The weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1878-1881, 1880-03-23

and the pay increased rom $4,000 to $144,-
262. The original bonds were $15, 600 and
were never increased. Beck did not care to
cite all such cases that existed. These were
fair examples. He thought Brady was an
honest man, but he was the tool Of O'Brien.
He was really the clerk of those under him
instead of their being clerks under him.
Beck vert on to say that $3q7. 1854 was more
for expedition on twenty specified routes than
il would cost to give daily trips on them.
The contractors do not want more trips their
cry is for faster time, so they can build up a
lucrative express business in competition
with the regular companies, and the depart
n1ent gave it to them On their own afitayits
that it was necessary. While the Postmaster
General may have done what he thought best,
it is a singular fact that he has never used his
discretion to reduce expenses and keep within
the appropriations, but always to increase the
appropriations.
Teller opposed the preamble. The Post
master General was by law given full dis
erection over the increase of service. No
officer can exercise such discretion if the
House, or Senate, or President, or anybody
else, can interfere with it.. Tn people of the
East have little idea of the Inconvenience
suffered by those living in tEa West on account
of the restricted mail communications. These
people rely almost entirely for their reading
matter OF what comes through the mails. and
some of the largest dry goods houses in
Chicago and other Western cities are sup
ported bv custom through the mails. He
believed the Postmaster General was giving
better service than had ever been given before,
and at as low or lower rates. Considering
the great growth of the Western States, the
department had used its discretion wisely.
Garland opposed the preamble. The worst
that could be said of the department was that
it misused its discretion. If it had so mis-
used it, it had been under a great pressure
from eminent men all over the country.
Booth-I want to put the statement on
record. The fact is the service on the star
routes to-day is better and more expeditiously
performed than ever before. The matter
carried is largely greater than ever before.
The cost of appurtenances used by contract
ors is higher than it has been for five years,
and the cost of transportation more than it
has been at any time within twenty-five years,
with the exception of a single year.
Kirkwood opposed the preamble. Congress
had appropriated five million nine hundred
thousand dollars gross for the star service.
What shall be star service? 1t is and always
had been at the discretion of the Postmaster
General. The question is, whether the SER
vice was necessary or not. The Postmaster
General had discretion to close the star routes
in other pats of the country to save money
to put new service where required in the
West. If this were lone in order to enable
him to keep within the appropriation, eastern
people would perhaps begin to look at this
question more as western people now do.
He believed the Postmaster-General had
acted honestly and wisely. He would vote
for the bill but against the preamble.
Davis, OF West Virginia. stated that the
debate showed there was no opposition to the
bill itself. He was authorized by a majority
of the on appropriations to offer
the following as the third section which would
take the place of the preamble:
Nothing in this act shall be deemed or con-
strued as a ratification of any unlawful act
or omission of any officer Of the United States
or TO affect any proceeding thereon.
Blaine stated as a member of the committee
he was opposed to both the preamble and
proposed amendment.
Plumb opposed the amendment prohibiting
further increase Of trips. 1t was unjust to
the growing communities of the West.
Wallace pointed out that one hundred
thousand dollars was appropriated for neces
sary new service. 1t seemed to him that the
people could get along four months without
increased trips.
Adjourned.
WASHINGTON, March, 1~7.-Hampton. from
military committee, reported a bill to COM
plete the survey of the Gettysburg battle
field, movement of troops, etc. Placed on
calendar.
Burnside introduced a bill for a permanent
construction fund for the navy. Referred.
The Senate resumed consideration of the
star route deficiency bill, the pending question
being the committee amendment prohibiting
an increase OF trips on star routes during the
remainder Of the fiscal year.