Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-08
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.
SENATE,

The Vice-President presented com.
nunication from the Secretary OF the
Treasury giving the number Of aliens
employed in the Treasury Department.
as called for by resolution Of May 9th
last. 1t states that the number OF such
aliens at the time of the adoption OF the
resolution was 35: but that since then
almost all of them had become natural
lied.
Mr.. Gallinger, who had offered the
resolution. said that it was gratifying to
him TO notice that foreigners who bad
had conspicuous employment in the
public service had found il convenient,
since attention had been called 10 the
matter, 20 take out naturalization pa
pers.
Various other departmental commun-
ications were presented and referred
among them the annual report Of the
government directors OF the Union Pa
cifc Railroad Company
Petitions from Philadelphia and st.
Louis favoring the passage of the Ding
ley bill were presented By Mr.. Morrill,
(rep. VT and referred to the Finance
Committee. Like petitions were pre-
sented by other Senators also several
memorials in relation to Armenian out
RACES.
Mr.. Cullom (dem. Ill., gave no.
tice that he would next Thursday
morning submit remarks on the Cuban
question.
A message from the House in relation
to the death OF ey-Spesker Crisp was
laid before the Senate, and on motion
OF Mr.. Bacon, who stated that he would
ask the Senate at some future time to
assign day for eulogies, the Senate
at 12::225 adjourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Hull offered a resolution refer
ring to the committee on military at
fairs so much of the report of the
boards of soldiers homes ss under
the rules should go to that commit
tee. The speaker stated that be would
refer the report to the appropriation
committees.
Mr.. Loud called up the bill authoriz-
ing the use of private postal cards, the
cards TO be no longer than the official
cards and TO be carried by affixing
stamp.
The report of the committee and let
ter of the Postmaster General recon-
mending the passage of the bill were
read in support Of the passage of the bill.
These stated that the scheme would
tend to popularize the use of the postal
service, would save to the government
the difference between the price OF the
stamps used aud the cost of the cards,
obviate the handling and storing OF
large quantities of cards, and was be.
lieved TO be entirely safe. The bill
takes effect July l, 1897. 1t was passed.
Mr.. Loud called up the bill authoriz-
ing the Postmaster General to make
regulations by which senders of regis
tered letters or packages may be indem.
nified in sum not exceeding SO in any
one case for loss of the letter or pack
ages in the mail, to be paid out of the
postal revenues.
Postmaster Generals Bissell and Will
son approved the bill.
Mr.. Quigg opposed the bill, suggest
ing an increased fee to meet the cost of
this insurance to recoup the govern
ment to meet his objections.
Mr.. Bingham, supporting the bill,
explained that the Investigations
by the Postoffice Department of
complaints of losses of registered
mail in the last fiscal year
demonstrated liability by the govern
ment under the terms of the proposed
act for six hundred losses out of over
fifteen million packages registered.
The bill was passed-76 to 13.
Mr.. Loud also called up the House
bill directing postmasters at places
where there is no free mail delivery,
upon the petition of 90 persons receiv-
ing mail at one office to appoint carriers
who shall be paid for their services by
the patrons who utilize them.
The bill was passed.
The House then resolved itself iuto
committee of the whole and proceeded
to consider the general pension appro-
Hill