The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-25
HOUSE.

In the House this morning the chaplain
prayed that Americans might be impressed
with the necessity of educating their chill
dren at home in order that they might be-
come imbued with the principles OF Tree IN
StitutionS, instead of abroad, where they
would become incapacitated for the duties of
American citizenship
Mr.. Golf of West Virginia, from the COM
mitteee on naval affairs, reported back res
olution calling on the secretary OF the navy
for information as to the present condition
of the Chicago, Boston and Atlanta, as to
what progress has been made in their con-
struction, and when they will be ready to be
placed in commission. 1t also inquiries as to
what steps have been taken towards the con-
struction of the cruisers and two gunboats
authorized by the act of March 3, 1885, and
what time will be requiredto complete them.
1t was adopted.
Mr. Anderson of Kansas asked unanimous
consent that an order should be made allow
ing the committee on labor to report for ac-
ton at any time, providing it should not in
terfere with the revenue or appropriation
bills legislation for the purpose of providing
for arbitration in strikes on railroads.
The order was made without objection.
The House then resumed consideration of
the bill relating to the Congressional library.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana offered substi-
tute for the erection of building, whose ul-
innate cost shall not exceed 81, 100000, upon
the government reservation in Washington.
GelulQS dcllOn Ino tllOTuIlS uOuI 6AplIGu
and the bill resumed its place on the calen-
dar.
The House then went into committee of
the whole on the Indian appropriation BILL
The pending question was on the point OF
order raised yesterday by Mr.. Nelson OF
Salem Indian school. Mr.. Nelson said he
thought that the committee was wrong yes
terday in ruling out the clause relative to
Captain Pratt, and that that decision was
applicable to the pending clause, but he did
not wish to delay the passage OF the bill, ana
he therefore withdrew the point of order
Mr. Peel of Arkansas, offered an amend
ment providing that no part OF the money
appropriated for the Hampton Indian school
shall be used to educate and maintain any
Indian pupil not now enrolled, and IN actual
attendance at such school.
Mr. Peeis amendment was rejected. The
committee then rose and the bill was passed.
Yeas 226, nays 5.
The House Immediately went into commit
tee of the whole on the post office appropria-
ton bill.
Mr. Blount of Georgia, chairman of the
committee on post offices, briefly explained
the provisions of the bill 1t appropriated,
he said, S54, go, ,5S8 as against an estimate OF
$54, ,9S6, l66, and the appropriation OF $685.
700,990 for the current year. The largest
proportion of this increase over approprla-
tions for the current year occurred in the
item for railway mail transportation, the IN
crease in this item amounting to $l,5o5,O0O.
This was large increase and was due to the
fact that the appropriation for this service
for the current year was far below the needs
of the service.
The committee then rose and Mr.. Blount
moved that all general debate on the bill be
limited to six hours, which was agreed to-
| The committee then resumed Its session.
Mr.. Dockery of Missouri, quoted from
statistics to show that the average annual
per cent of increase in appropriations for the
| post Office department for the past ten years
| had been three and nine-tenths per cent
| whereas the Increase in the pending bill
| over that bill of the current year was only
| one and one-tenth per cent, while the figures
| showed an actual reductioniof. the annual In
crease of the appropriation OF Sl,092oo9 or
| two and eight-tenths per cent.
| Mr.. Burrows of Michigan, said the amount
| estimated for pay of postal clerks was 81, ,SS7, ,
| 600, and the amount appropriated S4,S00,OO0
| The estimate was itself too low, being made
on the basis of allowing postal clerks of Glass
| 4. salary of $1,150, and of Glass s. a salary
| Of 81, 300 while they should receive salaries
| of S., 200 and 81 400 respectively. These sal
| aries had been reduced merely because thu
| appropriations made had been insufficient
| At the last session Congress had appropriat
| ed $S1 900 for the purpose of re-establishinl
| those salaries though it had not been speci
fcally stated in the bill. The Postmaste
| General had refused to execute the law be
cause this purpose was not directly speci
| fed. Yet the object desired could not hay
been accomplished in any other way. Mr.
Burrows also severely criticized the Post
master General for refusing to eXpend tn
1875, 900 appropriated at the last session fo
the foreign mail service. But the admins
tration of the post office department, MI
Burrowslsaid was subject to just criticism no
only in regard to these matters, but in othe
particulars of no little public concern
had not only nullified the law touching TN
administration of the postal service both do
mestic and foreign, but with uncommon
effrontery it had defed not only the spiri
but the letter of the civil service law From
the beginning until this hour, the eaor+O nead
nity. not how he might execute the law, bu
how he might defy 1t. He (Mr. Burrows
did not wish to be understood as intimatln
that there had been any observance OF tn