The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-18
THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
The Postmaster-Generala and the Blair Edu-
cationai Bill Under Discussion.


The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and the Blair Edu-
cationai Bill Under Discussion.
WASHINGTON. Jan. ia bill was reported
from the committee finance and placed on
the calendar to reimburse the depositors OF the
Freedmens Savings and Trust Company.
Mr. Henderson offered a resolution calling
the Secretary OF War for information to the
bridge authorized by act Of March 3, 1887 TO be
built between the cities Of Omaha and Council
Bluffs, and whether it is being constructed az
cont ined railway and wagon-bridge, or as
wagon bridge only. Laid over.
Mr.. Platt offered resolution instructing the
postofice committee to inquire whether any
mail matter addressed to Senators has been de-
tanned in the Washington postofhce. and whether
such detention has been legal or illegal de
made explanatory statement to the effect
that 400 copies of a book mailed by Connecti-
cut advertising firm to Senators and members or
Congress, and on each of which IL cents postage
was paid, had been charged 81 cents extra post
age because the words 'Judicious advertising
agents and experts" had been printed on the
wrapper: and had not been delivered because
such extra postage not paid. In his Jndg-
ment the law did not authorize an extra charge
The construction put upon the law by the Post
master general in that respect was, in his
opinion not only technical construction, but
improper and unjustifable one. which had
caused great distress, annoyance and loss to the
business people of the country:
Mr.. Salisbury defended the action OF the
Postmaster general
MIR. Platt. in further remarks condemned the
action in the matter of the New York reform"
postmaster an official as to whom, he said. he
was sorry for his appointment and sorry for the
confirmation.
The resolution agreed to.
In connection with the same subject Mr.. Saw
yer asked unanimous consent for Immediate
consideration of the House bill relating to per-
missible printing writing on second. third and
fourth-class matter" such bill having been re-
ported back from the postoffice committee with
amendments. Consent
bill passed
Mr.. Wilson, of Iowa, offered a resolution,
which adopted, calling on the Secretary OF
the Treasury for report to the amount of rev.
enue collected from each kind of liquor each year
since the passage of the internal revenue law,
On motion of Mr.. Teller, bill reported by
HIM from the committee on public lands, grant
ing to the City of Colorado in the State of Col
orado. certain lands for water reservoirs, was
taken up and passed.
The presiding officer laid before the Senate a
message from the President with the report of
the Pacific Railroad commissioners. AT the
conclusion OF the reading of the Presidents
message Mr. Hoar moved that it. with the
accompanying reports, be committed to a select
committee of five Senators, to be appointed by
the Chair Agreed to.
Subsequently Mr.. German moved to reconsider
the vote, and the motion was laid over.
Mr. Plumb offered resolution. which was
adopted, calling on the Secretary of the Treas
ury for statement of the sums paid to States
and Territories under the act of the Twentv-first
Congress as 10 per cent. of the sales of public
lands; also. resolution which was adopted,
calling the Secretary of the Interior for de-
tailed information to railroad and Indian
lands in Kansas.
On motion of Mr. Jones' of Arkansas. the
Senate bill reported from the committee
merce, to authorize the Southwest, Arkansas q
Indian Territory Railroad Company to build
bridge across the Ouachita river, in Arkansas,
was taken up and passed.
The Blair education bill was taken up and the
Senate addressed by Mr.. Bowen in support
of the bill He argued that in this matter no
adj con of Ia
prevail The country was confronted to-day
with the fact that not only in some Southern
States, but also in some Northern States, cleo
tionS had become a mere traveSty. A govern
ment processing to be based on universal suf-
frage became, under such circumstances. a
national lie. The country had to-day a repub-
lican form of government, but what. he asked,
about the substancef There possible
luton of the problem except that " hch would
be afforded 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 inspection Of
steam vessels. The bill passed.
On motion OF Mr. Dawes. the bill reported
relation to marriages between white men and
Indian women. was taken up and passed. The
principal provision Is that white mon marrying
Indian women shall not thereby ACQUIRE any
right TO tribal property.
The Blair educational bill was again taken up
and Mr. Blair addressed the Senate in advocacy
of it.
Mr.. Harris said that, in Mr.. Blair's pamphlet,
the Legislature or Tennessee was represented
as favoring the BILL That was a gross mistake.
The LEGISLATURE of Tennessee had never taken
any such position.
Mr.. Blair admitted that there might, proba-
bly,. be mistake to Tennessee
Mr. Plat, noticing reference to the nu mbsr
of school children attending school in Connecti-
cut, explained that in some of the towns in
that State many children were being educated
in the Catholic parochial schools, and were not
enumerated in the tables of school attendance.
Mr. Blair said he was aware of the fact, and
mentioned the city of Manchester, in his own
State. place whore half of the population
was under the control of the Catholic Church,
and the Catholic children generally edu-
Gated in the parochial scoools Much of the oppo-
sition to the pending bill had came from the
large body of people who did not believe in
common schools ss a system of education. That
was apparent from the criticisms in the public
press. and IL was a question for the serious con-
sideration of the American people national
Endorsement of the common schools system was,
therefore, of greatest Importance. The strong
est opposition came to it from the great
ecclesiastical organization which the life,
and pith. and force of the parochial system.
But yet that organization was not unit on the
question. Many certainly some, of the org ans
of the Catholic faith favored the pending bill,
and the Catholic Church was divided on the
question. The Irish World strong sup
porter of the bill. Nor were the adherents Of
the parochisl system to be found wholly in one
single church. But he did not wish to drag that
question into the debate. One strong ground of
complaint the part of those who maintained
parochial schools was that a matter of con-
science they felt bound to educate their children
under that system. and that 1t was unjust for
them to be taxed for the support of both.
At this point Mr.. Blair yielded the floor and
the Senate adjourned.
Proceedings of the House.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17-There was much I'M
easiness manifested in the House this morning