The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-03-12

This brought up their representatives
who made an earnest fight against the un-
lust discrimination shown the various young
communities that were battling down the
barriers of wilderness and plain and re-
eeiying reinforcements from the over
crowded east. Maginnis called attention 10
the injustice of the arbitrary meth"d OF re-
duction, instead suggested reduction oased
on an increase of cost per mile; but re-
marked that Sd equitable course might
lose Mr.. Blount so many votes east oil the
Mississippi river that he could not carry
the bill The position taken by the Com
mittee was that the cost for Increased anu
expedited service had been extravagant and
smacked of the manipulation of rings,
whereas, il the Limitation of $4,000 increase
was adopted it would not offer sufficient in-
ducement for the rings to NEEDLE with
them. It was claimed the original contracts
had been ERASED in round numbers from
81 900, 600 to SO, 200, 900, and that the COM
mittee's bill would save $500, 900.
On one of the Montana routes, Bozeman
and Fort Keogh, the Department reported
that the original contract was let for 326
miles and increased to 361 miles the SER
| vice had been increased from to times
per week the original pay from SIC, 5oo to
$S5, 2e6. 81, and the number Of offices from
| s to 16.
The Montana routes that would be eff
fected by the bill would be
Bozeman & Keogh. ...36l mlies
| Helena IL Miss0ula.. ..l4U
Watson & Deer Lodge. ..116
Silver Bow & New Chicago...... 20
Helena Il Butte. .............' ~
Fort Benton s. Belknap. ...100
The increase on these routes for expedi-
ton and additional trips, during the fiscal
year 1879, was s64,693.
On the 9th the opponents of the measure
came in for their hearing and got their
work in. Mr.. Page proved the unfairness
of Mr.. Blount by showing from the records
that nineteen routes in his State, Georgia,
had been increased above the original con :
tracts and that the measure was SO ingeni-
ously devised that they were not effected
thereby. The economy claimed was dis
posed Of by a showing that the actual
saving by tho Committee measure would
be only 800, 79S, while the service be would
decreased on 10, 1864 miles Of mail routes,
principally traversed by four and six-horss
coaches. The discussion on this day occn-
pies sixteen pages of the Record.
On a vote being taken MIR. Blounes
amendment was lost, yes 80, noes 1l9.
Mr.. Blount then offered a substitute,
which was amended. adopted, reported 10
the House aud the bill passed.
That the sum Of sg7o, 900. so much thereof as
NAV he necessary be, and the same IL hereby, appro-
Tated out of any money In the Treasury not other.
Wise appropriated, TO meet the expenses of inlano
mail transportation on star routes Tor the
of the current fiscal year. ut or within contract prices
an they existed on February 1850: Prootded' Inhi
any route where there has been an increase oi
the original contract price during the last or cum
fiscal year for expeding the delivery OF mails on any
such routes at the rate of more than per an
num- the compensation for expedited service ON such
roues shall be reduced the teims OF the original
contract on and after the LIST day OF March, ls and
nothing herein contained shall be construed 10 re-
uure The reduction of the number OF trips per week
| over any such route below the present number dur
ing the remaiuded of the current fiscal year. NO fhr
ther expedtag of service on any postal star route
shall be made.
An additional 800. 600 was appropriated
to the use Of the Postmsster-G General In
placing new service or increasing old. Tue
| motion to reconsider was tabled and the
House adjourned. There is not much
doubt but that the Senate will concur in the
House Bill.