National Republican., 1888-01-18

In the Senate yesterday communication
was presented from the Postmaster Gen.
eral, with copies of letters from the post
master and collector Of customs at New
York, In response to Senate resolution Of
the 9th OF January calling for information
as to the reason for the detention in New
York Of books and other parcels received
by mail from foreign countries. These
communications represent that no unneces-
sary delay occurs. During the holidays, or
between the 1st OF December and 1st OF
February, the receipts by mail Of such
books and packages (which have 10 be sent
to the custom house for apprasement)
amount to from 6,0O0 to 1000. The In
spector Of customs at the postof1lce (Mr.
Morgan) states that no non dutiable books
have been detained at all; that dutiable
books have necessarily to be detained over
night, and that no further detention takes
place than is necessary.
Mr.. Hoar expressed himself as not salts.
fed with the explanations submitted, aud,
on hie motion, they were referred to the
committee on finance.
Bills were reported from the committee
on finance and placed on the calendar: To
reimburse the depositors Of the Freedmen's
versely) to refund excessive duties caused
by extraordinary generalization OF the
Austrian florin.
Mr.. Hale offered a resolution calling on
the Attorney General for Information as to
the facts attending the employment of
Charles Il. Westbfook as assistant district
attorney for the southern district OF New
York, with copies OF correspondence, SC.
Laid over.
Mr. Manderson offered resolution call
ing on the Secretary Of War for information
as to the bridge authorized, by act Of Sd Of
March, 1887, 10 be built between the cities
Of Omaha and Council Bluffs, and whether
1t is being constructed as a combined
railway and wagon bridge or as a wagon
bridge only. Laid over.
Mr.. Platt offered resolution instructing
the postofllce committee to inquire whether
any mail matter addressed to senators has
been detained In the Washington postof1ce
and whether such detention has been legal
or illegal. He criticised the construction
put on the law by the Postmaster General.
Mr.. Salisbury defended that official.
Mr.. Platt, In further remarks, condemned
the action In the matter Of the New York
reform" postmaster, an official to whom
(he said) he was sorry for the appointment
and sorry for the confirmation.
The resolution was agreed to.
In connection with the same subject, Mr..
Sawyer asked unanimous consent for the
immediate consideration Of House bill tire.
lating to permissible printing or writing on
second, third, and forth.class mail matter"
such bill having been reported back from
the postofice committee without amend.
ment.
Consent was given and the bill was
passed.
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, offered aresolutiou,
which was adopted, calling on the Secre-
taiy Of the Treasury for report as to the
amount Of revenue collected for each kind
Of liquor each year since the passage Of the
internal revenue law. and from the special
tax on distillers and brewers.
The presiding officer laid before the Sen.
ate message from the President with re.
ports Of the Pacific railroad commission
ere.
At the conclusion of the reading OF the
Presidents message Mr.. Hoar moved that
1t, with the accompanying reports, be com.
mitted to select committee OF five sena
tors, to be appointed by the chair. Agreed
to.
Subsequently Mr.. German moved to re &.
consider the vote, and the motion was laid
over.
After the disposal of resolution offered
BY Mr.. Plumb, on public lands, the Blair
education bill was taken up, and the Senate
was addressed bv Mr.. Bowen In support of
the bill. He argued that, in this matter, no
ironclad construction of the constitution
should prevail. The country was confronted
to-day with the fact that not only In some
southern states, but also In some northern
states, elections had become mere trav-
esty. A government protesting to be based
Oh universal suffrage became, under such
circumstances, a national lie. The couutry
had, to day, a Republican form OF govern
mtn,; but what (he asked) about the sub
stance? There was no possible solution OF
tie problem except that which would be
offered by the general education OF the
people.
The Blair bill was temporarily laid aside
TO enable Mr. Frye to call up the senate
bill to amend the laws relating to the iu-
spection Of steam vessels. The bill wa;
passed.
Mr.. Chandler introduced bill to allow
the pay of rear admiral to commodores
while acting as rear admirals. Referred to
committee on naval affairs.
On motion OF Mr.. Dawes, the bill re
ported from the committee on Indian
affairs on the 5th Of January, In relation to
marriage between white men and Indian
women, was taken up and passed. (rhe
principal provision is that white men
marrying Indian women shall not thereby
acquire any right to tribal property
The Blair education bill was again taken
up, and Mr.. Blair addressed the Senate iu
advocacy Of 1t. He showed that illteracy
was gaining ground not only in the south
but In the north. He had heard 1t stated
that even in Massachusetts illiteracy was
increasing.
Mr.. Dawes stated that that fact was due
to the increase Of the foreign population in
Massachusetts. There was but very small
proportion OF the native population OF Mas
sachusetts that would come under the des
ignation of illlterate; and he was confident
that that proportion was growing smaller
Mr.. Platt, noticing a reference to the
number of children attending school II
Connecticut, explained that in some town.
IN that state many children were beinl
educated in the Catholic parochial schools
and were not enumerated In the school at
tendance.
Mr.. Blair said he was aware OF that fact
and mentioned the city Of Manchester, IN
his own state, as place where half of thu
population was under the control of thu
Catholic Church, and the Catholic children
were generally educated in the parochla
schools.
Much of the opposition to the pending
bill, he said, had come from that large body
of people who did not believe In common
schools as system OF education. That
Was apparent from tue criticisms In thI
public press, aud it was a question for tht
serious consideration of ths American pen
pie. 4 national Endorsement to the com
mum hNstcIh was tHCTclOTc, VI Tue
greatest importance. Tue strongest oppo
sition came to 1t from tue great ecclesiasti-
cal organization which was the life aud
pith and force OF the paroGhial system But
yet that organization was not unit on the
question. Many certainly some) of Tho
OrgaLs of the Catholic faith favored the
pending bill, and the Catholic Church VA:
divided on the question. The Irish lP0Hd
was a strong supporter of the bill.
Nor were the adherents of the parochlAl
church. But lie did not wish to drag t6a
question Into the debate. One strong
ground Of complaint on the part OF those
who maintained parochtal schools was that
as a matter Of conscience they felt bound
10 educate their children under til 1t system
ana that 1t was unjust for them to be taxed