Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-02-15
NEWS AT WASHINGTON
PROCEEDINGS IN THE TWO HOUSES OF
CONGRESS YESTERDAY.
Vrginla's Only Riddlsbsrgsr III From His LaOorS'
An Earnest Discussion Ofths Postal Service.
Work in the HOuSs-Othsr
Washington News

WASHINGTON, february 14.-Senator
Riddleberger was to-day the recipient OF
another large floral decoration, in consid-
Grafton of his opposition to the British
treaty.
The flowers were in the form OF star
spaDgled banner intertwined with an Irish
flag, and were the gift of the Clan-ua-Gael
of New York.
Mr.. Riddleberger is confined to his room
by an attack of torsilitis aggravated by his
persistent efforts to speak during the past
ten days when suffering from the throat
trouble.
Mr.. Blackburn offered q resolution decid-
ing it not in order Except by unanimous
consent) for the Committee on Appropria-
tions to report to the Senate for considera-
ton or action any general appropriation
bill, without having had it under consider
alton for ten days or more Referred to the
Committee op Rules.
The resolution for an inquiry into the
causes of the insnfhciency Cf the mail ser
vice was taken up, and Mr.. Plumb who
had introduced IL said that il Mr.. Reagan's
argument yesterday in defense OF the Post
master General meant anything, it was
that that officer pleaded the baby act
that he was burden ned with incompetent
Republican clerks. There was no restraint
on the Postmaster General aS to the dis
missal of clerks. No Republican asked to
have them retained. AS TO the fact that
the service was bad, inexcusably bad, bad
beyond any previous record, there was no
GU stion ct ell.
He sent 10 the clerks desk and had read
several extracts from kansaj 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 DINO
cratic party. 70 the removal of expert
euced postal route sgents, Mr.. Plumb, re
suming, said that the question was not a
partisan one. What the people of Kansas
wanted was faithful service He did not
say that they would be specially thankful
to any body for giving it 10 them, because
they had not been in the habit OF regard
ing it aS a favor, but as duty on the part
of the department, and as light on their
own part That waS the condition Of
things which they wanted restored.
Mr.. Reagan said that il the complaints
which were sent TO Senators, we're sent
10 the POstOftiCe Department they would
be investigated ard correctives applied.
But they were intended for political effect,
and the speech cf the Senator from Kansas
was in the same direction. lie repeated
portions of his defence 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 ne asserted his belief that the attack
was owing to the success Of the admins
tration, and 10 the contrast hich II offered
in the way Of surcGs' snd economy to the
Republican predecessors.
Mr.. Manderson expressed his surprise al
Mr.. Reagan's suggestion that the desire
was rather to make political capital thar
to correct, earnestly and honestly an ex
isting evil In his (Manderson'N) remarks
on the subject last week, he had simply
presented the int ffic;ant administration oi
the postal service in Nebraska and it wa,
marvellous to him that the Senator from
Texas should indulge in that sort of indi
yidusl Tems!ks, as to the statement thai
complaint should be made not to Congress
but to the PostCfice Department. Mr.
Salisbury sSid that whatever Senators
might think Of the subject, The people a
large would believe that the arraigument
of the Postcflice Department had parti
san object in view.
After further discussion the question
vent over without action.