The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-27

tended to be pat in openly on recommen-
dation of the Postoffice Department.
Mr.. Randall-Why was not that com.
munication sent to the Committee on
Appropriations of this House?
Mr.. Garfield Because the bill was
then in the Senate.
Mr.. Randall-Why did the Postmas.
ter General wait till the last hour OF the
session to put such matter on the coun-
try, when he had an entire session to
come to a conclusion about it?
Mr.. Garfield cannot answer for the
Postmaster General for these reasons:
am not the keeper of his discretion, nor
am l in his couDsels. Mr.. Garfield then
went on TO argue against carrying mer-
ehandise in mails, and said that if any
one would show him any logical place to
stop ut in this business until railroad
car was loaded with goods and had its
sides posted with stamps, he could 90
more than he [Garfeld] could. The
Postoffice Department in entering on the
business of merchandise transportation
was ultimately bound to absorb the en-
tire freis sht transportation OF the country.
Mr.. Clarke-Is not merchandise car
ried in the mails of every other coantry2
Mr. Garfeld-Perhaps. l am not in
formed The postoffice was established
to transmit intelligence, and everything
else is a deviation from the original idea.
Mr.. Lawrence advocated the bill and
the legislation of the last session advanc-
ing the rate on third class matter was un-
doubtedly at the instance OF the express
companies, ard to the great detriment of
public iaterests He favored this bill be-
cause the mails reached every
village and the express companies
did not, and if the people
OF those remote places were cut off from
the privileges Of receiving packages of
seeds and books and merchandise by mail
they could not receive them at all. He
also favored it because these merchan-
disc packages could be carried without
loss to the Postofiice Department. Mer-
chandise could be carried all round the
globe at eight cents pound or less. No
merchant IN New York would send a
hundred pound packages through the
mails and pay eight cents pound for
them, because the express companies
would carry them cheaper. That was an
answer to his colleagues Mr.. Garfeldl
argument.
Mr.. Randall also supported the bill,
and expressed his qualification that those
who had any connection with the legs.
lation of last year NOW to be repealed)
disayowed it. Even the Postmaster Gen.
era had suggested the repeal of the law
which he had been clearly found guilty
| of having inaugurated. 1t was remark
able that all the blunders which were
committed in the haste Of the legislation
at the end OF the session were sure to be
in behalf of monopolies and against the
interests of the people. The result of the
law of last session had been to inconven-
fence the people, and to augment the re-
cepts of express companies quarter OF IA
million dollars.
Mr.. Garfield asked Mr.. Randall
whether he held the Committee on Ap-
preparations of the last House responsible
for doing a guilty or Infamous thing in
connection with this legislation.
Mr.. Randall replied that he held the
Conference Committee and the Commit
tee on Appropriations OF the last House,
guilty of the commission Of lack of
scrutiny in the matter, and he promised
that the Committee on Appropriations OF
the present House would not be guilty OF
ANYTHING of the kind.
MIR. Garfield suggested to Mr.. Randall
the consideration of the scriptural advice,
Let not him who putteth on his harness
boast as he who taketn it of
Mr.. Randall replied that he had not
boosted, but had simply condemned
when condemnation was called Tor He
did not propose to act Ia the interest OF
express companies, or in any interest eX-
cept those of the people.
The bill was then passed without a
division.
The House then went into Commit
tee of the Whole Hoskins in the chair
on the
Military Academy Appropriation
Bill,
which appropriates $23l,24l, and was
addressed BY Mr.. Hale, of Maine, who
opposed the reduction OF the pay
of cadets and professors, recommended
by the bill.
Mr.. Hamilton, ot New Jersey and a
member of the Committee on Appro-
priations having charge of the bill re-
plied 10 Mr.. Hale and asserted that the
figures ard facts showed that there WAS
large room for retrenchment. The estims-
ties sent in fora military academy amount
to Si37. .OOd but the Committee on APP
propristions had cut them down to s243,-
64l snd the Committee believed that
that reduction could be made without
impa,rinc the utility OF the academy To
any extent. Itwas mere looping of
of extravaganza He asser:s thst y the
present compensation of the experiment.
ent of the academy he was te.t,r paid
than any government officer, except le
President receiving by direct pay and by
percentage, for longevity allowance, by
forage allowance, BY quarters, rations
and one thing or another about S25ioOO
a wear. He referred 10 the ss!s-ie; OF
other officials and said the salaries could
be red uced Ms proposed and stiil leave
adequate compensate. This bill, be
said proposed that the army officers ita-
toned at West Poi,t should have the
same pay and allowance as they bad IN
the army. He said tha. the
allegations urged against the bill
were not well founded aud be
reminded the House that the road toward
economy was now open, and that 1t "ss
in the discretion Of the House 10 say how
far it should be pursued.
Mr.. Hurlbut said that be oPppes the
economic features of the bill, and 'sug.
cested, IN reply to Mr.. Hamilton, Of New
Jersey. that al the time when his Ham
ilton brother was West Point cadet re-
celyiny SIS a month. members OF Con
gress only received $ % day, and that
il might be economic for him Hamilton
TO remit to the treasury the surplus pay
which he now received Laughter In
hi. Judgment this bill struck Deliberately
and wiliully ali three Of them;
| Laughter s, tie well being Of great
national institution, whose record vas