The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-15
THE POSTAL SERVICE
uNDER DEMOCRATIC "EEFoRM"
AdmlnistratIOn-A Lively Discussion in
the senate YSsterday-Ths Gross IncOm.
potency of the DspArtmsnt-othor
Important Matters in Congress.

WAsHSarox, D. O., Feb. 14.-ssnstoi
RIddlebsrgsr was to-day the recipient o
another large floral decoration, in consld
Grafton Of his opposition to the British
treaty. The flowsrs were in the form oi
a star spaugled banner intsrtWined with
an Irish A5s, and were the gift Of the
Clan.na. Gael OF New York.
Mr.. Riddlsbsrgsr Ia confined to his
room by au attack Of tonsilitis aggravated
by his persistent efforts to speak during
the past ten days when suffering from
the throat trouble.
Among the bills introduced and referred
were the following:
By Mr.. Cullom, for compensation for
services Of female nurses during the war
Of the rebellion.
Mr.. Mitchell, to amend the laEs relating
to drawbacks on duty on manufactured
tin.
The resolution for an inquiry into the
causea Of the inHufticiency Of the mail ser.
vice was taken up, aud Mr. Plumb (who
had introduced ~ said that II Mr.. Rea.
gan's argument yesterday In deienss ol
the Postmaster General meant anything, II
was that that officer pleaded the baby
act-that he was burdened With incompe-
tent Republican clerks. There was no re-
straink on the Postmaster General as TO
the dismissal OF clerks. No republican
asked TO have them retained. As 10 the
fact that the service was bad, inexcugaoly
bad, bsd beyond any previous record,
there was no question. .at all.
He sent to the clerHe desk and had r0sd
several extracts from Kansas newspapers
showing the defective mail service in that
State, one Of these articles asserting that
all the Departments in Washington had
outrun the limited capacity OF the Dsmo-
cratic party, and another that the post
Office officials write themselves egrssious
asses and complacently wave their ears
over that solemn truth.
Mr.. Plat said that the trouble was not
confined to the West, and that scarcely O
day passed without his receiving letters
fromaC Connecticut making similar COM
plants. He read letter from publish
ing house in Norwslk speaking OF "the
apparent disorganiEaEion OF the whole
postal system OF the country" and
aecribing It to the removal Of experienced
postal route agents. Mr.. Plumb Tesum-
ing said that the question was not q parti.
son one. What the people OF Ksnsas
wanted was faithful ssrvics. He did not
say that they would be especially thankful
to anybody for giving 1t to them, because
they had not been in the habit Of regard.
ing 1t ns favor, but as duty on the part
Of the department and as right on their
own part. That was the condition OF
things which they wanted restored.
Mr.. Reagan eaid that II tho complaints
which were sent to Senators were sent to
the postofIics department they would bo
investigated and correcHves applied. But
they we're intended for political effect and
the speech OF the Senator from Kansas
was in the same direction. He repeated
portions OF his defense Of the Department
made in his speech yesterday. He chal-
lenged comparison OF the Department
under the present administration with the
same Department in any previous period
and he asserted his belief that the attack
Was owing to the success OF the admins.
tration and TO the contrast which 1t Of.
Il
to the Republican predecessors.
Mr.. Plumb disclsimed all intention TO
introduce any partisan matter into the
discussion, and ssid. that the most sCSthing
attack on the Department which he had
quoted from, was from Democratic
newspaper.
Mr.. Manderaon expressed his surprise
at Mr.. Resgan's suggestion that the desire
was rather to make political capital than
to correct, earn estly and honestly, an eI.
listing evil. In his (MandeIson's) remarks
on the subject last week, he had simply
presented the inefficient administration OF
the postal service in Nebraska, and II was
marvellous to him that the Senator from
Texas should indulge In that sort Of in.
vidious remark as to the statement that
complaints should be made not TO Con.
gress but to the Postoffice Department.
And 1t seemed to him most desirable
that the citizen who had cause
OF complaint agalnat an executive
department, should bring II before one Of
the other branches Of Congress. BE
repudiated the idea that he was actuated
in this matter by desire to advance the
interests Of the political party to which he
belonged. He simply sought to have the
evils under which the people Of Nebraska
suffered removed.
Mr.. ssulsbury said that whatever ssna.
tors might think Of the subject the people
at large would believe that the arrange
ment Of the postoffice department had
partisan object In view.
After further discussion the question
went over without action.