The Indianapolis journal., 1884-03-19
THE HOUSE.
Animated Debate on the POstoffice Appro
nriatiOn RilI.

WAsHNGToN, March 1S-Reports were sub
mitted as follows:
By Mr. Elliott from the committee on cleo
tions: A resolution confirming the rights of r.
Peters, of Kansas, to a seat in the House. Laid
over
By Mr.. Culbertson, of Texas, from the COM
mittee on judiciary: To change the Eastern and
Northern judicial district of Texas and attach to
it a part of the Indian Territory. Placed on the
House calendar
By Mr.. Reagan, from the committee on COM
meFce: Authorizing the construction of bridges
| across the Rio Grande at Laredo and Eagle Pass.
Placed On the House calendar.
By Mr.. Rogers, from the committee post
offices and postroads: To prohibit mailing lot
terry circulars or newspapers containing lottery
advertisements. Laid on the table.
BY Mr.. Morey, from the same committees To
regulate the compensation of railroads for the
transportation of mails. Referred to committee
of the whole.
By Mr. Perkins, from the committee on In
dian affairs For the sale of the Iowa Indian
reservation to Kansas and Nebraska. Placed on
the House calendar.
By Mr. Nelson, from the same committee:
Granting the right Of way through the Sioux In
dian reservation in Dakota to the Chicago Mil.
waukee 81 St Paul and Dakota Central Railroad
companies Placed on the House calendar.
At the expiration of the morning hour Mr..
mlttee of the whole on the postoffice appropria-
ton bill and declined to yield to Mr. Curtin,
who wished an opportunity to submit the report
of the foreign affairs committee upon the Las
ker resolution. TheTeup0n the members of that
committee mustered forces and attempted to
vote down the motion but though they made
good fight, the appropriations committee came
out successful, and the House went into commit
tee of the whole (B1r. Blount in the chairl on the
bill stated.
Mr.. Cannon raised point Of order against the
second section, which amends the Revised Stat
utes so as TO prohibit the weighing of mails more
than once i'll four years. MessTs. Cannon and
Keifer argued in support of the point and
Messrs. Holman, Randall and Townshend in OPP
position thereto, but the Chair in clear. logical
decision ruled against his party friends, and sus
tanned the point Of order.
In speaking to the formal amendment. Mr..
Aiken reviewed and severely criticised the
various features of the bill, declaring it made
the most niggardly appropriation of any appro-
priation bill he had ever considered. He was
opposed to the proviso limiting the compensa-
tion for mail service to land grant roads, and
said, in spite of himself, the thought would
rise up that there was various legislation behind
the clause. After the committee had discussed
the matter for hours, the great objector
from Indiana rose and presented an
amendment to his own bill. He took
in the very roads he had excluded in framing his
bill Though he tMr. Aiken) did not charge
anybody with having job i'll bill that action
naQ e&clIeQ suspicion IN MS mlnQ. Inc next
thing in the bill which attracted his attention
was the appropriation of $4 800 e0G for stGFroute
service and an additional imaginary appropria-
ton of 81, ,000,0 09@ Where was that millionl
The Postmasterg general had said something
about an uneXpended balance of 81. 100 000 Why
had not the committee re-appropriated the whole
of that sum- What was to become of the $780,
| 000l In his mind there was covert legislation
right there. He criticised the committee for
making no provision for special mail facilities
and rid lQn tha thot had
not been estimated for, If the committee re-
/ fused to give because the Postmaster general
| did not ask, why; in the name of common sense,
| did it object to giving what he did ask for!
The species Of niggardly legislation which was
manifest on every page of the bill showed con-
clusively to any right minded, thinking man that
| the purpose Of the bill was to get up cheap noto
| riety for grand economy Applause on the Re
publican side |
Mr.. Holman denied, Indignantly, that therewas
anything covert in the bill, and hoped the gen
tleman would specifically point out wherin the
committee on appropriations or any member,
sought to drive the House or the country.
| Mr.. Regan offered an amendment giving to
! members of Congress the right to use penalty
envelopes in the transaction of official business
Messrs. Townshend, White of Kentucky and
| Randall opposed the amendment. and Mr.. Bel
ford advocated it. and inquired of Mr Randall why
| a congressman had not the right to send free
| letter public business A man who would OBJ
| ject to that was so narrow between his eyes he
| could look through key hole with both eyes.
| Mr.. Randall declined to cope with the gentleman
| from Colorado, either in Wit or vulgarity and
| maintained that tho people had condemned the
| frank privilege.
| Mr. Regans amendment was lost, 81 to 80.
The committee rose and reported the bill to
| the House. The previous question being or
dered, Mr.. Bisbee expressed an objection to the
BILL which he characterized as cheap bill,
framed by cheap party, through its cheap
committee upon cheap estimate of the people
of the country.
Mr. Townshend took the floor to close the de
bate in defense of the bill He had an opportu-
nifty, yesterday, of conversfng with a leading
member of the Senate who said he had read the
bill and it was fair and liberal one He
said further that he was glad to know that
he (Mr. Townshend) had exposed the hypocrisy
praetieed by the Republican party in the House
| of the last Congress in cutting down appropria
| tions. The Senator was himself Republican.
There were several shouts of name him. from
| the Republican side, but Mr.. Townshend de-
clined to do so.
Mr.. Townshend went on to say that since the
bill had come into the House every clown on the
other side had been brought to the front to ridi-
cule it, every advocate of extravaganza, every
defender of jobs and railroad corporations had
| been brought forward, taxing their ingenuity to
the utmost in order to raise false clamor
against the bill
Mr. Taylor, of Ohio inquired whether the
word ''clown" was parliamentary.
The Speaker replied if the gentleman was us
ing unparliamentary language any member had
the right to cal him to order.
Mr. Fownshend continuing, said he was not
surprised at the action of the other
side endeavoring to throw odium on the
bill He was not surprised at the action
of the gentleman from Maine (AIr. Reedl. If a
pecuator ever had been charged on this floor
with NAL administration; if ever extravagant ap-
preparations were suggested, that gentleman
was found to be its defender, and if ever the in
terest Of a railroad company was at stake the
gentleman WAS its defender
Mr.. Hiscock demanded that the words be taken
down as unparlilmentary.
"oh nor said Mr. Reed, II don't want to give