The Portland daily press., 1896-12-09
DECEMB

from the secretary of the treasury, giving
the number of aliens employed in the
treasury department, as called for by
the resolution Of May last. 1t states
that the number of such aliens at the
time of the adoption of the resolution
was thirty-fivs; but since then almost all
of them had become naturalized.
Mr.. Gallinger Of New Hampshire, who
had offered the resolution, said that 1T
was gratifying to him TO notice that for
eigners VINO had conspicuous employ
ment in the ublio service had found 1t
convenient, since attention had been
called to the matter to take out natural
ization papers.
Various other departmental commun1-
cations were presented and referred.
Petitions from Philadelphia and ST.
Louis favoring the passage of the DiDgley
bill were presented. Like petitions were
presented by other Senators also several
memorials in relation to Armenian out
RACES.
Mr.. Cullom of Illinois, gave notice that
he would next Thursday morning submit
remarks on the Cuban question.
r A message from the House in relation
to the death of sx-Speaker Crisp was LAID
before the Senate, and on motion OF Mr..
Bacon of Georgia, who stated that he
would ask the Senate at some future
time to assign day for eulogies. The
Senate at 1926 adjourned until tomorrow.
TIE HOUSE.
The House, in it's second days session
plunged at once into routine business.
Mr.. Hull of offered resolution referring
to the committee on military affairs SO
much of the report of the board of
managers Of soldiers homes as under the
rules should go to that committee. After
some desultory discussion, the Speaker
stated that he would refer the report to
the appropriate committee. This was
satisfactory, and the resolution was re-
ferred.
Mr.. Loud of California, from the conf
mittee on post offices and post roads,
called up the bill authorizing the use OF
private postal cards, the cards TO be no
longer than the official cards and to be
carried by aff1xing stamp. ne report
of the 90 mi mittee and the letter OF the
postmaster general recommending the
passage of the bill were read. The bill
takes effect July /. 1897. 1t was passed
without objection.
Mr., Loud also called up the bill
authorizing the postmaster general to
make regulations by which senders OF
registered letters or package may be
indemnified In q sum not exceeding $40
in any one case for loss Of letters or
packages in the mall to be paid out OF
the postal revenues. Postmaster General
Bissell and Wilson approved the bill.
Mr, OuiRR of New York opposed the
bill.
Mr.. Bingham of Pennsylvania, sup
porting the bill explained that the in
vestigations by the post office department
Of complaints of losses of registered mail
in the last fiscal year dem 0nstrated a
liza bility by the government under the
terms Of the proposed act for six hundred
losses out Of over fifteen million packages
registered.
ham stated that the experience OF every
country which had adopted the indemni-
ty for losses had been that the revenues
from increased business was vastly great
or than the cost Of insurance.
The bill was passed 76 to ID
Mr.. Loud also called up the House bill
directing postmasters at places where
there is no free mail delivery upon the
petition of twenty persons receiving mail
at one office. to appoint carriers who
shall be paid for their services by the
patrons who utilize them. Mr.. Sperry
Of Connecticut advocated the passage of
the bill, saying there was great demand
for it In New England and in farming
communities in the West.
MI. Bingham opposed the bill because
Of the increased liability to mail depreda-
tion the employment of such force
would incur. The bill would apply to at
least 20, 600 post offices and the carriers
would be subject to none of the require
ments limiting the appointment OF
carriers in the regular service and be free
FROM supervision by the postmaster gen
eral.
The bill passed, ITO to l3.
i The House then resolved itself into
committee of the whole and proceeded to
consider the general pension appropr1a-
tion bill. The provisions of the bill were
briefly explained by W. A. Stone. He
publican of Pennsy lvania. 1t carried a
total appropriation of $I41, 1888, $50, less BY
Sc. 900 than the appropriation for the
current year and the estimates of the
commissioner. No new legislation was
proposed i'll the bill.
Mr.. Grow, Republican of Pennsylvania
the venerable representative and ex-
Speaker of the House. took occasion OF
the liberty accorded under the rules TO
make tariff speech. He took as his text
the statement In the Presidents message
relating to the Wilson tariff bill.
In the two years and five months ended
Doc6m Der i, MT. GrOW S9lu bu6 uoCuloHoy
Ia the revenues of the government
amounted to over one hundred and ten
million dollars, yet the President made
no recommendation to Congress regard
ing the increase Of revenue. He did say
that no deficit that had occurred or was
likely to occur need excite or disturb us.
A most placid and comfortable frame
of mind" said Mr. Grow. "The PIesi-
dent evidently thinks the creditors OF the
nation will not be anxious as long as the
engravers and printing presses OF the
country do not break down."
MIR. Grow said he would not consider
the tariff in any partisan sense. but as
simple business matter, affecting the
revenues of the treasury. If the present
law was not good for any year, the first
duty of Congress was to provide revenues
for the government. He compared the
workings of the Mckinley and Wilson
laws. Protection, he contended. meant
employment for the American laborer
and revenue Tor the treasury.
The pension bill being read for amend
ments, those offered by Mr.. Connell,
Republican of Illinois, and Mr.. Curtis,
Republican of Kansas, providing respec-
lively that the rating fixed by the local
board OF examining surgeons shall be
conclusive IS to the amount of pension,
and apportioning an amount for CLERK
nd in nafe L. u..fv