Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-05-05
DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
Senate,


Some objection was made by Mr.. ingalls,
and Mr.. Plumb to an item recommended by
the Senate committee to reimburse the estate
of A. p. Merrill of Mississippi, S67,OOO, for
supplies to the United States army during
the war
Mr.. Hoar, Mr.. Pike aud Mr. Dawes of
Mass, said the man was consistently loyal
and had had strong Endorsement as such by
Gen, Grant and other Union officers. Tho
amendment was agreed to and tho bill passed
Mr.. Beck read the clause of tho Presto cnt'S mes
sage relating to the foreign mail provision OF
last year, in which the President sa'd it had
been found inexpedient for the postmaster
general to carry out tho provisions of the
last years appropriation relating to this
subject that the amount appropriated would
not have proved sufficient TO carry out he
purpose, nor could contracts have been made
under law at rate adequate tobring theaggrC-
gate within the amount of the appropriation.
Senators on the other side, Mr.. Beck said,
had not been slow to endeavor to embarraSs
the administration for political advantage,
But they were going too far in cnde tvoring
to force on the President and the postmaster
general notwithstanding their prote&, n
course they had shown was not for the good
IF the public service, and which would only
result in giving bounty or subsidy to few
persons.
Mr. Hale of Maine asked whether any
practical difficulty would arise in properly
distributing the money, providing that con-
gre agreed on this policy of aiding in secur-
ing foreign trade.
Mr.. Beck denied that be would get any adj
1itonal foreign trade by means of this
olicy.
Mr.. Beck dwelt with emphasis on the spec
taclo of an active commercial people permit
ting their mails to lie in the poStotlice day
after day waiting for slow, subsidized yes
sci to sail while there was a swift vessel at
the dock ready to carry the mails at once
Under the proposed arrangement the post
master.general might know hat foreign
ship, which was ready TO sail, would insure
the delivery of the mail five or even ten days
ahead of the slow American built ship, but
he would be compelled TO allow the mails to
wait for days until the slow vessel was ready
to sail.
Mr.. Hale spoke OH tho Amendment which
Rpproprines $4,000 to pay for carrying the
United States mails to Central and South
America, Australia, China and Japan, at the
rate of 81 q milo for each outward trip, He
did not care whether it was called a subsidy
or compensation for carrying the mails, or all
mid to the securing Of larger foreign COM
merco. 1t undoubtedly was an attempt to
facilitate commerce.
Mr.. Jones, of Ark, from the committee on
Indian affairs, reported fayorably tho bill,
which recently passed the House. to provide
That tho lands Of the cd Cherokee reserva-
ton shall be placed under the control of the
general land.ofilce to be sold in tho samo
manner as o her public lands of the United
States.
Mr.. Bowen, of COL, reported favorably
from the committee on Indian affairs tho bill
to authorize the secretary Of the interior tC
appoint two commissioners who with the
ngcnt for the Southern Ute Indians, now To-
Gated in southwestern Colorado, shall con-
sttutc cCmiSson to remove the Southern
Ute Indians from their present reservation to
the umtah valley reservation in Utah.