Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-01-27
CONGRESSIONAL.
WAsHINGToN, d. c., Jan. %.
HOUSE,
Postofice Appropriation Bin.

Postofice Appropriation Bill.
Soon after assembling the House wenI
into Committee of the Whole on the
postoffice appropriation bill, and Mr.
Blount explained its provisions. Ii ap'
propriates SS4,960, 900, decrease o.
about $1,000, 900 from the estimates and
an increase of 81 ,000, 900 over the appro'
priation last year. He said that but foI
the legislation OF Democratic House
for the last three years, the appropria'
ton this year would have been at least
three millions larger than it was.
Mr.. Baker, OF Indiana, said that last
year he predicted, when the postOfhce
bill was before the House, that the ap-
preparation was insufficient and would
end in deficiencies That prediction
had come true, and with equal certainty
the same prediction might be made
about the present bill. Any attempt
to cripple the railroad mail service or
the Star service was crime against the
country.
The bill was then read by sections for
amendments.
Mr.. Blouut would increase the appro-
priatiOn for postoflice clerks from ~, i60, :
600 to S3,5l5,0OO.
Mr.. Baker, Of Indiana, offered an
amendment to the amount, Increasing
the sum to S3,600,00O asked for in the
estimates. Agreed to, ami the amend
mcnt as amended adopted.
Mr.. Page offered an amendment in
creasing the appropriation for letter
carriers from $4,000 to S2,000,0O0 Ia
the amount of estimate.
Mr.. Townsend, of Ohio, and MIR.
Harrison, supported the amendment,
asserting that the free delivery system
was not only seif-sustaining, but brought
large revenue in the Treasury
Mr.. Blount opposed the amendment,
saying that there were only iOur cities
where the free delivery system brought
any revenue.
After further discussion the amend
ment WAS agreed to; IS To so.
Mr.. Waddell offered an amendment
directing postOflicc employees on rail
roads who keep an account Of the stamps
sOcancclled, the same To be credited TO
the postmaster at the station where the
mail was put on the cars for the purpose
OF fixing a basis for the payof suchpOst-
master. Adopted.
Mr.. Money offered an amendment in
creasing the appropriation for transpor-
tatiOn on the Star routes from S),6OO,OOO
To $5,9OO,0O0.
Mr.. BlOunt called attention To the fact
that during the last eight years the
Republicans had control Oi the House
they had only made an annual Increase
Of $4,000 in the matter of the Star ser
vice, while since the Democrats had OBJ
tanned control they had added some
%, too, 900.
Mr.. Fem advocated the amendment,
and mentioned the case Of pOpulous
mining settlement in Idaho where the
miners had to contribute 90 cents 4
month in order to get their mail.
Mr.. Chalmers characterized the
economy on his side Oi the house as
parsimOnv. 1t reminded him OF man
coming home from his luxurious club
and Finding fault with his wife for having
two candles burning. 1t was "tallow
candle retrenchment."
Durham and Blount defended the
position Oi the Committee On Appropri-
atiOns, and argued that the sums recon-
mcnded for railroad service and for
steamer service, were liberal and ample.
After further discussion Mr.. Money :
amendment, increasing the appropria-
tiOn for steamer service to Sj,9OO,OOO, was
adopted. The committee then rose and
the House adjourned.