The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-31
PROCEEDINGS OF CONGRESS
Senator Plumb Calls Attention to the
Condition of the Postal Service.
semi-Political Discussion Springs Up in the
Lower House over a Letter of Defense
Sent in by Public Printer Benedict.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30-In the Senate, Mr..
Vest. from the judiciary committee, reported q
bill removing the political disabilities OF Andrew
j. Lindsay, of Missouri. Passed
The following bills were reported from the
committee on public lands and placed on the
calendar:
For the judicial determination of the rights of
the United States in lands granted to Florida
for railroad purposes, under the act of 7th Of
May, 1876 10 cancel certain reservations of
lands on account OF live oak. in the Southern
land district OF Louisiana; to establish.a public
park at Pagosa Spring Col; to extend the laws
of the United States over certain uuorganizsd
territory south of Kansas.
Mr. Hoar, from the committee on privileges
and elections. reported proposed constitution
al amendment to the meeting of Congress.
and said be would ask the Senate tomorrow to
take it up and deal with it
Mr. Sawyer, from tho postofice committee.
reported back adversely the proposition to re-
duce letter postage to / cent He stated, in re-
ply 10 Mr. Beck, that the committee had made
no written report, but that it did not think it
prudent to attempt to reduce postage at pres
emit The Postofice department was still run
ming behind. and it was thought better to wait
until it self sustaining before any further
reduction OF postage was attempted.
The report was placed on the calendar.
Mr.. Plumb offered a resolution instructing the
postofice committee to inquire into the causes
OF the inefficient mail service, especially in the
West and South. and presented newspaper ex-
tracts and letters to show tine ''democralized"
condition of the service in Kansas, the result OF
a stupid attempt to make q record OF econ omy.
He said that the late Postmaster general had
seemed to be possessed by frantic desire to
make both ends meet, and that he had, in that
effort, deprived the people of what they always
had had until within short period of time.
The postal service IN the West had got to that
point where it's condition was absolutely unbear-
able. The resolution went over.
Mr.. George introduced a joint resolution di
recting the Commissioner of Labor to make an
investigation to the cost of producing the
leading articles of consumption in the United
States and competing countries. Referred.
The report was placed on the calendar.
MIR. Frye offered a resolution, which was
adopted calling the Secretary Of the Treas
ury for information touching the transporta-
ton of goods across the boundary line between
the United States ard Canada, in bond or other
wise; as to what methods are taken to protect
the revenue derived from bonded goods passing
the frontier both ways, and as to Enforcing the
second clause of the sixth section Of the inter-
state commerce law.
Mr. Frye also offered resolution instructing
the committee on foreign relations to have pre-
pared a statement embracing the following
points The various political organizations of
The Dominion of Canada and its several pro-
virces including New Foundland; the treaties
with the United States in regard to the Domin-
ion aud it's several Provinces the commercial
status established: the amount aud value of
commerce and trade between the United States
aud Canada; the amount and value of the tran
sit rate goods not subject to dutv; the al ca
and population of the Dominion of Canada and
its provinces, the amount OF their funded and,
floating debts. their revenues, their railroads,
showing the mileage, cost share, capital, funded
and floating debts, and the guarantees given to
them by Great Britain or the Dominion;
their canals. showing the of the
locks, the cost of canals, the number of vessels
navigating them, and the average number of
days that they navigable; the dates for
series of years of the opening and closing of
navigation of the St. Lawrence, and as to subs-
dies paid to steamship and railroad companies
He said that the Information called for was ex-
ceedingly important and valuable. The neces-
sity for it was apparent 10 view OF the fact that
liable TO arise any time between the United
States and Canada
The resolution was laid over.
The House bill making an appropriation to
carry into effect the law establishing expert
mental stations at the agricultural colleges
reported from the committee appropriations
and passed, with an amendment appropriating
money from the Treasury directly instead of
devotIng the proceeds of the sales of public
lands to the purpose.
The Senate then took up the Blair educational
bill, and Mr.. Morgan addressed the Senate for
the third time In opposition TO it. If Congress
would take off the burden of surplus taxation
Alabama would take care of her common
schools. She doing it now 10 a way to put
TO the blush many of the older States. The
trainers of this bill seemed to think that the
whole United States was to be put upon 'sthe
blanket Indian basis" to be lassoed and put into
school. The next step in the progress of usurpa-
ton would be compulsory education. The
schoomaster intended TO take possession Of the
land and this bill would give him, in the State
OF Alabama. So. 600 COO year in salaries. while
all the State expenses of tie government were
but 5000 0O0
Mr. Blair remarked that he did not believe in
compulsory education.
Mr.. Morgan said that was certainly the only
reason why compulsory education was not in the
bill, because the Senator from New Hampshire
had got everything in the bill that be believed
In. AS to the political objects of the BILL the
senior Senator from New Hampshire, Mr. Blair,
wanted to protect the ballot box by educating
the negroes; while the junior Senator (NIr.
Chandler) wanted to do it by taking the shot
che proposition. They had more right to in
terfere with mans voting in the State of Missis-
sippi than he [Mr. Morganl had to
interfere with a mans going to church in New
He believed that education was
Pafer in the hands of the fathers and mothers
IN the community than in the hands of patent
outside" teachers; and that one of the defects of
the common school system was the discouraging
of the cooperation of parents Several at
tempts had been made by Congress to benefit
the condition Of the negroes. The Freedmen's
Bank was one. 1t did not make the negroes
rich, but 1t made other people rich. This bill
was another gift TO negroes; but it was gift
which would destroy them. 1t would take from |
that race OF people all tho manhood which they |
possessed and prevent the very best efforts of |
their friends in the South from making any
thing of them He concluded by expressing the |
hope that be never again should be called upon |
10 speak the Blair bill |
Mr.. Evarts took the floor and announced his |
Intention to speak upon the bill tomorrow.
Mr.. Edmunds offered resolution, which |
adopted, calling on the Commissioner or Agr- |
culture for the reports made by Prof. Swenson |
pn the subject of sugar making.
Mr.. Dolph introduced bills which were re- |
fsrred. to establish the Sun-dance land district
"a Wyoming, and authorizing the leasing OF |
lehool and university lands IN Wyoming After |
IN executive session the Senate adjourned.
The Public Printer Under Criticism.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-On motion of Mr.. |
Hatch. Of Missouri, Senate bill was passed au- |
Ihorizing the construction of bridge across the |
Missouri river, below St. Charles, Mo.
Underi the call of States, a large number OF |