, 1884-03-16
CONGRESSIONAL.
Mail Compensation to Land
Grant Roads.
An Interesting Political Dis
cussiOn Ensues.
Unpleasant Reminiscent
ces Recalled.
XLVIII CONGRESS.
House..

WAsHINGToN, March l5.-The senate
was not in session.
The morning hour was dispensed with
and the house went into committee of the
whole (Bl0unt III the chair on the post
Office Appropriation bill, the pending ques-
ton being ON the motion of Horn to strike
out the provisO limiting the compensation
paid tor mail transportation to land grant
roads 10 30 per cent. of that allowed other
roads.
Holman offered, as u substitute for the
motion, an amendment including within
the so per cent. limitation clause the
Northern Pacific and Union Pacific sys-
TENS, and providing hat no right now
existing in favor of the United States in
regard to these roads shall be deemed i'm
paired or waived by this action.
Conner said the pending amendment
was a sham and a fraud, and an attempt
to deceive the country.
Horr opposed the amendment, contend
ing that it would deprive the road of the
earnings which should be applied TO the
sinking fund
Holman amendment was adopted by Il
vote of 50 to ST.
The paragraph appropriating for the
star out service 81, 6O0,000, together
with the r~eappropriation Of 81, 5000
out of any unexpended balance of the APP
preparation for 1883, having been reached,
Horn moved 10 strike out the reappropria-
ton clause and to increase the appropria-
ton TO So. 10000.
Townshend, in the course of a speech
in support of the bill, went into a history
of the star route frauds, which he claimed
had been unearthed by Il democratic CON
gress.
Townshend said tine outrageous crime
of the star route frauds had n worse result
than the robbery of the treasury. Before
the committee OF the house one of the
highest officials under the republican
administration had sworn to outrages
perpetrated by this and that the admins
tration had gone further than to plumber;
that they had resulted in the murder of
a president.
Miliken arose to PROFOUND u question,
but his voice was drowned by the cries of
order from the democratic side. How
ever he managed to make himself heard
after some time with the question: Docs
the gentleman remember another presi-
dent who was killed Who killed
him? Who stood behind him? Who
expressed themselves glad of it?'
Yes, replied Townshend ~(misunder-
standing the question:, ''he was Il stall
wart republican; he said he was forced to
do it by the stalwart element of his
party.
Bingham-''By the hand Of Cod
Reed reviewed the status of the affairs
from the time of the democratic %investi-
cation of the star route frauds. He said
every time the republican party found a
criminal within its ranks it pursued him.
decisive laughter and shouts of oh!
on the democratic side, together with the
suggestion hat it would break up the
party.l Blackburn reviewed, in an inter
esting manner, the history of the pro-
ceedings in the house during the time Of
the Brady investigation.
Horr's motion was lost. When Horn
rose to discuss the amendment he was
cried down by the democratic side; and
the republican side returned the compli-
ment when Townshend rose to speak.
When the consideration of the first sec
ton was completed it became evident that
the bill could not be finished this even
ing and the committee rose.
Henley, from the house committee On
public lands, reported a bill declaring
the forfeiting of certain lands granted to,
and the construction of, a railroad from
Central Pacific in California to Portland,
Oregon. The bill passed on the house
calendar. Adjourned.