The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-19
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.
Adverse Report on the Newspaper Copyright
Bill-Passage of the Postal Bill.


Bill--Passage of the Postal Bill.
WASHINGTON April 1s.-Mr. Sherman from the
committee on library reported adversely the news
paper copyright bill 1t was, however, placed on the
calendar Mr. Sherman also reported from the same
committee adversely, the joint resolution providing
for the erection of bronze equestrian statue Simon
Bolivar. The resolution was indefinitely postponed
The following bills We're introduced and referred
By Mr.. Hill To provide for deposit in the Treasury
of receipts from the money order system, and pay
ment of its expenses from the Treasury.
The Senate then took up the postehice appropriation
bill
Mr. Plumb sold that as the bill left the House it had
appropriated $40 225 800 the senate committee had
added SO 499 500, making the appropriation at pres
ent $40, 725, 400 Mr. Plumb said the appropriation
rather inside than outside the necessities OF the
situation that the committee desired to give the pub
lie efficient service though the committee had not
made the appropriations as large in ait cases as the
members thought entirely desirable, and not as
large the estimate made by the Postoffce Depart
ment. The public entitled to good postal service,
he added, as they paid for it.
Consideration of the bill proceeded with by sec
tions. On reaching the section relating to transporta
ton of mails debate arose. The bill as 1t
from the House required the Post
masters general to make reduction of five per cent
in the compensation heretofore paid all RAILROADS. tor
CARRYING mails and that railroads that received land
grants should be required to carry mails at a rate
80 per cent less than that paid other railroads for
like services.
Mr. Plumb explained that the committee on APP
preparations had not felt justified in retaining these
provisions So far the five per cent. reduction was
concerned the members of the committee, after some
examination not entirely satisfied that the
amount paid the railroads greater than it should
be. The government required the companies to carry
the mails, and paying less for the service than
express companies paid. Every person who had ex
aInined the subject had become satisfied
that the present rates paid the railroads were
Snequitable and did not pay the several
roads in proportion to the services rendered by them
severaly The subject should therefore, in the opin
ION of the committee be dealt with by some compre
hensve measure after careful examination
and discussion, and not hastily disposed OF. In re
gard to the requirement that andgrant roads should
carry mails for50 per cent less than other roads Mr.
Plumb said the Senate committee had not thought the
provision one that should be hastily adopted. Some
of these aoads had received lands OF greater value
than others and larger grants The Pacific roads
were, under the law carrying mails now for ~ per
cent less than other roads Inc SUBJECT
of the relation of the government to these
roads was before the courts and doubtless, before
another Congress should assemble, the courts would
render decisions constituting the acts bearing on that
relation. The Thurman bill being in process of en-
forcement, the committee on appropriations had not
felt like entering upon broad subject and dealing
with j. in piece+mea fashion, which would be
sary if it were to be dealt with in an appropriation
bill If anything WIS lacking with reference to the
obligations of the railroads to the government
with reference to the rates they charging
either the government. or individuals that subject
should be treated its importance deserved, not in
appropriation bill, but by the proper committees of
Congress having the subject of railroads IN charge in
erder that all elements in sovery intricate problem
1nghtbe kept IN view For these reasons the Senate
cofnmttee appropriations had agreed to strike
from the bill the provisions referred to.
Mr. Salisbury expressed regtet that the clauses in
question had not been retained.
After further debate the amendment was agreed to
striking out the House provision which would reduce
the compensation of railroads by 5 per cent, and
would reduce compensation of land-grant roads 80
per cent. of the amount paid other roads The other
amendments proposed by the committee were
agreed to- the only departure being in the adoption
of amendment proposed by r.Plulnb, by adding
&25 600 to the appropriation for river mail service
This amendment authorized by the committee on
appropriations after hearing remarks by Mr..
Morgan representing the people along the line of the
Alabama river, who are deprived of all mail facilities.
He had been trying he said for years to get such mail
service established but because in the Post
Office Department had to crosspurposes with
steamboat captain, thousands of people had for
years been deprived Of the reasonable mail facilities to
which they were entitled. Mr. Morgan added that he
made these remarks thus openly in the Senate in the
hope that the circumstance would induce the Post
fnastergeneral his assistants, to withdraw their
attention long enough from the manipulation of poit
zeal affairs in Alabama, at least to read the petition
which Mr.. Morgan had sent in FROM the people of that
State.
Mr.. Frye remarked that Second Assistant Post
master general Lyman, in whose charge that service
would be, of the last men in the world to
be suspected of manipulating politics.
The bill was then agreed to a whole.
The bankruptcy bill then taken up but with
out proceeding to consideration the Senate went into
essage from the House announcing the death Of the
Rte Representative Herndon laid before the Sen
ate. Remarks in memoriam of the deceased were de-
Hvered by Messrs. Morgan, Gibson Jones' (of Flori-
aa), and Pagh, and the Senate adjourned until Mon
day