Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-24
WASHINGTON.
An Open Debate of the Fish
cries Treaty.
THE HOUSE AND ITS COMMITTEES.
The Vests Bad and Inefficient
Mail Service Ventilated
News Notes.

WASHINGTON, May 23.-In the Senate
among the bills placed on the calendar
was one to increase the efficiency OF the
medical corps of the navy.
Mcpherson introduced joint resolu-
ton providing for medals for the officers
and enlisted men Of the three months
service of 1851. Referred.
The Senate then proceeded to execu-
tive business. When the doors were re-
opened an adjournment was taken to en-
able the Senators to attend the obsequies
of Mrs. Sawyer.
SECRET SESSION WORK.
In secret session move was made by
Senator Sherman to proceed to the con-
sideration of the Fisheries treaty in open
session. Half an hours debate followed,
at the end of which the Senate adjourned
without action. 1t is expected that the
question will be revived tomorrow, and
the Republicans think from present indi-
cations that the doors will be thrown
wide open.
SENATE coMMITTERr.
The Senate, Committee on Agriculture
has ordered favorable report on the
Hatch bill to enlarge the duties of the
Department The committee, however,
struck out the portion of that bill which
looks to the transfer OF the Weather Bu-
reau to the Department of Agriculture.
CENTRAL PACIFIC DEBT.
Mr.. Littler, Of the Pacific Railroad
Commission, addressed the Senate Com
mittee to-day, to which the Commissions
report was referred in reference TO his
plan for adjusting the debt of the Central
Pacific. The Judge said two per cent.
interest on the debt of $53, 900, 900 would
amount to within $175,000 Of the entire
present income Of the road. He
would first cause to be ascer-
prospect of future increase. He would
ascertain how much Of this is required to
pay the per cent interest, and would
devote the balance to the payment Of the
principal, extending it over a period of
years sufficient to wipe it out. Judge
Littler said he believes some of the strong
men, who had either legitimately or ille-
ultimately made vast number of mil
lions of dollars out Of the road, would, in
order to avoid further discussion of
their conduct before the American people
through the press, go down into their
own pockets and contribute something
towards the payment of the debt, or at
least they would contribute from the
earnings OF the other lines of road which
they owned.
COMMITTEE ON MINING.
The Senate Committee on Mines and
Mining to-day decided to report favora-
bly,, with some notifications, the bill
submitting to the Court of Claims for the
adjudication of the title of William Nc
Garragan to the mineral interests Of the
rancho Panoche Gnande in California. A
minority report will also be made.
INDIAN APPROPRIATIONS.
The Senate Committee on Appropria-
tions has completed its consideration OF
the Indian Appropriation bill and will
probably report it tomorrow. 1t has
made net reduction of 1926, 1000, max
ing the total appropriation $S,172, 900 in
round numbers. Sixty-five thousand dol
lars is appropriately for the payment of
Kaw or Kansas Indian scrip; $25, 900 for
an Indian industrial school in Nevada,
to be erected on donated land; $25, 700
for the support Of Indian day and indus
trial schools, and 10000 for an Indian
school at Grand Junction. Colo.
The House and Its Committees.
WASHINGTON, May 23.-The House
soon after reassembling went into com
mittee of the whole on the Postoffice Ap-
preparation BILL
Blount, of Georgia, explained the
items of the bill and the necessity for
increases.
Protracted debate ensued, during which
Perkins, Of Kansas, referred to the re-
ply of the Postmaster General to his reso-
luton Of inquiry into the alleged miscon-
duct of the Western mail service, which
he said had not been laid before the
House for action.
have been reported to the House from
the committee but for the tariff debate.
Perkins then criticised the bill for max
ing an increase of only five per cent. in
its appropriations for railway postal
clerks, while the railway mail service had
increased over ten per cent. in the last
eighteen months. The increase in the
appropriations was not in keeping with
the increase of the service or its growth.
He then proceeded to argue that the
present administration had Disseminated
against the Western country in the mat
ter OF mail service, which he declared
was "bad and inefficient"
The debate then took practical turn.
After time several amendments were
offered, among them one to increase
from SC, ,000, 900 to Sc, zoe, 600 the appro-
priation for the free delivery service, and
one to increase by 5000 900 the appropri-
alton for the Star route service. All were
lost without action.
The committee then rose and the
House adjourned.
THE MILLS BILL.
As far as the party can be regarded as
bound by the feeling Of the conference as
distinct from the caucus, the Republican
representatives in the House have formal
ly decided to decline to accept Mills
proposition to dispense with the consider
alton of the tariff bill under the five
minute rule. The Democratic members
OF the Ways and Means Committee are
hard at work upon the amendments pro.
posed by the Democrats, endeavoring to
dispose of them by the end of the week,
so that the House can enter upon the
consideration OF the bill for amendment
next week.
A DILEMMA.
A dilemma confronts the House Com
mittee on Rules in the shape of the Ar
rears Pension bill, which threatens to
prove as embarrassing as was the Direct
Tax bill. Johnson, of Indiana, has in
troduced resolution which is now be-
fore the Committee making the Pension
bill special order for Friday, with the
provision that its consideration shall
continue in the House from day to day
until the bill is finally voted upon. II
reported favorably, it is believed tho bill
would pass the House upon the final
vote. The large appropriation required
in that event would negative the idea Of
tsi9 I. rsduction; Y u oa Z. shs ss oshss hsed