Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-10
the NATIONS CAPITAL.
A Dull Tuesday In Both Of the
Branches.
ARTHUR AND THE sENAToRsHIP'
Making Preparations for Legislation
y Looking for the Passing Of
Bankruptcy Bill.
OPPOSITION TO THE NEW TREATY.
Special 10 he Regis~.

WASHINGTON December 9.-This will be q
lively week in Congress. A large number
Of bills of merely local Importance are to be
presented and in the interim of quiet in
this direction the Reagan Railroad bill pro-
hibiting discriminative freight rates will
take up the attention of the lower House. 1t
is tolersbly certain that the majority Of the
members are far more ready to debate the
questions presented BY that bill than they
are to vote upon it. A very large number
of them have railroad affiliations which will
make it uncomfortable for them to vote in
favor Of its passage, and If
they vote against it will in
cur the disapprobation of their
constituents at large. Forthat reason there
is q chance that the bill will either be talked
to death or amended to. death. At the
same time the Ex-Postmaster General of
the Confederacy feels sanguine that it can
be pushed through. He told me to-day that
unless all signs failed, the bill would have
passed the House by the close Of the pres
ent week. But there are many members
who desire to speak on the subject and un-
less all other business is suspended for the
purpose of pushing it, it looks as though
Mr. Resgan's hopes were hardly ground
ed on
A Good Foundation.
Measures in relation to the postal system
are likely to take up a great deal of the at
tention Of Congress at the present session.
There will be no doubt that the recommen-
datious of the Postmaster General will re-
ceive careful attention, but it is not proba-
bic that the amount of mail matter which
can be sent under twocent stamp, will be
increased. II the Postoffice Department is
to be made to pay its own expenses, the
Government cannot afford to reduce its
rates in any way, for the reason that the re.
duction fsom three-cent to two-cent letter
rates has life only in Rhode Island, Massa.
chusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New
York, Pennsylvania, New jersey Delaware
Michigan and Illinois, or the list Of
States which pay their own expenses
in the way of postal ser
vice. But if, on the other
hand the Postoffice, which certainly does
more to accommodate the people than any
other of the Government departments, is to
be allowed to use up part of the much
talked of surplus, then the proposition of
"Rlchelieu" Robinson's to. reduce letter
rates to one cent is altogether the more
feasible scheme. The greatest good for the
greatest number ought, Of course, to be the
objective point Of
All Legislation.
Many Congressman freely express the be-
lief that the railroads are receiving too
much money for the carriage of the mails.
1t is not easy to bring these corporations to
time, and the most radical Republican can
not deny that they have formed too many
friends in all Executive departments during
the past few years. But under
tbe Federal Constitution the Govern
ment is given the right to build
and construct postothces and post roads:
The only roads practically taxed for postal
purpose are railroads, The United States
Govsfnment could afford to spend its sur,
plus in the construction of railroads and it
is held b. the advocates of lower. rates for
carving tae mails, that this fact held out
as a menace to the existing corporations
would be likely to compel them to give the
reads better time. There is bill now be-
icre Congress to regulate the prices to be
raid for this service by the weight and bulk
Of matter carried. instead of by weight
,,,i;na WHICH, it is thought will be a great
;mprovement ovef the present system:
In spite of all that G:c,n be said by Its
advocates, the system outlineC oY the ost
master General ola special letter carrier
delivery for matter specially stamped 10
not likely to be adopted. 1t would create
ar invidious distinction, which could only
result in lessening the efficiency Of the pres
ent system of delivery.
Congressman Robinson's Joint Resolution
10 COmpel SlhplCiIJ Al IhO ALi@" NAoA NEAN
monies is not likely to pass the House, but
the country at large would be glad to see a
return to Jefersonian simplicity.
Postal Telegraph Bill.
Nobody believes now that the Edmunds
postal telegraph bill can be passed as it
stands on the Senate calendar. But
there is a moderate prospect of the adoption
of the Hill bill in the House, which prsc-
tically compels the telegraph companies to
ACCEPT Is cents for twenty words to any dis
tance OF not over 500 miles. The bill is q
reasonable one, but if, as is thought proba-
Bile, the House refuses to pass the Reagan
railroad bill on the ground that it is uncon-
stitutional the Senate would be likely to
make the same objection to the House tele-
graph bill. The action of Senator Ed.
munds in presenting a still more radical
measure is severely criticised by his oppon'
euts, and some OF them 60 so far as to as,
sert that the companies themselves are at
the bottom of his action, or. in other words,
that it was to the interest of the Western
Union and its fellow-corporstious to have q
bill first presented on the subject, which
could not possibly be adopted. }. A.