Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-23
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
POST OFFICE APPROPRIATIONS.
The Bill Under Consideration in the House
SHORT SESSION OF THE SENATE.


The Senate.
Among the bills reported from committees and
placed on the Calendar to-day were the following:
The Senate bill for an examination and settle
ment Of the claims OF certain states and the city Of
Baltimore, for expenditures In the war OF 1872
To increase the efficiency Of the medical corps Of
the Navy.
Railway Company TO construct q railroad through
the Indian territory.
Mr.. Mcpherson introduced joint resolution pro-
viding for medals 10 the officers and enlisted men
OF the three months service In 1851. Referred.
On motion n OF aI Sherman the senate tat 1880
The doors were reOpened at 20, and legislative
business was resumed After some routine mat
1t is known TO Senators that death has crossed
the threshold OF my colleagues home and has
lifelong term. Many Senators on both sides Of the
chamber have intimated to me a desire to TESTIFY
the respect for my colleague and their sympathy
for him IN his sorrow by attending the ObseQuies
Of Mrs. Sawyer, which are TO occur at 2 O'Clock
TO enable such Senators to do so, move that the
senate 40 now adjourn. The motion was agreed
70, and the Senate adjourned.
House Of Representatives.
On motion OF Mr.. Hudd (Wis.), the senate bill
was passed, granting a right OF way through the
Lac de Flambeau Indian reservation, in Wiscon.
sin, to the Milwaukee, Lake Shore and Western
Railroad Company.
On motion Of Mr. Morrill, (Kanl the Senate bill
was passed authorizing the Leavenworth City and
portion Of the Fort Leavenworth military reserva-
tion,
THE PosT-oFFIcE APPROPRIATION BILL
the House then went into committee OF the
whole CIr. Turner, OF Georgia, in the chair, on
the POst-office appropriation bill.
Mr.. Blount (Ga.) explained that the bill carried
an appropriation OF $50. OBS. $40 against an ap-
preparation Of 5,694, $50 for the current
nscal year. He deemed 1t necessary to give
the causes for this increase. The apprOprt-
alton 1or compensation Of posrmasters Tor 1883
was 81, zoo. 900. The sixth Auditor stated
that the expenditures for this item in 1887
amounted TO $l1,929. 4sl, or s229, ,4sI more than
the appropriation for 1883. At the same time it
creased at the rate Of 3.26 per cent; In 1857 the
increase was l4.06 per cent The same large in
crease OF receipts was expected to take place In
1883. In the appropriation bill for 1888 there was
no appropriation for rent, light, and fuel at third
class of1ces. In the proposed bill there was In
serted for this purpose the sum OF &65O6O7. Here
tOfore the postmaster OF third-clasS ONCE was
compelled to pay for these items from his salary
In the appropriation for clerks In posto1ces there
made at the request OF the Postmaster General,
and which was required to meet the increasing
needs OF the business.
COMPENSATION OF FOURTH-CLAss P0srNAsTKRs
In reply to question from Mr.. Lanham CTex),
MI. Blount stated that while the committee on
postofces and post-roads was in favor Of increas-
Ing the compensation Of fourth-class postmasters
IL was est0pped by the rules or the House. from
INCORPORATING provision TO that effect in the ap-
preparation bill; but he thought that the commit
tee would bring In, before long, q measure to in
crease the compensation OF postmasters of that
class The increase OF SIT, 500 lin the appropr1a-
plained to be due not so much to a proposed in.
crease OF the service as to the provisions OF the
act OF January 3 1887, providing for the classin.
COMPENSATION OF RAILWAY NAIL CLERKS AMI
POSTAL CLERKS
Mr. Cox On. Y.) inquired whether there was any
prospect OF the committee on post-of1ces and post
| roads reporting measure to CLASSIFY railroad
mail clerks and postal clerks so as to give them
proper compensation.
Mr. Blount replied that that matter was being
considered by subcommittee, and he did not
| feel authorized to make any statement as to the
prospect or It's being acted upon. There were Or
ganizationS among the postal clerks, among post
onice clerks and among railroad clerks for the pur-
pose OF securing an increase OF salaries They did
habit OF formulating their bills and placing them
| In the hands OF some prominent member and in
this way they expected to drive Congress to con-
clusOns contrary TO the proper methods Of legts-
lation. SO FAR as he was concerned he represented
not the Office eholders alone, but the great mass OF
the people who paid the taxes and he would with.
stand any unreasonable increase Of salaries
INDoRsED THE BILL AS WHOLE
Mr.. Bingham Pa.) indorsed the bill In its en-.
tirety and thought 1t should receive the approval
OF the House. In regard to the compensation of
pOst-oce clerks he stated that to-day the average
compensation OF the pOst-Of11ce clerks would not
give them larger compensation, and this he was
heartily in favor Of; and he trusted that the COM
mittee would without delay report bill giving to
increase In the appropriation for the freedelivery
system was liberal one, and would give to the
people he represented q better and more efficient
service. The bill was good and generous one,
and would give the country an improved service;
and be gave 1t his hearty approval with the quail
fcation that II he could change 1t he would change
1t In giving larger compensation to subordtnates.
Mr. Lind (M1nn.) spoke in behalf of the fourth.
class pOstmasters, and favored q proposed amend
ment providing that a fourth-class postmaster
shall receive $50 year in addition TO the fees he
The Tariff Contest.
THE MILLS BILL WILL BE CONSIDERED IN SECTIONS.
The republicans have decided not to accept the
Mills proposition to vote on the tariff bill at once,
The bill will be considered under the nve-minute
rule by sections. A conference Of republicans was
held at the residence OF Mr. HIT last evening.
They decided to give the bill q pretty thorough
handling by sections and @ to Try 70 amend It In
the fact OF their inability to get the undivided
support OF the party for any substitute.
Bills Passed i'm the Senate.
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
TheSenate yesterday afternoon passed the House
bill to establish department OF labor, with few
verbal amendments. Mr.. Reagan's substitute. to
| establish a department of industry, was defeated
by vote OF % to 8. The bill was sent to CONFER
ence committee. The Senate yesterday passed the
bill to appropriate $50 900 for the enlargement and
improvement OF the public building at Petersburg:
of Dental science; the bill appropriating 500 600
for enlargement and repairs OF the public building