Omaha daily bee., 1884-04-19
~FoRTY-ElGHrH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

N
WASHINGTON, April 1S.-Mr. Sherman
(rep., o., from the committee on library,
reported adversely to the newspaper
copyright bill. 1t was, however, placed
OF the calendar. Also from the same
committee, adversely a joint resolution
providing for the erection of a bronze
equestrian statue to Simon Bolivar; in
definitely postponed.
The senate then took up the postofice
appropriation bill. At 3 o'clock the sen.
ate concluded the consideration of the
postoffice appropriation bill and passed it
without deviation from the amendments
proposed by the senate committee on ap-
preparations, except to add 1875, 900 to
the appropriation for river mail service.
Mr.. Plumb dem, Ks said as the bill
left the house it had appropriated SAC,
225, 900. The senate committee had
added So, 499, 500, making the a%ppropria-
ton at present $40, 725 400 as the bill
now stood. After the additions by the
senate committee, Mr.. Plumb said, it
was rather inside than outside the neces-
stiles of the situation; that the commit.
tee desired more public efficient
service, though the committee had not
made the appropriation as large in all
cases as the members thought it was EN-
tireIy desirable, and not as large as the
estimate made by the postoffice depart.
ment. The public was entitled to good
postal service, he added, as they paid
or it.
The consideration of the bill was pro-
ceeded with by sections. On reaching
the section relating to the transportation
of mails, a debate arose. The bill as it
came from the house, required the post
master general to make a reduction of
hve per cent in the compensation hereto
fore paid all railroads for carrying mail
and that railroads that received land
grants should be required to carry mails
at a rate fifty per cent less than paid
other roads for like service.
Mr. Plumb explained that the commit
tee on appropriations had not felt justi-
fed in retaining these provisions. So far
as the five per cent reduction was con-
cerned, the members of the committee,
after some examination, were not entirely
satisfied that the amount now paid the
railroads was greater than it should be.
The government required the companies
70 carry mails and were paying less for
the service than the express companies
| were paid. Every person who had ex-
amined the subject had become satisfied
that the present rate paid to railroads
were inequitaDle and did not pay the
several roads in proportion to the..services
rendered. The subject should,
therefore, in the opinion Of the
committee, be dealt with by some COM
prehensive measure, aftor a careful ex-
animation, and discussion, and not be
disposed of in an appropriation bill.
Relating to the requiem ont that land
grant roads should carry mails for fifty
per cent. less than the other roads,
not thought the provision one that should
be hastily adopted. Some of these
roads had received lands greater than
others, and larger grants. The Pacific
roads were, under the law, carrying
mails now for twenty per cent. less than
the other roads. The subject OF tho
relation of the government to these
roads was before the courts, and doubt
less before another congress should
assemble the courts could render de-
cisions constituting the acts bearing on
that relation. The Thurman bill was in
process of enforcement. The committee
on appropriations had not felt like enter.
ing upon 30 broad a subject, and
dealing with it in piecemeal fashion,
which would be necessary il it were dealt
with in an appropriation bill. He said
one of the reasons urged before the SEN
ate committee for the adoption of the
principle which the senator from Della
ware favored, was that it would increase
instead Of diminish the compensation of
certain roads. The claim of the great
through lines was that the compensation
now allowed them was insufficient, and
the amendment referred to would in
crease it. The loss would fall on the
the small roads.
Mr.. Allison (rep., Iowa) also opposed
| the horizontal reduction of 8 per cent
because it would strike down the roads
that could least bear the reduction.
Mr.. Palmer rep, Mich. said that
from the committee on postotiices and
post roads he had reported the amend
nlent referred to 1t had been thought
it would make a reduction of 81, ZOO, 900,
but the committee had later, with moro
light, come to doubt the anticipations in
hat respect, and they wanted further
| time to investigate the subject.
After further debate the amendment
YVES agreed to.
Mr.. Salisbury dem, DELI expressed
\ regret that the clauses in question had
not been retained. He believed the rail-
! roads were rec living o high g rate, and
said the amendment on the subject sub