The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-17
THE STAR ROUTES.
Warm Debate in the House on the POstoffice
Appropriation Bill

WAsHNGToN, March I'm the House the
morning hour was dispensed with and the House
went into committee of the whole Mr. Bel
mont IN the chair, on the postofice appropriation
bill, the pending question being on the motion Of
Mr. Horr to strike out the proviso limiting the
compensation paid for mail transportation to
land-grant roads to 80 per cent. of that allowed
other roads
Mr. Holman offered as a substitute for the mo-
ton an amendment including within the 5O-per
cent limitation clause the Northern Pacific and
Union Pacific systems, and providing that no
right now existing in favor of the United States
with regard to these roads shall be deemed i'm
paired or waived by this action.
Mr. Cannon said if the gentlemen of the other
side wanted to do just and effective thing, they
could come into the House with amendment
increasing the sinking fund, or with other provi
sons, so that when the bonds matured there
would be sufficient III that fund TO meet
them. The pending amendment was a sham
and a fraud, and an attempt to deceive the cOun
try.
Mr. Horn opposed the amendment contendiug
it would deprive the roads of earnings which
would be applied to the sinking fund
Hr. Holnans amendment was adopted-S5 to
So
Mr.. Horr moved to strike out the proviso as
amended.
The motion to strike out was lost--79 to 49,
Mr.. Bingham moved to strike out the clause
reducing per cent the rates allowed all railroad
companies
Mr.. Bingham's motion was lost, and the para
graph passed from.
The paragraph appropriating for star-route
services 81, 600 600 together with tho reappro
priation of $1,000. GOO out of any uneXpended bal
ance of the appropriation for 1888, having been
reached Mr.. Horr moved to strike out the reap
pTOpriafiDp cauSp and ipcppg q the
to 81, 600 900
Mr. Hiscock said the attempt of the majority
side to make the reappropriation was a petty
trick to lead the people into the belief that the
bill appropriated 81 900 600 less than it in reality
| did.
Mr.. Townshend, in the course of his speech in
support of the bill, went briefly into the history
of the starroute frauds, which he claimed had
been nnearthed by Democratic Congress.
Mr.. Cannon, in reply, charged that to the
| shame of q Democratic Congress it had refused
| to carry out the unanimous recommendation of
| the committee appropriations, which would
have cut out the ulcer.
Mr.. Townshend replied that though his col
| leagues may have supported these recommends
tons. the body of his party had voted against
them. The outrageous crime of the star route
frauds had worse result than the robbery OF
the treasury. Before the committee of the
House one of the highest officials under Repub
lican administration had sworn that the oUtrages
perpetrated by this maladversion had gone fur
the murder of a President.
Mr.. Milliken rose to PROFOUND question but
| his voice was drowned by cries Of Order" from
the Democratic side. However he managed to
make himself heard, after some time with the
question: Does the gentleman remember an
other President who was killed. Who killed
hml Who stood behind him, and who expressed
themselves glad of it!'
Yes replied Mr. Townshepd, misunder
standing the question; ''he was stalwart Re
publican, and he said he was forced to do it by
the stalwart element of his party
Mr.. Bingham-''By the hand of God"
Mr.. Reed reviewed the status of affairs at the
time of the Democratic investigation of the star
route frauds Republican Assistant Postmas
ter-general stood charged with crime before the
world, and, in the opinion of most of the world,
was guilty of that crime. 1t was also fact that
two Republican administrations had pursued
that man with all the resources the law of the
land allowed. Every time the Republican party
found criminals within its ranks it had pursued
them. Derisive laughter and shouts of 'Ohl'
on the Democratic side, together with a sugges
ton that that course would break up the party.
| The object Of Mr. Townshend in makinga speech
about corruption was to disguise the unfairness
of The bill.
Mr.. Blackburn reviewed briefly an interesting
! history of the proceedings III the House at the
time of the Brady investigation, giving due
| credit to the members of the committee on ap-
| preparations, Republicans and Democrats for
! the honesty and earnestness of purpose they had
brought to the discharge Of their duties. That the
funds of the government had not been ecOnomi-
| cally carefully or honestly administered by the
Second Assistant Postmaster-general was an
| open secret to all the members of that commit
! tee, and that he should have been in the peni
Tertiary instead of a position of honor not Il
member entertained q reasonable doubt.
| Mr.. Horrs motion was lost
When Mr.. Horn rose to discuss a pro forma
amendment he cried down by the Demo
cratic side, and the Republicans returned the
compliment when Mr. Townshend rose to speak
When the consideration of the first section was
completed it became evident that the bill could
not be finished this evening, and the committee
rose
Mr.. Henly from the House committee on
public lands, reported bill declaring forfeited
certain lands granted in aid Of the construction
of railroad from the Central Pacific, in Cali
fornia to Portland, Ore. Placed ON the House
calendar.
Adjourned.