National Republican., 1888-02-11
VERY POOR NAIL SERVICE.
THE HOUSE WILL INVESTIGATE WEST
ERN POSTAL FACILITIES.
The Mckay Claim in Committee of the
whole-Mr. Cox Holds Mr. Springer
Up TO Ridiouie-T Iliipoisian Strikes
n Kentucky T" Rock"

Mr.. Anderson, OF Illinois, from the post
Office committee, reported in the House
yesterday favorably Mr.. Perkins's resolu-
tIon directing the Postmaster General to
inquire into and inform the House Of the
cause and foundation for the grievances
complained Of in q Kansas newspaper re-
garding the western mail service, and also
to inform the House whether the almost
universal complaint prevailing in the west
against the present unsatisfactory mail
service results from the employment Of
inexperienced and incapable employees or
insufficient appropriations.
The committee reported an amendment
adding TO the resolution the following |:
"And also that the Postmaster General
beidirectcd to further inquire and inform
the House what, II any, improvements and
extensions have been made in the mall SER
vice Of the west during the last two years."
Mr.. Dockery, Of Missouri, said that he
did not care to- discuss the merits OF the
resolution. He was confident that iRvestl-
CATION would show that the postal service
was ae efficient, II not more so, than at any
Mr.. Perkins, of kansas, wanted all of the
facts laid before the House. II the bad
service was the fault Of the House In con-
sequence Of inadequate appropriations, he
desired to know II, and II 1t was the fault
OF the administration, that should be made
known. The resolution had been approved
on the 23d Of last month, and under the
rules, should have been reported within one
week. In that particular the postoffice
committee was almost as unsatisfactory as
the mail service. The resolution was not
political, and the complaints came from
the answer came he would undertake to
show that they were well founded.
The resolution was finally adopted, after
the insertion OF an amendment offered by
Mr.. Holman, inserting the word ''aliegedn
before the word complaints.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, called attention
to four bills relating to alcoholic liquor
'ferred TO the District committee, and moved
to have them referred to the committee on
alcoholic liquor traffic. After some debate
this motion was agreed TO by vote Of 116
to 90. Another bill relating to the special
tax upon liquor dealers was, on Mr.. Camp.
BELLS motion, transferred. from the commit
tee on alcoholic liquor traffic to the ways
and means committee.
Mr.. Culberson, Of Texas, from the Judi
ciary committee, reported fayorably bill
to create an arbitration board to settle the
differences between the United States and
Texas regarding Greer county, Texas.
A number Of reports upon private bills
were presented ,..and the House began the
consideration OF bills on the private cal
endar. rat .e4. ~ flr- a,
Upon reaching, In committee Of the
whole, the bill for the relief Of Nathaniel
Mckay and the executors Of Donald Nc
Kay, and after Mr.. Springer, Of Illinois,
had read long extracts from the report and
antagonized the bill, Mr.. Cox, Of New
York, rose and said that never since he had
been In Congress had he heard more in
coherent, disjointed, ramshackle speech
Than his colleague had just given. 1t had
all been drawn from the report Of the COM
mittee, pieces taken out wherever they
suited his purpose, so as not to afford
reasonable opportunity to the House to
% Judge Of the case.
Mr.. Springer declared that he had fairly
presented the caee.
Mr.. Cox, replied that he had taken very
good care when stating that the bill had
been vetoed not to state the reasons for the
veto, so that the House could see how the
Presidents objections had been met, and
now, when 1t was suggested that the meas
ure might be made acceptable to the Presi-
dent, the gentleman lMr. Springer was
here thihslng will his heels and Eancing
The bill was just in the line OF the views
which the gentleman from Illinois had so
elcquently and for SO many years urged
upon the House--courts for the adjudica-
tion Of private claims. Yet when such
bill came up the gentleman was found try
ing to break 1t down In details. The gentle
man knew himself, II be was a lawyer-he
had heard 1t said that he was lawyer
llaughterl-tbat In all matters connected
with conscience receipt could always be
explained by evidence, and that that man
would be an unconsconable scoundrel who
would take advantage Of receipt given In
an emergency or under duress. What was
asked was that the case be sent into court,
so that 1t could be ascertained whether or
not the government owed these claimants.
Mr.. Springer said that the gentleman
from New York had been very felictious
In bis remarks and nobody had enjoyed
them more than he had. [Laughter.] He
would Willingly give up every Friday dur
Ing The balance OF the session to hear the
= -geptleman's melodlous voice. But there
wab some serious business to be done. He
da&iN' wohat this was not case such as he
Ian contemplated referring to the court OF
claims, for this bill sought to empower the
court to find Judgment. The gentleman
has intimated that he (Springer) was prob.
ably lawyer. He did not knsw whether
he meant that or not.
Mr' CoA. on, NO. ~ WAS Johe'
Mr.. Springer then went on to say that It
was true he had not practiced law for four
teen years, but that the gentleman from
New York Cox had also been absent from
the bar notable time. t r.r-..
Mr.. Lanham (Texas) Interrupted to call
for the regular order.
hall could tell how much money these
claimants would demand when they went
Mr.. Butterworth. All that is due.
MIR, Springer asked II any other gentle
man was prepared to give the information,
but his question was unheeded, and he de-
clared that when 1t was proposed to con-
slider seriously a matter involving the ex-
penditure of three or four million dollars
The gentleman attempted to joke about It,
He did not believe that the claimants were
entitled to the benefits proposed to be con-
ferred, and charged that the bill was more
in the interest Of the lobby than the actual
claimants.
Mr.. Stone, of Kentucky, earnestly ad
vocated the bill, and, resenting Mr.:
Springer's remark about the lobby, said
that Tif you wanted to find man who
might be Influenced you must hunt up the
man who thinks that everybody else can
be influenced" The gentleman's remarks
were an imputation against the whole
House andeshould not be allowed.
The committee decided to report the bill
favorably to the House, and (at 4;l2l rose.
Mr.. Mills moved that when the House
adjourn to-day 1t adjourn until Monday.
Agreed to.
The two bills on the private calendar,
which had been fayorably reported from
the committee of the whole, were then
taken up. The frst-for the relief OF @. NJ.
Brlggs, deceased-was passed with little OBJ
lection. In the case OF the second, how.
ever--that for the relief OF Nathaniel Nc.
Kay and the executors OF Donald Mckay
Mr.. Springer interposed a vigorous resist
ance, and although the House refused to
second his demand for the yeas and nays
he succeeded in preventing its passage by
demanding the reading Of the engrossed