Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-27
$4,000, and wrong to stand by it where it ex-

MIR. Baker reported that in the first case there
was little or no room for combinations or rings,
but in the other cases there was.
Mr.. Clymer said the House had voted S.
90O 900 for the star service. every cent that had
been asked for. The startling fact was proved
by the report of the postmaster general that
on the very day that the appropriation had
been made no had been running the depart
ment at cost of $6,40O, 900. He called atten-
ton to the fact that for the first time since its
publication the blue book for this year omitted
any statement as to the cost Of running the
been deliberately omitted. He left for the
committee to Judge for itself what had been
the object of emitting it. The second assist
ant postmaster general claimed that there was
no limit to his discretion. He, Clymer, claim
ed that he who laid his hands on any funds,
SO az to defeat the intention of the statutes,
was a violator of law, and were it in his
power, that violator should suffer as other
malefactors. A mere clerk in the postofice de-
partment override the will of the legislative
power of this government. Had it come to
that, that Congress WAS the servant of clerk,
and that he proposed to strike it down by
coming to this House by promises, by log
rolling and by threats of cutting down the SER
vice, was Congress to be driven to do
what the second assistant postmaster general
thought right, no matter what might be the
judgment of Congress, and had it come to it
that the American Congress was in the hands
of the postofice clerk. Congress didn't pro-
pose to strike down the service, but if it could
possibly, by direction or indication, curb the
assumed power of the apparent extravaganza,
to use no more offensive term OF the depart
ment it should do so.
Mr.. Rothwell supported the bill, not as
m after of choice, but as a matter of necessity.
The time for argument had passed and the
time for action had come.
Mr.. Conger criticised Clyner for having in
jected into his speech as strong pathetic and
theatrical effort as he had made on another
memorable occasion, referrinf to the impeach-
ment of Secretary Belknap.
The general debate having closed. Mr.. Blount
moved a substitute for the first section of
the bill reported to-day by Mr.. Baker.
Mr.. Hayes said he would vote $5,000,000 if
it were needed to keep up an efficient star SER
vice.
Mr.. Epson said the attempt was being made
to force the present bill through under whip
and spur without it's being understood by the
House or by the committee on appropriations.
The committee was entirely at sea. 1t had
yesterday brought in bill which would save
to the government only 100000. To-day by
the substitute it was proposed to cut down that
service over 5000, 900, and why? The members
of the committee had given no reason for it.
Their mouths had been frothy and bloody and
q
postmaster general and his subordinates, but
they hadn't placed their fingers a single
fraud, and he challenged them to point to a
single substantial reason why the bill should
be adopted in its present shape.
Mr.. Blount's substitute was agreed to. Yeas
1853, nays not counted.
Mr.. Blount then moved to amend the second
section of the bill by striking out the appro-
priation of 100000 to increase the service on
existing routes.
Mr.. Cannon, in advocating the amendment.
said that in his opinion the expenditure which
was now being made on star routes was not
wise. As a Representative he expressed that
opinion boldly and fearlessly. In politics he
was Republican, yet he stood on all ques-
tons of the expenditure Of money on his char
acter and freedom as Representative,
and no cracking of the party whip in
the hands of the gentleman from California,
Page, in talking about riders or reinforcements
from the solid South, (alluding to remark of
Page, that it was hard to beat the solid South
frightened him. If it was to be made politi-
cal test whether these 100000 were
to be poured into the lap of half dozen con-
tractors on those enormous routes, then he
wasn't a politician.
Mr.. Calkins said, the committee had made an
attack on the star service in only two States
and the territories, and had carried off their
scalps. Had it broadened the provisions of
the bill 80 as to extend to other States, it
wouldn't have obtained twenty-five votes.
Mr.. Dunnell offered an amendment permit
ting the 300, COO appropriated for the purpose
of enabling the postmaster general to place
new service authorized by law, to be used also
for the increase of service on existing roads
other than those reduced by the first section.
Adopted.
Mr.. Biount's amendment was then adopted.
The committee then rose and reported the bill
kl,au
MIR. Morrison introduced bill reducing the
duties in excess of SO per cent. ad valorem on
articles specified in schedules A, B, G, K. l. and
Nj of section 2, 504 revised statutes, and not
subject to internal revenue tax. Referred. Ad-
journed.