Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1885-02-21
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Senate Passes the Agricultural
Appropriation Bill-The Postal
Bill Taken Up.
The House Pension Committee Of the
Present Congress Completes Its
Work, Reporting 1926 Gases,



WAsHISGroN, Feb. 20.-The chair
laid before the senate this morning a
letter from the secretary Of war, trans.
hitting 3 report showing theestImsted
cost OF new locks for sault de Saint
Marie falls, Michigan. The re.
port says the locks will oDst
81 5i8, 400 and that 1855 6s5 additional
will be required for the purpose OF
| deepening the channel above the locks
and the basin below. Referred.
MIR. German OF Maryland offered 3
resolution which WAS agreed to, call.
ing on the secretary Of the Interior for
/ the subsidized Pacific RAILWAYS
have constructed and are maintaining
aud operating their own lines OF tele-
graph, aud whether telegraphic mes-
sages are accepted and transmitted for
all persons and corporations without
discrimination, provided by the act Of
July /, 1852.
Senator Miller of New York re-
ported favorably, from the committee
on agriculture, the resolution TO place
all that portion OF the Arlington
estate, owned by the United States
and not needt d for the national signal
service station and forts, under the
direction OF the commissioner OF agri-
culture 10 be used for agricultural
purposes.
Mr. Hale Of Maine moved to take up
the agricultural bill.
Mr. Plat OF Connecticut inquired
whether that would dlspace the silver
bill. The chair, Mr. Edmunis, said IL
would leave that bill on the calendar
to be taken up on motion.
Mr., Hsle's motion was agreed to by
a viva vOce vote, and the agricultural
appropriation bill was taken up aud It's
consideration proceeded with.
The bill, after some debate, was
passed substantially, as 1t came from
the senate committee, the principal
change being in the item for the cult.
walton Of sorghum, which, ON motion
20 $4,000.
On motion OF Mr.. Plumb, the poht.
office bill was taken up.
Mr. Hawley Of Connecticut hoped
that the senate would disagree with
the senate committees amendment
reducing the amount for clerks In the
D postofiee from 81, 100000 to IS 1850. 900.
Mr Plumb defended the red. elton
and the committees amendment was
. adhered to. In the course OF his re-.
) marks Mr.. Plumb said that he
thought the expenses OF the govern.
ment could be reduced by $50 600 OK
annually without hurt TO the publ,
service.
A section OF the bill as it came from
the house provided that letters shnll
be charged for 81 the rate OF two cents
an ounce, instead OF two cents for hall
= an ounce, dTOp-letters, where there /.
E no free delivery, one cent an ounce aud
I newspapers ia bulk TO the Regular sub
} scriber one cent q pound, but separate
4 copies one cent per four ounces. AatC
this provision Blr. Beck OF Kentucky
: said that the appropriation committee
Q had concluded TO strike IL ON
. as being general legislation. MIR. Becs
A said that II was good legislation Though
+ In the wrong place, and the member.
: OF the committee, or the most of tnem
held themselves at liberty 90 vote M
individuals against their recommen
: datiOns AS committeeman.
Mr.. Miller OF New York opposed tbs
D sample opy" provision. He thought
II better that uHilofm rate should be-
established. The postal rateB had
been so irregular and unsystematiC
THAT not even the members of tbt
: postofiice committee Of congress could
: always remember what the rate,
4 were in any given case. The rat
should be slmpllhed and stripped OF
complication.
J, Mr.. Plumb said that all reductions
I OF postal rates had been effected IN
means of appropriation bills.
After considerable further discussion
as 10 the operation Of the senate rules
= which was participated In by Messrs
Williams OF Kentucky, Sherman OF
ohio, Miller OF New York, Miller oI
: California, Plumb Of Kansas, HAwley
: OF CONNECTICUT. Hoar OF MAssAchu.
sets, Mitchell OF Pennsylva.
MIA, Cockrell OF Missouri and
Edmunda OF Vermont, the SIN,
ate disagreed 10 the committee
amendments, yeas Is. nays 80, so Ear
! AS that amendment related TO the LEI.
ter postage, leaving the neWspapeI
: postage set 10 be acted on.
Az er an executive session the sen,
ate adjourned gill To- morrow At o'clock
p. m.
THE HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house met this morning in con.
tinuaiion oi thursdays session and
immediately went into committee Of
tho whole, Mr.. Hsmmond Of Georgia
: "a the chair, on the river and harbos