National Republican., 1882-12-18


which the Eoternhcnt paid $4,000 to trans
port the tiihils froih New YORK to Albany. He
understood perfectly we'll flat this question
was attempted to be turned into war against
railways and newspapers because newspapers
and railways had been critical. He asked the
committee to rise above such considerations
and to concede the demands Of the great
business interests.
Mr. Cannon stated that train left New
York on the Pennsylvania Central railway at
the same hour that the engine and mail car
left the New York Central depot, and for
which the government paid $4,000. Both
trains reached Chicago at the same TIME. 1t
was in the power of the postmaster gen
eral to place the mail on the Pennsylvania
railway train without paying cent for extra
facilities and IL was his duty to do it, This
was not u war against newspapers and rail-
ways; IL was war in favor of good practice.
Mr.. Robinson, Of Massachusetts,, said that
these charges against railways and newspapers
had nothing to do with the matter. Last
year congress appropriated 100000, and the
postmaster general had made successful ar
Engagements with these railway companies. He
did not believe that only S2OO,0OO Should be
appropriated because he wanted the service
extended Whether the railways and news
papers were opposed to congress had nothing
TO do with the subject and they were only
lugged into the discussion in order to draw at
Mr.. Reagan said that the appropriation of
S600,000 would only put up u sum of money to
be gambled and scrambled over. 1t was the
common experience of the departments that
when a sum was put UP to be gambled for
every appliance would be employed to obtain
1t. 1t could not fail to have a demoralizihg
effect on railways and the departments. He
had no war to make on newspapers or rail
ways, but he had defense to make for the
people of the United States. Congress would
do well to remember that there were people
in this country MS well as railways.
Mr., Bingham contended that the special
facility fund had been carefully expended
and wisely watched; there had been no COM
petition for this MONEY as the gentleman from
Texas intimated, but there had been will
ingncss on the part of the trunk lines to carry
mails on the fastest trains, but they could not
allow the department to fl their schedules.
Mr.. Ryan opposed the amendments, con
tending that nearly all the business mail Of
New York left on the $40 p. m. train and was
deposited in Chicago in advance Of the special
facility train.
MIR. Robcson said that 100000 was not
enough to satisfy the demands of the railway
companies. For himself lie was willing to
afford special facilities provided they, were
afforded to the whole country and afforded on
some principle which could be understood.
He was not willing to vote additional money
10 pay railways 10 run passenger Trains on
which to carry the mails The question was
whether congress should give the necessary
millions to do the work right or give $200,0OO
for special mail facilities-special not only in
character, but in locality. The gentleman
from New York Mr.. Hiscockl had said that
there had been lugged into this debate some
war on railways and newspapers. Not by
him (Nfr. Robeson), He carried on war in
behalf of the people of the country, and if
when man defended the interests of the
people at large it followed as a corollary that
he was against railways and newspapers, he
must accept that position; but he was not,
perhaps, as sensitive as some gentlemen to the
criticism Of the press He did not respond as
quickly to the interest OF railway companies,
or move at the crack of their whip. When W zen
the interest of the people of the country
needed defense, if he were in the position and
had the power to give it, he would not shrink
from the responsibility.
Mr.. Hiscock. The gentleman says that /
luggcd into this discussion, a suggestion that
this was war on railways and newspapers.
/ say, Mr.. Chairman, that the speech that he
treated us to yesterday read between the lines
was simply proclamation of war; and l say
that from the outset in this matter the appeal
has been made to a prejutice against newspa-
pers and against railways to strike down the
special facility.
1t has passed from ear to ear in regard to
the gentleman from New Jersey when he
erected himself on such proud pedestal that
he was smartihg beneath the lash of the news
papers. l repeat what l said before, that the
appeal here against this appropriation is to
the prejudice which has been instituted
against them. |, no more than he, shrink be-
meath their lash and have felt ii as severely
as he has, but there are great BUSINESS inter
csts involved in this question, and because,
forsooth his district may be gridironed by
,nt1 lie hat n frn t1,tu In
cause the New York papers may be deposited
there earlier is no reason why these business
interests should be stricken down.
Mr.. Bland said that the water way trans
portation of the country was to be struck
down in the interest of the great railways
and the city of New York. This 100000 was
| to be diverted in the same direction in order
to build up the railways and the cities on The
Atlantic scacoast. 1t was a corruption fund
which lie did not think should be provided
for
Mr.. Ward argued that the special facilities
were in the interest of the people at large anG
not in the interest of any particular com
munity
Mr.. Davis opposed the appropriation. Wha
advantage was 1t to Chicago to have the mai
dumped there six or eight hours earlier, wher
it could not be transmitted to the west. TIL,
present special facilities were desired for met
ropolitan papers and for merchants arount
New York city. Chicago needed the sam,
facilities. If she could have these facilitie
he would be in favor of an appropriation, bu
! he was not in favor Of an appropriation tina
could not do equal Justice to the whole coun
try. He protested against discriminatin!
against the great commercial centers Of th
west
Mr. Holman opposed the amendments.
Mr.. Hewitt suggested that the postmaster
general did not belong to the state of ..Nev
| York and there would be no motive for hin
to expend the money on mails to and iron
New York unless it were for the general in
terest New York was what she was becaus
she was the entrepOt for the commerce of tn
country. She belongs not to herself, not t.
the state of New York, but to the entir
country and ifmoney was expended in carry
| ing the mails to or from New York, it was Ii
no sense local. He repudiated the idea tina
the city of New York would come here an,
ask for dollar for her own benefit, except S
far as that benefit was consistent with tn
prosperity and advantage of the whole coun
try 1t was the people of the country VIII
wanted the communication with New York
not New York that wanted 1t with the peO
pie of the country. These mail facilities wer
to enable business men outside of New Yorl
to have their business transactions carrie
out promptly and efficiently, and if the hous
refused this appropriation whom did it pun
ish? Not the business men of New York
not the railways of New York not the news
papers ofNew York. 1t furnished the peopl
of the country who wanted letters from NeN
York promptly.
Mr.. Hiscock's amendment was lost withou
division and Mr.. Robinson's by vote of
to 81.
Committee amendments were adopted az