The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-24
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PENCE FOR POST OFFICES
AN INCREASE OF $4,3oo,ooo
NEEDED THIS YEAR.

Mr.. Turner in the Speakers Chair,
and Mr.. Blount on the Floor Ex-
planning the Bll-$55Oo 900 Increase
for Clerk Hire-Pay of the Fourth
Glass Post Offices.
WASHINGTON, May 23.-The House this
morning went into committee of the whole,
with Mr.. Turner, of Georgia, in the chair,
on the post office appropriation bill.
Mr.. Blount, Of Georgia, explained that
the bill carried an appropriation of $780,
095, $40 against an appropriation of 500, ,O95,-
$40 against an appropriation Of So, ,694,-
$50 for current fiscal year. He deemed il
necessary to give the causes for this increase.
The appropriation for the compensation of
postmasters for 1888 was ell, 100000. The
Sixth Auditor stated that the expenditures
for this item in 1887 amounted TO S11 ,029.-
4Sl, or S229, 1881 more than the appropria-
tion for 1888 At the same time IL appeared
that while in 1886 the gross revenues in
creased at the rate of 3. % per cent, in 1887
they increased l4.06 per cent The same
| large increase OF receipts was expected to
take place in 1883. In the appropriation
bill for 1888 there was no appropriation for
rent, light and fuel at third class offices. In
tho proposed bill there was inserted for this
purpose the sum of $650,607. Heretofore
the postmaster of a third class office was
compelled to pay for these items from his
salary. In the appropriation for clerks in
post offices there was a substantial increase
OF S550,0OO, which was made at the request
of the Postmaster General, and which was
required to meet the increasing needs Of the
business.
PAY OF FOURTH CLASS OFFICES.
In reply to question from Mr. Lanham,
of Texas, Mr.. Blount stated, that while the
Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads
was In favor of increasing the compensation
OF fourth-class postnasters, it was stopped
by the rules of the House from ncorporat-
ing provisions to that effect in the apppro-
priation bill, but he thought that the COM
mittee would bring in before long a measure
to increase the compensation of postmasters
of that class The increase of $777, 500 in
the appropriation for the free delivery
service Mr.. Blount explained 10 be due, not
so much to the proposed increase of tho
service as to the provisions Of the act of
Jan 3, 1887, providing for the classification,
promotion and salaries of letter carriers.
Mr.. Cox, of New York, inquired whether
there was any prospect of the Committee
on Post Offices and Post Roads reporting a
measure to classify the railroad mail clerks
and postal clerks, SO as TO give them proper
compensation.
MIR. BlOunt replied that that matter was
being considered by a subcommittee, and
he did not feel authorized to make any
statement as to the prospect of its being
acted upon.
ORGANIZED EFFORTS.
There were organizations among the
postal clerks, among the post Office clerks
| and among the railroad clerks, for the pur-
pose of securing an increase of salaries.
They did not come before the committee,
but were in the habit of formulating their
bills and placing them in the hands OF some
prominent member In this way they ex-
pected to drive Congress to con-
clusions contrary to proper methods of
legislation so far as he was concerned, he
did not represent tho office-holdels alone,
but the great mass of the people who paid
the tax, and he would Withstand any un-
reasonable increase Of salaries.
GENEr II DEBATE.
A general debate upon the bill followed,
participated in by dozen members, but it
possessed slight interest beyond the fact
tnat there was a general expression that
some additional compensation ought to be
provided for fourth class postmasters.
The bill was then read by sections for
amendment.
Mr. McRae, Of Arkansas, offered an
amendment providing that fourth class
postmasters shall receive compensation of
$50 year in addition to the compensation
allowed under the existing law. This was
ruled out on point of order.
Several other amendments were offered
and all were rejected. Without disposing
of the bill the committee rose and the House
adjourned