The San Francisco call., 1896-04-07
President and PoStmaster.Gen-
eral Receive a Most Severe
Scoring.
OFFICIAL DUTIES NEGLECTED
Allen Says the Greatest Mugwump of
the Country Is Installed at
the White House.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 6.-The
proposition in the postoffice appropriation
bill affecting the consolidation of small
postoffices near the large towns and cities
led to a long debate IN the Senate to-day
in which there was an exhibition of much
political and personal feeling. While the
present administration of the Postotfice
Department received commendation from
a Republican Senator CWolcott of Colo
rado). il received severe criticism from a
Democratic Senator (Gorman of Mary
land), and President Cleveland came in
for large measure OF abuse from Popu-
list Senator (Allen of Nebraska). Accord
ing to Wolcott, the affairs of the Postotfice
are being "ably and intelligently con-
ducted.''
German ironically congratulated the
Postofiice Department that it had Re-
publican Senator for a defender, and he
suggested with biting sarcasm that many
acts of the administration could best be
defended by some Republicans. He con-
demned Postmaster General Wilson for
going about the country delivering lee
lures on the tariff and on gold and silver,
instead of attending to the duties of his
Office, and quoted the homely proverb
that when a man is found proclaiming
his own virtue and honesty there is ras-
cal near at hand.
Allen was even less reserved in the ex-
preston of his views. The greatest mug
wump in the country, he said, was in
stalled in the White House, although he
thought it was difficult to tell whether Mr..
Cleveland was more of a mugwump than
l. e j.
added that Mr.. Cleveland was a disgrace
to the great Office he occupied, and that he
ought not to be, and doubtless would not
be, returned TO that position again.
The session closed without a vote having
been reached, but it was agreed that vote
should be taken at 5 o'clock tomorrow on
the bills and all pending amendments. A
message announcing the action OF the
House on the Cuban resolution was re-
ceived, but no further action on the part of
the Senate was necessary.
Among the bills reported and p kced on
the calendar was one from the Committee
on Territories, by Davis of Minnesota,
making one years residence a pre-requis-
ite for divorce in the Territories.
A bill was introduced by Frye (R.) of
Maine and referred, giving a pension OF
500 a month to the widow of the late
General Thomas d. Casey (retired).
Allison (R.) of Iowa moved to proceed
to the consideration of the postoffice bill.
declining to yield to the request of Call of
Florida that his joint resolution in refer
ence to Cuba might be taken up. Call
thereupon announced that he would to-
morrow move to take it up, as the Senator
from Indiana (Turpie) desired to speak
upon it.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
then taken up. the question being on
Wolcott's amendment as to the com PEN
sation of clerks in the stations and SUBJ
stations.
Wolcott spoke at length in favor of his
amendment in which civil service reform
is involved. The theory of the amend
ment was to have better mail service at
less cost; and that theory. he was proud
to say, was the one upon which the Post
Office Department was being conducted.
The object OF the movement was to re-
move the service from politics. He ad-
mltted that the appreciation of civil
service reform was an acquired taste, but
once acquired it was never lost.
German in the course of some remarks
on the subject said that if this were po-
litical question he congratulated the Post
Office Department that it has for its de-
fender one or the most distinguished Sen
ators. There has been a suspicion" he
said, "among a great number of Demo.
Gratis that many acts of this administra-
tian could best be defended by some Re-
publican; and l am delighted that the
Senator from Colorado has come out as
the champion of a department which is
departing from the usage and, as think,
from the law
In the course of some further remarks
German criticized severely the Postmas.
ter-General for neglecting the duties OF
his Office in order to go about delivering
lectures ell over the country on the tariff
situation, on silver and gold, and be
quoted the homely saying that where q
man is found proclainling his virtue and
his honesty there is a rascal near at hand
He trusted that Congress would not give
its sanction TO the beginning of a system
OF consolidation of the great powers of the
Postmaster. General.
Hill (D.) of New York also suggested
some notifications. and said he was with
Iue StudlOT HUH Oh tQe genera
proposition of including the small post
offices within the limits of city or in its
immediate outskirts. But if the scheme
vas one to overturn the system which ha6
existed for years it should be done in some
other way than by an amendment to al
appropriation bill. He thought the sys
tenn should be restricted to postoffice'
within five miles of large cities.
Pasco (D.) of Florida suggested al
amendment that nothing in the bill should
authorize the establishment of any branch
stations beyond the limits of the city o.
town in which the principal office is 10
Gated
Nelson (R.) of Minnesota opposed tn,
consolidation scheme, which he lisen ed t.
the system of the great department stores
-"the devi fish of modern society"
Allen tPop.) of Nebraska took part il
the debate and in the course of his remarks
said: 1.-THE greatest mugwump in The
country to-day is installed in the White
House. 1t is very difficult to tell whether
Mr.. Cleveland is more of a mugwumI
than he is of an imperial Demo ocrat. Bu