the word trunk seemed designed to
confne the benefit of the appropriation to
certain railways to the exclusion of others.
Mr.. Plumb said he would accept any amend.
ment which would not defeat the object of
the appropriation, which was simply to keep
up the existing service.
Mr. Davis said that no matter what Ian
guage was used, the whole Of this money would
go to two railways, the Pennsylvania and the
New York Central. He thought there were
other lines just as deserving, and that more
service to the community generally could be
had for the money If 1t were more evenly di-
Vided. Either fairer division of the appro-
priaton ought to be made, or else it should
be struck out, leaving all the cities upon the
same footing in this respect. AT present the
whole appropriation went to these two rail-
way companies and one city, New York, where
they both started.
Mr.. Plumb said this was mistake He
sent up and had read letter from the super
intendent of the railway mail service ex-
planning in detail the fast service, and stating
that the appropriation was expended now as
follows Between New York and Springfield,
$17,747; between New York and Albany,
$4,000; between Philadelphia and Charles
ton, S142,000, making in round numbers
S1S5,OO0. The letter also recommends that If
a similar appropriation be made at this ses-
sion it should be for the continuation of the
existing service for the fiscal year. The es-
timated revenue of the POstofiiCo department
for the coming year, he said, upon the basis
of existing changes for mail transportation,
would be $50,670, 900, an increase of 10 per
cent. over last year, and tho reduction of
letter postage to two cents would
cause a nominal diminution in the
receipts from this source of about
$S,550,000. This, upon tho assumption that
the reduction in revenue would correspond to
the reduction in rate; but the committee be-
lieved that such would not be the case, be-
cause large number of letters now sent un-
sealed would be sent sealed at an additional
cost of one cont; and there would probably be
also n considerable increase in tho volume of
business resulting from tho reduction, in ac-
cordance with our experience after all pre-
vious reductions of postage.
Mr.. MaXcy thought the people west of tho
Mississippi as well entitled as any others to
fast-mail facilities, and, unless the benefits of
the system could be fairly distributed, it
ought to be discontinued entirely.
Mr.. Butler agreed that the west was entitled
to equal benefit with other portions of the
country, and said he would vote for any
hat niuh hn In IL 10
to them. As TO the statement that these fast
trains only carried the New York papers, he
did not believe it well founded but even if
they did no more than distribute those news.
papers rapidly, that would be accomplishing a
good deal.
The debate having extended beyond tho
morning hour, Mr.. Morrill, called for the reg
ular order,
THE TARIFF BILL,
which was laid before the senate.
Mr.. Plumb moved to postpone it in order to
proceed with the postoflico appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Sherman opposed the motion. The ap-
preparation bills were farther advanced than
ever before at this stage of the session, and
were certain to pass. The tariff bill must be
pushed forward If it was to pass at all, and,
therefore, he would stand by the senator from
Vermont (AIr. MorrilD in pressing it as
against all other business.
Upon u vote the motion to postpone the
tariff bill was lost-ayes 27, noes 81 The
senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr.. Lapham offered an amendment making
the duty on natural and imitation mineral
waters cents per bottle, or jug containing
not more than quart, and cents more for
each additional quart or fraction thereof.
Mr.. Lapham subsequently modified his
amendment SO as to impose tho duty on arti-
fetal waters only. His object, he said, was
merely to change the duty from the ad valorem
to the specific form. Lost.
Mr.. Beck moved to reduce the rate on china,
porcelain, parian, and bisquc ware from 60 to
90 per cent. ad valorcm Laughter.l
Mr.. Beck's amendment was rejected-ayes
20l, noes Il. lie moved to make the duty on
plain white chinaware 40 instead of SO per
cent. Lost--aycs 81, noes 90. He then
moved to make it 80 per cent Lost
Mr. Vance moved to make the rate on other
earthen, stone and crockery ware, orna-
mented and not specially provided for, 20 an
stead of 90 per cent. Lost.
Mr.. Beck moved to make it, per cent Lost
In the debate on these latter amendments
Mr.. Plumb said ho was unwilling to accept
the interests or requirements of the manu-
tacturers or the importers as basis for leg
islation on this subject, and he ventured to
prOphesy that any tariff bill which rested eX-
clusively upon that basis would never become
law, but would beget most unhappy feel
ing among the people in regard to the whole
subject He thought it would be wise, there
fore, to pay somewhat less attention to the
demands of the manufacturers and more to
the views of the people who have to pay the
taxes.
After once refusing to adjourn the senate,
on motion of Mr.. Voorhees, tat 525) adjourned.
NOMINATIONS.
The President sent the following nomina-
tions to the senate yesterday:
Roger S. Green, Of Was ington Territory, to be
chief justice Of Washington Territory
Joseph Wasson Of California, TO be United States
consul ut San Bias, Mexico.
POstmasters-Alfred l.. skinner, at BuckspOrt,
Me-: William IL. Emery, Fairfield, Me-; George T.,
Gahleld, Bradford, W., Samuel S, Gleason, Water
town, Mass. John g. Latta, Newton Mass, Josiah
tucket, Mass; Charles ii. Morton, Fairhayen,
Mass; John S. Fay, Marlboro, Massi Charles L.
Horne, stoneham, Mass; jeremiah II. Bardwell,
Easthampton, Mass Benjamin w. Mayo, Tur-
ners Falls, Mas; Joseph II. Clarke, Mil
lord, Conn.,. George p. johnson, Mexico, N. y;
George HartnGge, Lyons, M Y; Allan II. Hof.
man, Red Hook, N. "; William II. Loppy, Vine-
land, ~ j.; Williamson Graham Rochester, Pa;
Mary Il, lmbrie, Beaver, Pa; Reuben +. Janvier,
Newcastle, Del. Thomas NJ, Robertson, Brazil,
Ind,i Genrge Sanderson, Plttsheld, Ill Alonzo L.
Rayncs, Yreka, Cali John NJ. Ormsby Chico, CAL;
William Q, Hopping, Sacramento, Cal. Milton r.
Moore, Salida. Coli James z. NewComb, San An
tonic, Tex; William II. Waterbury, Augusta, Wis.
THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Browne, of Indiana, presented the Gre
dentials of Charles IT, DoXey as renresenta-