Morning journal and courier., 1888-05-22
Fiftieth Congress--First Session.

WASHINGTON, May S1.
 SENATE.-The Senate passed numerous bills, and the bill for the erection of postofice buildings in towns and cities where the post office receipts for the three years preceding have exceededl $5,0e0 annually was reached on the calendar. In explanation of this bill, and in response to various questions, MT. Vest, who had reported the bill from the committee on buildings and grounds, stated that the report was unanimous one; that the bill had been carefully prepared; that it was intended to do away with the present log rolling system of securing large appro- priations for certain towns and cities as means of local electieneering management, and making the system general one; that it had been recommended by the late Post master General in his report and was much favored by the present Postmaster General; that it was impossible to give correct esti- mate of the cost of work in future, but that the committee placed the cost at $10, ,000, 900.
 Objection to some of the details of the bill, especially to the provision for an architect and assistants for the Postofhce department instead of leaving the control of the new buildings to the supervising architect of the treasury, was made by Senators Stewart and Paddock and the latter offered 8 substitute embodying his views and making the appro- priation for the year 1889 S3,O0O, 900 instead of the unlimited appropriation of $1O, ,OO0, 900 in the bill. Criticism was also made by Sen
 
 provision in the bill authorizing the Post master General to accept sites granted or do mated for postofice buildings and contribu- tions to the purchase of sites or in aid of the construction and directing the preference to be given to localities that provide sites satis factory to the Postmaster General.
 A motion was made by MT. Plumb to strike out such provision and with the consent of MT. Vest was agreed to.
 Mir, Saulsbury objected to the limit of $5, GOO, ,000 for the cost of the site and MT. Vest also consented to have that limit struck out as well as provision fixing the extent of the clear space from other buildings. Mir. Vest also stated Gin reply to question by Mir. Hale) that the limit of cost of build ing to $25, 1000 did not include the cost of site
 After considerable discussion in regard to these and other details the bill went over without final action.
 merce, reported back the river and harber bill with amendments and it was ordered to be printed and recommitted. The Senate then at p. m., on motion of Mr. Edmunds, adjourned.
 HoUsE-Under the call of States large number of unimportant bills were intro duced and referred.
 Mr. Belmont of New York, made an eff fort to secure consideration for the diplo- mstic and consular appropriation bill, but his motion to go into committee of the whole was defeated; yeas 90, nays 155.
 MT. Hatch of Missouri, from the commits tee on agriculture, moved that the rules be suspended and the bill passed to enlarge the powers and duties of the department of agriculture, and to create an executive de- partment to be known as the department of agriculture.
 Mr. Herbert, of Alabama opposed the provision of the bill transferring the weather service of the United States signal service bureau from the War department to the de- partment of agriculture. The purpose of the measure was to dismiss the present officers of the bureau and provide for 8 new organization omposed entirely of civilians.
 MT. Buchanan, of New Jersey, favored the bill because the farmers of his district wanted it and because it was right.
 Minute speeches in support of the measure were made by Carleton and Stewart of Geor- gia, McClarney of North Carolina, Laird of Nebraska, Allen of Michigan and Ryan of Kansas.
 The motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill was agreed to; yeas 233, nays 13. (It creates executive department to be known as the department of agriculture, un- der the supervision and control of secre- tary of agriculture. and provides for the ap- pointment of first assistant secretary of agriculture. It also transfers the weather service of the United States signal service bureau from the War department to the de- partment of agriculture.) The.House then went into committee of the whole on the diplomatic and consular appro- priation bill
 No amendments of consequence were off er- ed to the bill and after a short time spent in it's consideration the committee rose and the bill was passed.
 The District of Columbia appropriation bill was also considered in committee and passed by the House.
 The House at o'clock adjourned.