The Indianapolis journal., 1888-05-24
THE FIPTIETH CONGRESS.

THE FIFTIETH CONGRESS.
The Senate Holds a Brief Session and Trans
acts Only Routine Business.
wAsHrSeros May 22-Among the bills re-
ported from committees and placed on the calen-
dsr were the following.
Senate bill for an examination and settlement
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; to authorize the Paris, Choctaw q
Little Rock Railway Company to construct .
road through the Indian Territory.
Mr. McPherson introduced joint resolution
providing for medals to the officers and enlisted
men of the three months service in lS6L Re
ferrsd.
On motion of Mr.. Sherman the Senate pro-
cseded to executive business. When the doors
were re-opened, the legislative business was
resumed
After some routine matters were disposed Of,
Mr.. Spooner said: 1T is known to Senators that
death has crossed the threshold OF my colleagues
home and has stricken down at his side the COM
panion of his loEe life journey. Many Senators on
both sides of the chamber have intimated 70 me-
desire to testify their respect for my colleague
and their sympathy for him In his sorrow, by
attending the obsequies of Mrs. Sawyer. which
are to occur at o'clock. To enable such Sena-
tors to do so, move the Senate do now ad-
journ."
The motion was agreed to. and the Senate ad-
journed.
Discussing tho Postofi CO Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON. May 23.-On motion Of Mr..
Hudd. of Wisconsin, Senate bill was passed
granting a right of way through the Lac De
Fiambeau Indian reservation to the Milwaukee.
Lake Shore & Western Railroad Company.
On motion of Mr.. Morrill,. of Kansas, Senate
bill was passed authorizing the Leavenworth
purchase . portion Of the Fl Leavenworth
military reservation.
The House then went into committee Of the
whols-Mr. Turner of Georgia. in the chair
on the postofice appropriation bill
Mr.. Blount, of Georgia, explained that the
bill carried an appropriation Of go. OBS. $40
against an appropriation of $55, ,694. $50 for the
current fiscal year. He deemed 1t necessary to
give the causes for this increase. The appro-
priation for compensation Of postmasters for
1883 was sl1, 1000 The sixth auditor stated
that the expenditures for this item in 1887
amounted to s11, ,929 4S1. or 229, 4s1 more than
the appropriation for 1888 At the same time it
appeared that while in 1886 the gross revenues
increased at the rate of 3.26 per cent. 10 1887
the increase 1406 per cent The same
large increase or receipts was expected 70 take
place Ia 1883 In the appropriation bill for 1888
there was no appropriation for rent, light and
fuel ct third-class Offices. In the proposed bill
thsre was inserted for this purpose the sum Of
$3.50. .608. Heretofore the postmaster Of third
class Office Was compelled to pay for these items
from his SALARY. In the appropriation for
clerks in postoffices there q substantial in
crease OF $550, ,00O which was made at the re-
quest of the Postmaster general, and which was
required TO meet the increasing needsof the busi-
ness.
In reply to o question from Mr. Lanham, Of
Texas, Mr. Blount stated that while the COM
mittee on postofices and post roads was In favor
OF increasing the compensation OF fourth-class
postmastcrs, IL WAS stopped by she rules OF the
House from incorporating provision to that
effect in the appropriation bill, but he thought
that the committee would bring in, before long,
. measure to increase the compensation of post
masters of that class. The increase of $777,500
in the appropriation for the free-delivery serv-
ice. Mr.. Blount explained to be due, not %
much to q proposed increase Of the service as to
the provisions of the act of JAM g. 1887. provid-
ing for the classification. promotion and salaries
Of letter-carriers.
Mr. Cox, of New York. inquired whether there
was any prospect of the committee post
Offices and postroads reporting . measure to
classify railway mail clerks and postal clerks 90
| as to give them proper compensation.
Mr. Blount replied that the matter was being
considered by a Subcommittee. and he did not
feel authorized to make any statement az TO The
prospect of its being acted upon. There were
organizations among the postal clerks, among
postofice clerks. and among railroad clerks, for
the purpose of securing increase of salary.
They did not come before the committee, but
were In the habit of formulating their bills aud
placing them in the hands of some prominent
member, and in this way they expected to drive
Congress TO conclusions contrary to the proper
methods of legislation. So far as he VAS con-
cerned, he represented, not the Office holders
alone but tie great mass Of the people who paid
the taxes, and he would oppose any unreason-
| able increase OF salaries
Mr.. Lind, Of Minnesota, spoke in behalf of the
| fourth-class postmasters and favored q proposed
amendment providing that fourth-class post
master shall receive $40 year in addition to
the fees he now receives.
Mr.. Montgomery. of Kentucky, held that the
bill was faulty only because 1t did not treat the
| postal service with sufficient hberality. How
| ever. step in the right direction had been
| made In increasing the compensation of fourth
| class postmasters. Too little attention had
| been given to the people who had to ride four
| or fve miles to a country postofbce to get their
| mail and too much to the people who lay in had,
| il they chose, to read the letters handed In the
| door by the letter carrier.
Mr.. Perkins, OF Kansas. referred to the reply
| Of the Postmasfer-generalt to his resolution of
| inquiry into the alleged misconduct Of the
Western mail service. which. he said. had not
| been laid before the House for action.
Mr.. Blount explained that the matter would
have been reported to the House from the
| committee. but for the protracted tariff debate.
| Mr.. Perkins then criticised the bill for max
| ing an increase of only per cent IN the appro-
| priation for railway postal clerks, while the
| railway mail service has increased over 10 per
| cent In the last eighteen montha The increase
| in the appropriation was not in keeping with
the increase of the service or with the growth of
/ the service he then proceeded to argue that
the present administration had Disseminated
against the Western country in the matter of
| mail service. which he declared was bad and in
| eficient The administration had been tagging
and indifferent, and had not kept pace with the
| wants and necessities Of the West Competent
| men had been stricken down in order that polit-
| ical workers might be provided for.
| Mr.. Adams, of Illinois. advocated an increase
| in the appropriation for the free-delivery sys-
tenn and further hberality in the extension Of
| that system.