The National tribune., 1888-02-23
CONGRESS.
An Abstract Of the More Important
Proceedings in Both Houses.

Union OF Nebraska, praying for the abolition
OF the internal revenue tax on liquors and TO-
bacco
Senator CuIlom introduced bill for the COM
pensation Of female nurses during the war.
Senator Cbace introduced bill TO prohibit
the selling, giving or furnishing tobacco in any
OF its forms to minors under 16 years of age in
the District Of Columbia.
Upon taking mp the regular order the Senate
resumed consideration of the resolution intro
duced by Senator Plumb Jan. 80, directing an
inquiry into the serious complaints as TO the
ineficiency of the mail service, especially in
the South and West.
Senator Plumb said that If the arguments Of
Senator Reagan in defense of the Postofice De-
partmeHt meant anything, it was pleading of
the baby act. In effect, the Postmaster Gen.
eral said that he is burdened with incompe-
tent clerks. IF this is true why does he not
remove them? There is no obstacle to that.
No Republican asks to have them retained.
But the fact that cannot be denied is that the
mail service is inexcusably bad, worse than
any previous time of its existence. He sent to
the Clerks desk and had read numerous ex-
tracts from Kansas newspapers, denouncing
the manner in which the service is conducted,
and showing that it frequently takes from four
70 SIX days 70 deliver newspaper at point
rs miles distant.
Senator Plat said that the trouble is not
passes without his receiving letters from Con-
necticut making similar complaints. He read
q letter from publishing house in NOrWalk
speaking Of the apparent disorganization Of
the whole postal system Of the country" and
EsCribing il TO the removal Of experienced pos
tal route agents.
Senator Plumb said that It is no excuse that
the railroads in the West have been rapidly ex-
tended. This is matter which the Admins
tration onght 10 know about and provide for.
When the present Administration came into
power ii had 10 idea Of the size Of the country
and its needs Certainly, however, it ought to
have learnei something about this in the three
years that it has been in Office In Kansas
alone more than 5000 miles of railroad have
been built in the last two years.
Senator Reagan said that the allegations
against the Postofice Department indicate that
the complaints are sent to Congress for pOliti-
cal effect and not with q view to the improve
menf Of the service. He had the statement of
the recent P0stmaster-General Villas tie pres
ent POstmaster-General, the Second Assistant
Postmaster General and the Superintendent of
the railway mail service, that upon receipt Of
any complaint Of irregularity in the service,
investigation is ordered and the corrective APP
piled. The Senator asserted that the defective
delivery that the Kansas newspapers complain
Cd Of was in many instances. due to their own
blUnders OF Incompetence. Hedenied that this
country is too large for the present administra-
tion Of the Posto.ice Department. and asserted
that they never had superior Postmaster
General to the recent one.
Senator Plumb denied that anything he had
had put into the Record had been sent to him
eept the letter of Mr. Mann. The newspaper
sies be had clipped from those that came 70
IN the nsHal way and embrace only a
what he sees in the papers be receives
l7 tate. He had, he thought, so letters
III
per r. country making similar COM
paint
senate aid that the Department had
taken stel 4erVice on the railroads on
which il wa Kansas.
Senator Pla7 id that be was not talking
about steps. baF DoBt the service. They al
ways have been {. King steps, but steps that did
not result IN anything.
Senator ManGeTsDn was surprised at the
charge made by the Senator from Texas. that
this is In the nature Of making political capital
rather than an earnest and honest desire to
correct an existing evil. Nothing that he had
said viii warrant that assertion. This is not q
matter Of partisGnship, but of public service.
Democratic Senators as well as Republican have
Joined in the CON plant.
Senator Plumb read an extract from Demo-
cratic newspaper, published at Pine Bluff Ark,
which denounced the manner in which the
mail il forwarded aud distributed
Similar extracts were read from the Memphis
1rGlaRcAe the st. Joseph Mo- Gazette, and
ether Democratic papers.
The Senate resumed the consideration Of the
Blair bill, and Senator Hawiey made speech
in opposition 70 that measure.
A bill tD provide for the compulsory educa-
ti0n Of Indian women was discussed at length
BY Senators Dawes. Teller. COckrell and Vest.
liz the House Mr. Cannon reported from the
Committee on Rules q resolution amending the
rule relative to "a call OF the House, so as to pro-
vide that when a member voluntarily appears
Af the doors OF the House he shall be immedi.
ately admitted. Under the rule that has been
in existence up 70 the present time, Member
who voluntarily appeared was denied admit
tsace nntil placed in custody By the Sergeant
Et-ArmE
The concurrent resolution for the printing o.
1000 additional copies Of the document on cat
&c and dairy products was amended by increas
Ing the number 10 - 900 and adopted
On motion Of MF. Burnes Mo- the Houst
then went into Committee OF the Whole, Mr
B.ount Ca in the chair, on the urgent de
fciency bill.
In the general debate Mr.. Peters Kan.
made q speech, 10 which be calculated the lega
points presented In the Anderson bill requiring
the subsidized Pacific Railroads TO maintain
and operate separate telegraph lines. He CAV
s1ccinct history Of the legislation upon Tn
Gtrnetion OF the telegraph line from the his
sOuri River to San Francisco did not exceed
$4,000. In answer 10 the contention that il
the act OF 1862 Congress did not reserve tn
power to amend its terms. he declared that tn
l6th section positively reserved that power.
Turning his attention 10 the contract between
the Western Union Telegraph Company and tn
Union Pacific Railroad Company he said tina
* WIS a remarkable document and resulted Il
the destruction Of competition in TELEGRAPH
business, which il was the very object of ID
TaltiRg acts to secure. The Union Pacifi
Company bound itself hand aud foot BIZ thi
contract 50 that il could not transport the pole
or wires OF any company desiring TO construc
atelegraph line along the line Of the Unio
Pacific Railroad unless local rates were paid
That was virtual prohibition. The object an
effect Of this contract was TO throttle an CON
petition. lie argued that under the reserve
power Of Congress 10 alter or amend the grant
inF acts, Congress had tho right to declare nn
and void any contract which intorfered wit
tho carrying out Of the purposes Of the gran
and that no vested right had accrued by reas0
Of the contract entered into between the Yves
ern Union aud Union Pacific Companies. Cor
Eress had the power and the right TO step fo
ward and enact legislation which would carr
out the objects OF the grants. We're 60.000, 0C
people 70 he bound hand and foot and crushe
beneath the foot Of the Western Union2
they were they were on the verge Of a rebellio
which would tear down this creature brea
down its throne, aud erect upon It's ruin a 20
tai telegraph which would subserve The publ