The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-03-19
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.

Washington, March 1.-THE house to-
day passed the postoi'icc appropriation
bill, which has been under consideration
since last Friday.
The feature of the debate was the at.
tack on the special system in connection
with letter carriers. The salaries of the
special inspectors have been paid under
the current law out of ~ fund at the dis
position Of the first assistant postmaster
general. This fund was cut off by the
present bill, but provision was made for
the employment Of 30 additional regular
inspectors under the fourth assistant
postmaster general. increasing the appro-
priation from 10000 to S212,OOO.
Mr.. Qujgg Of New York, led the fight
against this increase, and after II pro-
tracted debate his amendment to reduce
the appropriation TO $4,000 prevailed
70 to 81.
After the bill was reported to the house
Mr.. Cromwell Of Ohio offered an amend
ment to strike out the amendment Of
S10G,000 for special mail facilities from
Boston to New Orleans which was re-
tanned in the bill after a hard struggle
yesterday. But his motion was defeated
on n yea and nay vote-111 10 1874.
In the course OF the debate OF the sys-
TEN, Mr.. Picker read n letter relating
10 the dismissal of clerks in the post0ificc
conspiracy, in which the writer charged
BOLDLY and publicly" that n score of the
special inspectors were ordered into Ohio
last fall for service in the campaign and
that all special inspectors were compelled
10 make forced contributions to that cam
paigD. Further remarks were made by
Messrs. Belknap Qtcp) of Illinois, Ray
Rep) of New York, Bennett (Rcp) of
New York, Joy 0tcp) of Missouri, Spcrry
nf In ma m
of Pennsylvania in support of the amend
ment; and Messrs. B0atner Dem.) OF
Louisiana. Kyle (Dem.) of Mississippi,
and PendlctOn Dem.) of Texas in de-
Tense of the inspection system.
Tomorrow the Aldrich-RObbins contest
cd election case will be called up.
Bills were passed to authorize the con
struction, of bridge connecting Little
Rock and Argcnta, Ark. granting right
of-way to the Rock Island. Muscatine
and Southwestern railway for a bridge
over the Illinois and Mississippi canal;
authorizing the construction of II bridge
over the Tennessee river ut Knoxville
and directing the place and time of hold
ing terms OF United States district and
circuits courts in South Dakota.
SOMETHING RADICALLY WRONG.
Washington, March 11.-Judgc Arch-
commission, appeared before the house
Indian committee today and told the con,
ditions now existing calling for radica
change in the matter of holding lands by
members Of the five civilized tribes. 1t
had been denied, he said, that land
monopolies existed, and TO sustain this
chnrsee made by the commission, he read
petition signed by $50 Cherokee citizens
asking remedy for the evil. Investiga-
tons of the commission had been blocked
by the Legislators of the tribes. That
these bodies were correct, he said, was
an undoubtcd fact, and was testified by
numerous communications which he read.
At the present it was impossible for
young Indian to obtain farm without
paying for it. One person virtually own
cd 30 farms and % persons controlled
$4,000 acres of the best land in the
Cherokee Nation and was in reality the
share of over 1000 citizens. IL would not
right the evil to eject the intruders, for
the land would be purchased by the
monopolists The land held by the Mon,
opolists should be taken from them and
allotted to the Indian citizens.