Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-25
THE FEDERAL HOUSE.
Postal Bil-specisI Mail Appropriation
Free Rural Delivery.

THE FEDERAL HOUSE.
Postal BiiI-speciaI Mail Appropriation
Free Rural Delivery.
WASHINGTON. March 24--Another one
Of the cases where the Secretary OF tho
Navy had filled vacancy in
the list OF cadets in the Naval
Academy was called to the attention OF
the House by Mr.. Maddox Oemocrao. OF
Georgia. lie asked unanimous consent
for consideration OF joint resolution
declaring a vacancy in the Seventh Dis
trict OF Georgia, which is now represented
by cadet appointed by Secretary Tracy.
residing in the District OF Columbia Mr..
Hopkins Republican, of Illinois, said the
gentleman from Georgia was no worse
of than several other members. and as
IL was apparent that no remedy for the
present condition OF affairs could be had.
except by a general law. and that as long
as this special legislation WAS kept up
no general bill would be enacted, he ielt
constrained TO object.
The House then went into Committee Of
the Whole Mr. Hatch In the chair. upon
tho postal appropriation bill for the year
ending June 80, 1870.
Mr.. Henderson, OF North Carolina, made
n brief statement OF the contents of the
bill IL carried, no said, n total apprO-
priatlon Of S7,470.600. or 8,l255oo less than
the estimates OF the department. 1t in
cluded an item OF N$6.Gi4 for necessary
and special facilities on TRUNK lines"
whlcs the department did not recommend.
Against this item in the bill MeSsrs.
Kyle Democrat, Of Mississippi, and Loud
Republcan), OF California. presented
minority report The postal revenues for
the year ending June 30, 1885, are esti-
mated by the Postmaster General to be
Ss4.i27,7fS, and the deficiency in expenses
IS provided for IN the bill by an appro-
priation in bulk.
Mr.. Kyle moved TO strike out the item
appropriating S196,6lf "for necessary and
special facilities on trunk-lines from
Springfield, Mass. via New York ana
Washington. to Atlanta and New Or
leans" This was the item against which
he and Mr.. Loud filed minority report.
The minority state that no Postmaster
General ever recommended an appfoPra-
ton OF this character. and that railroad
lines which had heretofore been the bonc-
1iciaries Of tie fund, and are not now re-
ceiVing any part of ii, were rendering as
good, If not better. service thdn wren
they participated in the distribution OF the
appropriation.
Mr. Kyle argued that the appropriation
was not only useless because the railroads
performed just as good service Without
the extra payment as they lid with IT,
but was sectional. preventing the eX-
penditure of any portion of the fund III
any other than one direction.
Mr. Wise called Mr.. hyle's attention
TO the provision that no part of the APP
preparation shall be expended unless the
PostnasteT-Ge General shall deem such eX-
penditure necessary in order TO promote
the interests Of the postal service say
ing that II that official was opposed to the
appropriation. as Mr.. Kyle had SAID, The
money would not be ueed.
Mr.. Kyle responded that the passage OF
such an appropriation was held by the
department officials 20 be an expression OF
opinion 10y Congress that something OF
this Kind was necessary, and experience
demonstrated the fact that despite the
views OF the Postmaster General the
money appropriated had been expended.
LOUD OBJECTION.
Mr.. Loud (Repubhcan). Of California,
criticised tho construction of the bill, say
ing that the majority of the committee
believed. I'm his opinion, that the fun
amount called for 10y the estimates would
b. needed and would have 10 be provided
for BY a deficiency bill after tho next
election. lie CIlled attention to the fact
that with a full Democratic administra-
ton in control the committee had accepted
the fun amount estimated for post-ofiice
nspcctors-$3c0.O00 the largest sum ever
rcpOrted by the committee. This, he said,
was in marked contrast WITTY the manner
in which the committee in the Fffty-second
Congress made appropriations to be eX-
pended by "a Republican PostmaSter-Gen-
cral. Then every estimate was reduced,
and the chairman Of the committee could
truthfully tell the House that there
would soon be, If there were not already
now. a bill providing for deficiency Of
81 $1,000 for mail transportation.
An agreement was reached 10 close gem
eral debate on the bill. except as to the
item which Mr.. Kyle sought 90 strike out,
and the bill was taken up under the five
minute rule for amendment.
Mr. Moses OemocraU. OF Georgia,
pleaded for a continuation Of the expert
ment initiated by Postmaster-General
Wanamaker. OF free rural delivery, and
moved TO divert $4,000 of the appropria-
ton for FREQ delivery FOR that purpose.
lie criticised the Post-Ohice Department
for failing 10 carry out the law of Con-
gress in this regard, which, he said had
d. IN explained there To be due to the fact
that the officials were too busy with other
things 10 study that subject.
SIR. TalNeTt OemOcraD, Of South Caro-
lima, warned the House that II the de-
mands of the farmer were not heard and
needed in granting thU1 the pittance ask
Cd for the people of this great country
would one day appear in person at the
gates Of justice. as was threatened row,
10 enforce their mands in a mood not
easily 10 be reasoned with.
The amendment was discussed for Nv
hours or more with a view 10 presenting
the relative advantages OF free rural
delivery and of additional post-oifices and
eNpedited star-rOute service. Northwest
ern members generally said their people
wanted more Offices; southern members
generally advocated the free rural de-
livery.
MT. Cockrsll OemocraO. of Texas. was
one Of the exceptions. He said that he
had no objection TO the amendment, pro-
Vlded the money was not expended in his
district. To DO so. he said, would deprive
his people Of one of the greatest enjoy
ments OF Iife-that Of gathering together
Saturday evenings at their respective post
Offices and discussing politics and other
public matters and exchanging the gos-
sip OF the neighborhood.
Mr.. Picker Repubican), OF South Da-
kota, moved another amendment requir-
ing the POstmaster-G ITO report to
the next session OF Congress such mea-
sures as he may deem practicable for
extending mail service TO the rural dis
tricts, and the probable cost OF such eX-
tension"
This was agreed TO, and the Moses
amendment as amended, WAS adopted.
An amendment was adopted authorizing
the Post-Oflice Department TO either pur-
chase or lease steam cancelling machines.
The committee then rose, and the House
adjourned till Monday at noon.
The Senate was not in session to-day.
STATE-BANK TAX REPEAL.