Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-05-24
uou.e OF Reprcseneatives.


The House went into COMMITTEE Of the
Whole tAir. Turner, OF Georgia, Ia The chair
on the post.o1icc appropriation bill.
Nj. Blount, az Georgia, explained that
the bin carried mn Appropriation az SG),033.-
so against SIj.6gi.G1O Tor the current
t.cql wear. llc deemed il necessary
10 give causes for this increase. The
appropriation for compensation OF post
master. FOR 1ssS was Sll,700,U0O. The sixth
Auditor stated that the expenditures for this
item I'm ls>1 amounted 20 Sll9294Sl, or
s1.g.4el more than the appropriation Tor
1855 AT me same time 10 appeared That
while in 1856 The eros, revenue, increased
10 the rate Of 3.26 per cent, IN 1881 the
increase wa, li.oG pr cent. Tue same
llr.e increase a. receipts was expected TO
take place m 1soS In the Appropriation
t.u for ISIS there was no appropriation
for rent, light, aud fuel at thifd.cllNs
Offices. In the proposed bill there was
inserted for this purpose The sum OF Sb'O,-
GUJ Heretofore postmaster Of ihlrU-
cl,,s office was compelled to pay FOR these
items from ms salary. I'm the appropriation
fer cl,ras m post Offices there was suhstan-
ti.Uv an increase Of SJJV,0QO, which was made
al the request ~ the PO,tmaStcr.Grncrnl,
aud when WAS required 10 meet the in-
crcqsjng need, OF business.
Ia rcply TO "a question from Mr.. Lanham,
OF TcXa., Mr.. Bl0uut stated that while The
Committee on P0,tOlliccS and P0st.koads
was in favor Of increasing the compensation
Of f0ur,h-cl5ss po-tmasters II was c>toppeI
bvtb, rules Of the House from incorporating
@ provision b. that eject in the appropria-
ton bin. but DE thought that the committee
would bring m before long q measure 10 in
crease the compensation OF postmaster; Oh
That class. The increase OF S,l1jjO IN the
apuropriation for free.delivery service Mr..
Biouut EXPLAINED TO be due not so much 10
thc urODosed increase Of service rs To the
provision Of the act OF January 8. 1857, pro-
Vjdlng for the classification, promotion, and
salaries OF carriers
Mr.. Cox, Of New York, inquired whether
there was any prospect OF the Committee on
Post.Oficcs and Post-Roads reporting a
measure 70 classify railroad mail clerks and
postal clerks 50 as to give them proper con-
pCnsatioE.
MI. Blount replied that the matter was
being considered by subcommittee, and
be did not feel authorized to make any
statement as 10 the prospect OF 1t beng
acted upou. There were organizations
among the postal clerks, among the post
Office clerks. and among the railroad clerks
for the purpose OF securing an Increase OF
salaries. They did not come before the COM
mittee. hut were in the habit of formulating
their bills and placing them in the hands OF
some prominent member, and In this way
they expected TO drive Congress TO cOnciu'
sions contrary to the proper methods OF le
gi.lalion. so far as he was concerned, he
represented not the oGce-hOlders alone bu'
the great mass OF people who paid taxes
and ne would withstand any unreasonable
increase OF salaries.
General debate upon the bill followed
participated in by dozen members. but i
possessed slight interest Beyond the fact tina
there were general expressions that some
additional compensation ought 10 be pro
vided for fouTth.class pOSimasters. The
bill was then read by sections for amend
mcnt.
Mr.. McRac. Of Arkansas. offered an amend
ment providing that iourth.clasS postmaster
shall receive compensation of $50 year II
addition 10 the compensation allowed undel
the existing law. Ruled out on a point Of
order. Several other amendments were OF
fred and all were rejected. Without dis
posing Of the bin the committee rose and TIT
House adjourned.