The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-14
WASHINGTON NEWS.
Startling Facts Presented Regarding
Railway Postal Contracts.
THE GOLD BOND BILL REPORTED
TO THE HOUSE.

The Improved System of Signals for Yes
sells at Sea Will Not Go Into Effect On
March First-BIaine People Granted
Pensions.
/ Washington, February l2.-In the Sen
ate the post Office appropriation Eill was
taken up, .and debate continuation the
amendment in reference to the railroad
postal business. This amendment was
sharply criticized by Mr.. Chandler (Rep.
of New Hampshire, as opening wide the
doors for attorneys in Washington Buffa-
10 and New York, to bleed railway COM
panies for large fees and large political
he said, to see such machinery set in
motion. He had very sincere and earn
est fear that the amendment would be
used for improper and illegal purposes.
| Mr. Villas (Dem. of Wisconsin,, offered
| an amendment to the pending amend
ment looking to the purchase, ownership
and management of the necessary postal
cars, and appropriat!ng S500,000 for the
purpose. He stated that when he. was at
the head of the post Office department he
I
learned then that the total value of the
railway postal cars was 81, ,600, 900, while
So, 900, 900 year were paid by the govern
ment for their rent, besides paying by
weight for the mails they carried. The
| figures just prepared by the railway mail
| bureau showed a total of 740 railway
4 postal cars, worth about $500 each, max
| ing total investment of SO, $50, 900. The
maintenance of these 740 cars would cost
1922, 800. He illustrated nis argument
| by showing that to the Pennsylvania
| Central Railroad there was paid for the
year more than 50, 900, 900 for the trans
portation of the mail, and $575,000 tor
the use of SO postal ears; cars; to the New
| York Central So, 0S0, 000rfor transportation,
and $425, 900 for the use of 50 postal cars;
the rent alone of the postal cars being
about double their actual value.
! A proposition was made and finally
agreed upon, that at 8 O'Clock tomorrow
asvote will be taken on the railroad mail
service amendment, and amendments
considerationof the bill will be under
| the fiye-minute rule, no time being fixed
| for the final vote on the bill.
| Mr.. Platt (Rep.) of Connecticut,
| offered resolution that was agreed to,
directing the Secretary of the Interior to
| inform the Senate whether it proposed
| to issue patent to the State of Florida
|
"TheEEverglades," and, if SO, whether
the Seminole Indians in Florida be
| thereby dispossessed.
| Mr. Morgan reported back the House
| joint resolution relative to the Venzue-
la-British Guiana boundary dispute, and
it was passed.
Mr.. AIdrich, (Rep. of Rhode Island,
offered resolution requesting the Pres
ident to communicate copy of the con-
tract for the sale of United States
bonds. The resolution went over.
The House joint resolution extending
from March /, 1895, to April Is, 1895,
the time for the making of returns of
income, was taken from the calendar,
amended and passed, and conference
with the House asked for.
n The Vice President announced the
mem bers of the committee on dedication
of the battlefields of Chickamauqa and
Chattanooea as national military park,
and after an executive session the Sen
ate adjourned.
In the House.
Washington, February 13.-In the
House today, Mr.. Van Voorhis of New
York, during debate on the District
railroad bill, offered resolution recit-
ing that on the day the be nd contract
was entered into, bonds exactly similar
to those provided for were selling in the
New York market at premium of 10 Ia
per cent, and at that rate the new bonds
were worth II 1-2. The ways and means |
committee had Secretary Carlisle before |
it and obtained copy of the bond con- |
tract, directing the committee on ways
and means to report Immediately to the
House and President, the testimony, evil |
dence and statements furnished 1T by |
the Secretary OF the Treasury in relation |
to that loan, and including the contract !
made with any person or persons con-
cerningthe same. Mr.. Van Voorhis said |
it was desirable to have this informa-
tion, and he would call up the matter
at the proper time.
Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia stated that
he had a CODY of the contract for the
bonds in his pocket, and would lay it
before the House at the proper time.
A few minutes later Mr.. Wilson pre-
sented the report of the ways and means
committee on the Presidents message
relating to the S62, 900 bond contract,
which contained copy OF the bond con-
tract.
On motion of Mr. Brynan (Dem.) of
Nebraska, the minority of the ways and
means was given leave to present their
views on the subject tomorrow.
The matter was ordered printed and
referred TO the calendar.
Several District of Columbia bills were
disposed of and the House adjourned.