National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-27
THE EPosT-oFFICE BILL.
ITS Passage by the House-scVcre Renec.
tions on Ihe Late E'ostmaster-Gcu

lions on tbe Late Postnnsfer-Gicucrni.
The Post. Office appropriation bill was discussed
and passed in the Hon,e on Saturday. In Mr.
Pages amendment to strike ont the clause appro-
priating 100000 for necessary and special facilities
on trunk lines the words "on trunk lines" was de.
5atcd at length
Mr.. Hatch strcnuously opposed approprlating
S5DOOOO for the Postmaseg General to deal out TO
few pet railroads. But one post Office west of the
Mississippi River had received the benefit of a
single cent of these large appropriations for special
service,
Mr.. Cannon, OF Illinois defended the fast mail
service, asserting that the question was not whether
the aboishng of this system would affect the well
fare of the railroads, but whether it would not
affect the convenience and the business of fifty
millions of people.
Mr.. Robson feared that If the House should
strike out the clause under consideration the FIVE
great masters of this country would follow the ex
ample ofthe Pennsylvania Railway between Rich
mond and Atlanta and stop the service of the
people, and thus put on their pressure and crack
| the WHIP over the Representatives here. lie then
| offered an amendment providing that the Post
master. General shall deduct from the pay ac-
cruing TO any railroad company under this appro-
| priation the amount ofthe increased pay nCcruing
| to such company from the appropriation for trans
portation on railroad routes by reason of the
! weighing of mails agreed upon In October and
| December last between the Postmaster. General
and the officers of the railroad companies
Mr.; iIiscock opposed the amendment, the effect
| of which would be 10 tuke away just SO much
money from the appropriation for special mail
| facilities as had been paid to the railroad COM
! panies under the reweighing.
| Mr.. Atkins stated that up to that time he had
voted for appropriation to secure special facilities,
| but he would do so no longer until some reform
! had been inauguratCd in the service. II seemed
| that the Postmaster General had instead of giving
| the country the benefit of his large discretion,
| given 1t to the railroad companies. lie had en-
| abed one company to realize an extra profit OF
| S70,OOO and 1t was hined that the man who held
started national bank, and that Postmaster Gen.
eral james was to he president. with large
salary. Was there any connection between those
facts2 1t was a singular circumstance that
the Postmaster General should himself have sug-
gested to that company that by the transfer of ono
from one train TO another II would increase its
profits 10000. A great reformcr that gentleman
seemed TO have BEEN He reformed and cut down
the mail service small star routes butiucreased
the pay to the railroad company $4,000 for the
| transfer Of one car from one tTaln to another.
| Mr., Bland objected to the appropriation, char
aCteriZing 1t rs Il corruption fund and COntending
| that the money which was now given 70 Jay
| Gould and Vanderbilt should be used in the ex-
| tension of the nr-rOute service.
After protracted discussion the debate was
| closed. and Mr.. Pages amendment was rejected
| without division while Mr. Robeson's amend
| ment was lost-G0 TO 30.
The committee then rose and reported the bill
| to the House.
The amendment authorizing the Postmaster
General, IN case Of sublctting OF mail contract
star routes TO declare the original contract for
fetod and TO enter into contract with the sub. con
| tractor, was agreed to-yGus, ll2; nays, ~. The
| bill was then passed and the House lat 5lO ad-
| journed