New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-16
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

THE STAR ROUTE BILL IN THE SENATE.
MR.. ACKLEN sNUBBED-TBE PROSECUTION OF GOV
ERSMENr TIMBER THIEvEs-No HOPE or AN
EARLY ADJOURNMENT REvIvING EXTRA
SESSION ISSUES.
Debate on the Star Route Deficiency bill
has begun in the Senate Senator MaXey de-
fends the action of the Post Office Department,
while Senator Beck condemns if. Mr. Acklen
was snubbed by his party associates IN the
House yesterday, they refusing to support a
motion made by him. A bill to compromise
prosecutions against persons unlawtuliy using
Government TIMBER was considered In the House
Yesterday The delay in reporting the appro-
priation bills defeats all probability of an
early adjournment of Congress.
MAIL SERVICE TO COUNTRY TOWNS.
MR. BECK IN STATE OF GREAT EXCITEMENT
ABOUT THE INCREASE OF MAIL FACILITIES BY
MR. KEY-A CHAMPION FOR THE LATTER FOUND.
[BY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNEl
WAsHrNGToN, March 15-Debate mas begun IN
the Senate upon the Star Route Deficiency bill.
Mr. Beck spoke for hour this afternoon and holds
the floor for tomorrow.
Senator Maxey the chairman of the Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads, came forward as the
champion of the Post Office Department. He made
n long speech chiefly designed for the ears of his
Texas constituents among whom an increase OF
the star ROnte Service TO any extent means an In
crease in the amount of money to be expended
among them and for their benefit. He did even
more than this. He showed many reasons which
might eaitimately be urged IN defence of the ac-
ton Of the Department IN increasing the rate OF
speed and frequency Of the service. He compared
the service at the present time with that In good
old Democratic days" and said that in point of
,lo tboo ip1fn
uraby favorable to the present service"
He named two or three of the routes which have
afforded the principal ground for the attacks upon
the Department, and said that he was himself re-
sponsible more than any other living man Tor the
increase of service upon them
Senator Beck was as usual incisive and severe,
using no antiquities. but denOuncng the acts of
the Postmaster-General as wilful and defiant viola
tions of the laws of the land He referred to GER
tain acts of the Department, and placed an incrpro-
tation upon them which was equivalent TO an accu-
sation of conspiracy. He said in effect that the
Department had called for So 600 900 as absolutely
necessary to carry out the service pon IFS existing
basis, while it was found upon inquiry of the Sixth
Auditor that 81 155 900 was all that could be used
unless n still further increase was intended. He
charged shat Blue Book containing information
which Congress ought to have had had been de-
layed. He read copiousy from his own examination
of General Key, showing that the latter
had Elr Beck seemed to think, the efirOntery to
maintaiu IN his very presence that he had acted
within the law and especially for the good OF the
country. Mr.. Beck said the POstmaster-General
had told him that if Congress failed tonake an APP
preparation he should not, in diminishing he ser
vice to get within the appropriation contne him.
self wholly to the frontier routes but should equal
iZe the Star Service everywhere, even cutting on
portion of that upon particular route In Kentucky
named bv the Senator, upon which was situated "A
National Bank which the Senator said would have
tn ha fha n.
said that the Department is bulldOZlng Congress
and putting Senators in duress He cited number
OF to th Rolnt and 10
Postmaster General Key said to CORRESPONDENT
of TuR TRIBUNE this evening that there Is Iealiy 10
difference of opinion between the Sixth AuultoI shu
b;mseH in regard to the necessities OF the star
Route service for the remainder Oh tc sIh he Se
ate Appropriations Com Filtee was not III dCs' a.. In
estimate at all 1t was SIMPLY statentns Or te
agrecs se of actual payments for Star foute service
mn ~ the date of the report, and computation OI
The expenditure at the same quarterly rate 1or me
remainder of the wear. BY this computation InS
amnnnt necessary to carry on the work was 1onn1
To he 81 90 600. As matter OF 1act the lncreaSe9
service contracted for had not gone INTO erect an.
conseouently had not been paid for, on NUMBER OF
The routes at the time the Auditor made ms report
In addition Judge Key said only l,3oo OIL the
1000 new routes ordered by the last Congress mac
been put in opeTatlon, ana ire estiinatTe " u
90 600 600 made by the Department contemplated
the starting of the remaining 200 routes. .o,a
In reference to the Blue Book, Judge heV sald
that file Post Office Department had nothing what-
ever TO do with the delay. The information from
,yh;ch that work was compiled came entirely from
the Treasury Department, and the responsibility ioI
fhe DELAY was with that Department
As the matter now stands, the Post once Depart
menf has every advantage Not an lOa OF eVlnence
of actual msappropratiOn of money has been dis-
covered, while Congressman VINO are assaliIhg .Ie
Department are saying III ehect i1oIe Is DePdio ho
nent which has done for our constituents what tbcy
exnectcd us 10 do for them, ana we are prIhg
coeTced by fear of their displeasure to sanction TINS
action of tine Department"