The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-14
Lively Debate in the Senate on {. Rad
zeal Amendment to the PostoHice
Appropriation Bill.
INDIANA MIAMlS ROBBED
FINDING OF THE COURT OF CLAIMS
IN A LONG STANDING CASE.
Indians Deprived of S4S,52S WronE-
fully Paid Out by the Government
Effort 10 Render Tardy Justice.

gan its session to-day with a spirited discus
sion of the financial question, but soon
turned it's attention to the. postoffice appro-
priation bill, and spent the remainder or
the day on the proposition to have the gov
eminent railway postal cars. The
House resolution was passed exte nding the
| time for making returns on the income
tax from the first Monday in March to
April Is next Several Senate amendments
to the ncome-tax law as to fire insurance
premiums and corporation stocks were adj
ded to the resolution.
The Senate then resumed consideration
of the postoffice appropriation bill, and Mr..
Chandler made sharp arraignment of the
provision giving the Postmaster general dis
erection over expending the So. 100000 for rail-
roads postal rates. Mr.. Chandler pointed
out the dangers of the change and char
acterized the amendment as ''lifter and
a squeezer." 1t gave designing men an OPP
portunity to Squeeze railroads by threat
ening to put them the rack If they
wished to have their compensation increased
for postal service. And the great political
committees also seek various means of rails
ing money! said Mr.. Chandler ''They
seek money from all available sources They
like it in large sums, and they prefer it
from large corporations. rather than in
small subscriptions from individuals.
Mr. German at one time chairman Of the
Democratic national committee. eontended
that Mr.. Chambers ideas Of poHtfcaf IN
huenceS were groundless .st4aibnsI
Mr., Villas, who was Postmaster-general in
Mr.. Clevelands first Cabinet, supported the
amendment. The railway postal service
was being run at a loss of 100000 an
nually. although reliable men would con-
tract to run it without a dollars deficiency
if they could have reasonable laws and
regua tons. Mr.. Villas offered an amend
purchase, ownership and management of
the necessary railway postal cars by the
governamne mt and providing an appropria ton
while ne was at the head of the Postoffice
Department he had inquiries made, show
ing mat the total "a e valve OF the raiWay pos
appropriated 100000 for the annual rent
Of these cars besides paying by weight for
figures, just prepared by the Railway Mail
Bureau, showing a. total of TAO railway pos
tai ears worth at an n y V rag sS making n
tenance of these 740 cars would cost $751;
$50. From this Mr.. Villas drew the conclu-
cient rental annually for the postal cars TO
buy them outright and maintain them. He
Chicago, St Louis, Cincinnati and PITTS
burg giving the figures by which he
claimed the rent paid railroads was greater
than the cost of the cars.
Mr.. Allison pointed out that the law was
| so framed that the amount paid for rent
Of cars in part for transportation, so
| that the figures were erroneous in showing
exorbftant rentals. The Villas amendment
proposed revolution in the postal system
which should not be undertaken without in-
vestigation and as an off-hand amendment
Mr. Hunton spoke against this proposed
revolution in the postal service without fllt
investigation. He did not believe in goN-f
eminent partnership or ownership of these,
cars. .tf.
Mr.. Hoar asked If the adoption of the
proposed change would not diminish the
number of postal cars, the speed and rapid
time scheduled He said word reached him
nm Y1pnr xI-yfh ord
|. tics. that they were apprehensive about
| the change.
general will exercise wise discretion and
not cripple the service.
Mr. Aldrich spoke against this extensive
change. as Congress was about to expire,
and added: And l want to say TO the
gentleman from Maryland (Gorman) VINO
t ta eantea fro OF -o ana
| who appears so anxious to expedite appro-
priation bills, that If they persist in at
taching general legislation to appropriation
| bills they will not make progress
DO | understand the Senator to make
amendments which do not Suit his hynercrit-
| ical tastes are offered he and his associates
| will not allow these appropriation bills to
Not at ALL said Mr.. Aldrich. .but if this
| process is persisted in the gentleman should
understand that there is great danger of
| an extra session.
| 1t was agreed that the vote on the rail-
| way postal car amendment should be taken
az p H. to-iloTroW
| There hot exchange between Mr.
| Chandler and Mr.. Berry when the latter
| complained against an objection which cut
| him off from securing the passage of
| land bill. Mr.. Chandler made point of
| order against such "scoldng."
7 propose to say what l conceive to be
| right, said Mr.. Berry, land I do not pro-
J pose to let the Senator (Chandler) interfere
1 with that right
| Mr.. Chandler said that Mr. Berry had
certainly been scolding.
Mr. Berry finally retired with the remark:
| II was about to express an opinion of the
! Senator which would not be proper to ex-
| press the floor"
| The Senate, at 5.35 p. M, held a brief ex-
ecutive session and then adjourned.