Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1885 — WASHINGTON. [ARTICLE]

WASHINGTON.

A substitute for the bills proposed relative to the reduction of newspaper postage from two cents to one cent per pound will be favorably reported by tho House Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads. Treasury officials think that the worst of tho depression is over. Receipts from customs and internal revenue exhibit an upward tendency. An appropriation of $52,253,200 is recommended by tho postoffleo bill ns completed l y the House Appropriation Committoo. Tho estimates prepared by tho Postofflee Department amounted to 556,009,139. Tho chief items nre compensation of Postr masters. 512,300,000; compensation of clerks in postoffices, 55,100,000«; free delivery system, 51,100,000; railroad transportation, $15,265,000; star routes, 55,700,000; railway postoffice c'.erks, 54,482,000. Secretary Chandler has telegraphed instructions for tho United State; steamer Wachusett, of tho Pacific squadron, to prooeed to Guayaquil, Ecuador, for the protection of Julio R. Santos, a naturalized American citizen imprisoned there for alleged complicity in tho rebellion, and whoso speedy execution Is apprehended. Secretary McCulloch held a conference at the Treasury Department in Washington with Treasurer Wyman, AssistantTreasurer Acton, and Messrs. Dowd, Coe, and Vermilyea, tho Now York bankers. The conclusion was reached that the condition of the national finances did not call for any change in tho policy of the administration, and that there was no reason to anticipate any depreciation in the value of silver certificates. Secretary McCulloch regards the reduction of the public debt by 58,000,000 as very fortunate, and calculated to allay the apprehensions of increased depression. In his opinion it indicates that the greatest depth was reached in the latter part of December, and that the tendency in the public revenues and in the business of.,the country isj in an upward direction. The House Military Committee have withdrawn their recommendation to create the position of assistant chief of the signal service, for the benefit of Lieutenant Greely. The House Committee on Civil Service Reform decided to report adversely on the bill to prohibit the removal from office of honorably discharged Union soldiers or sailors.