The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-28
RIVER AND HARB0R BILL
rnr APPROPRIATION ron rrRcISIi
Frcc Mail Delivery service-The Lapiam
nii kiliod-Congressionai Proceed
ings-Captital Notes.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April d. Especial. J.
The Senate Committee on Commerce is going
over The River and Harbor bin, as reported TO
the House, with the view Of simplifying its
work when the measure shall be sent 20 tho
Senate. Senator FRYE. who is chairman Of
the committee, wants 10 get away soon on
hshing trip. and is, therefore anxious to got
all preliminary work done. II is
customary, however. for Senats committees
70 examine appropriation bills before they
pass the House FOR the purpose Of informing
the members of Senate committees and en-
abhng them TO make better progress when
they got jurisdiction Of such measures At
the request of Senator Frye. Representative
Jones to-day appeared before the Senate
committee 70 explain Virginia items
IN the bill. lie was accompanied
10y Mr. Epes. Mr FRYE remarked that the
appropriations for Virginia Ia the bnl
amounted 20 81 per cent. of the estimates,
while those for Maine were only "a per cent.
of the estimates. He expressed the opinion
that Nlrginias appropriations should 0e re-
duced and Intlmated that DE would see
that done If the bil should pass
the House rs reported. Mr. Jones repne0
that two citles-lNchmond and norfolk got
.3lo.0O. and that outside of them Virginia
share was small lie also contended that IN
regard 10 importance and puohc value the
Virginia Improvements were emitted t. STAND.
DRAGGED IN TIE PILOT QUESTION
Senator Frye dragged the pilot question into
the argument. saying that when Maine vessels
went 20 Norfolk or hlcninonu they We're
heavily and unIustv taxed for pilot services
not rendered lie thought 10 unfair for Nir-
pinia to ask and obtain liberal appropriations
for rivers and harbOrs while imposing what
he regarded as al unjust burden on COM
merce
Mr.. Jones replied that Mr. Frye has a
bill t. repeal the pilot law pending and
that II ought 10 stand upon its merits.
and not be iugged into river
aud harbor appropriations lie added,
however. that he intended 30 vote Tor the
lot Repeal bill and believed that most Of
tie Virginia members OF the House would DO
so. senator Frye with manifest pleasure
sait he was gfatiied 10 hear that
Senator Barbour VINO was present, laugh
inr.y protested against any bargain.
MT. Jones entered upon detailed eXpana-
tion of the Virginia river and harbOr apprO-
pratOns. showing their real value 70 COM
uerco Senator FRYE replied that he did not
want 10 be unfair. hut be had noticed that all
te States which had been allowed appTo-
IratlOns representing a large propor-
Ton of the estimates had members
On the River and Harbor Committed
senator Frye assured Mr.. Jones that when
the blll shall come before his committee TOR
his consideration lie would not undertake
a0y reduction relating TO Virginia without
first informing him Jones and consulting
with hlm. There need be no alarm as yet
about Virginia eppro riations.
TIE rREr-Dr1IyEnY MAIL SERVICE.
The House Committee on Postofiices and
Posroads IN making up the Annual Appro-
priatiOn bill for the postal service cut the
appropriation for the delivery service -354-
OO0 below the estimates This reduction ex-
cited the post0fice Department officials ex-
ceedinglY. superintendent Pollock. of tie
free-Gellyery service. Went before the COM
raittee aud declared that without the
~3O+ 600 the service would be seriously
crippled He said the estimates had
been reduced 90 the very minimum. and
insisted upon the full amount asked tor. lie
stated that under the existing law providing
that towns having 10000 population or
$4,000 gross postal receipts shall be emitted
70 free delivery service, fifteen mould be ad-
ded and ln making tho estimates the depart
ment bad taken tnat IN consideration VIII the
purpose of establishing tho service IA these
additional Ifteeu towns at the beginning OF
the fiscal year, July lst. Mr. Pollock dwelt
upon the fact that Americus Ga, tie home
of Speaker Crisp, was one OF these fifteen
towns aud that unless the vj0i, QUO was re-
stored that town would not get the service.
Chairman Henderson Is q practical business
man and his service in Congress has taught
him th8. the heads of departments and chiefs
OF divisions invariably insist upon more
money than is actually needed: that 1t IS in-
f
prat0ns 70 guard very closely against the eX-
cessive demands of department estimates.
Chairman Henderson addressed COM
muuicatlOn 70 the iOstmaster-Genefal asking
for q complete list of towns entitled 20 free
delivery service under the existing law
but which have not been supplied with that
service. also for q list OF towns that would De
entitled TO tho service under the provision oi
the Senate bill % the effect that free delivery
shall be extended o. towns having 5000 popu-
OF 5000 gross recelp,.
THE P0sTMssI IER-GENERAI's RTrLY.
The reply of the Postmaster-General was
received to-day. lt gives list OF hity-twc
towns which under existing law are entitled
b free delivery. but have not been snppled.
Amercus. Ga. Is not included IN this list.
Thus. instead of the fifteen towns mentioned
by superintendent Pollock. and which were
ingemous.y selected as In States having men,
bers on the committee or a. in the case of
Amercus. represented by some prominent
Democrat, there are hity-twO towns which
are denied the service the law says they shall
have. The IOstmaster-G General states that
some of these towns have not been supplied
with free delivery locause they have not
lighted streets and numbered houses but ne
does not say how many there are OF this kind.
Again the POstmaster-GeDera states that
an appropriation of el53JOJ would be neccs-
sary 10 supply these ffty-twO additional
towns with the free delivery service, whereas
Suuerintendent Pollock insisted that it would
require e304. 900 20 supply ntteeu towns.
Among the towns included IN tLe list oi
those which would De entitled 10 the free de-
livery under the Senate bill should It become
a law arc the following: Virginia Bedford
CITY. Fredericksburg Hampton. Harrison
burg. Lexington. Manchester, Newport News
salem. suffolk and Winchester.
North CarOlna-feyetteYll GOidsDcro
New Berne. Statesvile and Salisbury.
The Postmaster q erera states that an ap
Precipitation OF SlOOO0O) will be necessary e
supply the G36 Offices which would be added
by the senate BILL should it become u law.
THE LAPHAM BILL K1ILED
In the Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries to-day the Lapham bill b transfer
10 Federal control the waters and hshere'
now subject 20 State authority was killed
very dead by a vote OF 10 J. There were
present besides Chairman Fowler Messrs
stump Moore. Caruth. Perkins. buchanan
and Wheeler Of Michigan. The motion tC
reconsider the action directing the oil
10 30 favOraby reported was
carried 10 !, Chairman Fowler casting the
negative vote. Then motion to indefinitely
POSTPONED prevailed by vote Of 10 o.
Chairman Fowler not voting. He suggested
however that the friends OF tho bill ought %
be given an opportunity 10 vote saying they
we're absent Mr.. Caruth replied that the op,
poneuts OF the measure had not been accorded
4 t4sIF