Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-11

amount expended from the appropriation for
construction and repair was s4s6, ,796. The un-
expended balance for the appropriation Janu-
ary 1st was S259, SIS, of which Ella 757 was nee
essary to meet contracts and acquisitions
already made. The expenditure from the ap-
preparation for steam-machinery was S195, ,15S
and the unexpended balance Of the appropria-
ton on January LIST was S32s, ,741.
THE ELECTORAL COUNT.
The Speaker to-day appointed Representa-
tives Ermentrout, of Pennsylvania, and Baker
of New York, to act as tellers for the House in
counting the electoral vote next Wednesday.
q. A. R. PETITION.
Senator Paddock to-day presented petition
from Nebraska Grand Army veterans, asking
Congress to pass the National Tribune service
pension bill," ''the same being considered as
but an act Of simple justice to the soldiers who
fought for the preservation of the nation in
the war Of rebellion"
THE DIRECT-TAx BILL.
Senator Sherman, on Saturday afternoon re-
ported back from the committee on finance the
direct-tax bill with recommendation that the
Senate disagree to the House amendment and
ask a conference thereon. The motion was
agreed to, and Messrs. Sherman, Morrill, and
Harris were appointed conferees.
THE DIPLOMATIC APPROPRIATION BILL.
The conferees on the consular and diplomatic
appropriation bill have come to an agreement
the S5OO,00 for the maintenance of American
rights in Samoa being concurred in by the
House representatives The 100000 for q
naval station at Pago Pago is left to go in the
naval bill.
ALBEMARLE AND CHESAPEAKE CANAL CLAIM.
The House bill directing the Secretary of the
Navy to investigate the claim of the Albemarle
and Chesapeake canal company for tolls on
vessels-transportin naval supplies during the
war-and to award such sum as he may find
equitably due, not to exceed S3,742.20, was
passed by the Senate on Saturday.
THE PosT-oFFIcE APPROPRIATION sILL,
now pending in the House, appropris,es $780,
1864 of which it is estimated that S62, ,5OS,-
658 will be provided by the department from
its own revenue. The appropriation for in
land mail transportation is an increase of g.
1G5, 100 over the appropriation of the current
year. and this is in part accounted for by the
fact that the department had sent estimates
of deficiency of Sl,0O7, 500. The increase in
the free-delivery system amounts to 81 ,OO0, 900.
This is rendered necessary by the laws passed
for the classification OF carriers, for leaves OF
absence and for applying to them the eight
hour law. But Notwithstanding this increase
this branch of the service will be more than
self-sustaining. There is an increase of $780,
600 in the appropriation for the compensation
for post-office clerks.
IN THE SENATE SATURDAY,
after THE STARS report closed, the bill to es-
tablish United States courts in the Indian ter
ritory was passed The Notifications appro-
priation bill was also passed. Mr.. Stewart in
trOduced resolution for an investigation of
the salmon fisheries of Alaska by the fish COM
missioners and others; the resolution was
agreed to. Messrs. Henderson and Harris were
appointed tellers on the part of the Senate in
the counting of the electoral vote.
THE SENATE TARIFF BILL.
As the Treasury figures have not vet been re-
turned from the public printer, the ways and
means committee will not be able to report the
tariff bill back to the House before Thursday