The Saint Paul globe., 1896-12-09
TOTAL AMOUNT PROVIDED
-TRIFLE SMALLER THAT FOR
LAST YEAR.
THREE POSTAL LAWS ADOPTED.
No Time Wasted by the House in
Getting Down to Routine Busi-
ness.

postal matters. One provided for the
use of private mailing cards Of the
same general size and character as the
present postal cards, when 1 cent
stamps are affixed. Another provided
for a limited indemnity Of $40 for the
loss of registered mail matter and the
third provided for private carrier
service in towns and villages where
no free delivery exists. 1t provides
that on the application Of twenty per-
sons, receiving their mail at the same
office, the postmaster shall appoint
such persons as are willing to under
take the collection and delivery of
mails, that the charge be not to ex-
ceed 1 cent for each letter and that
the charge shall be paid by the bene-
f1ciaries.
The pension bill was passed without
factious opposition, but Mr.. Grow, Of
Pennsylvania, took occasion in the de-
bate to submit some views in favor of
higher tariff duties based on that por-
ton Of the presidents message relaI-
ing to the tariff. The bill carries $141,-
263, $3.50, about $4,000 less than the law
for the current year.
The attendance was very large when
the house met today, but the galleries
were almost deserted. No programme
had been arranged before the house
met. After the journal had been read,
there was a hurried consultation be-
tween Mr.. Dingley and the other Re-
publican leaders, as the result of which
1t was decided to proceed with the
regular order, the call of committees
Mr. Loud (Rep:, Cal), from the commit
tee on postoffices and post roads, call
ed UP a bill to authorize the use Of
private mailing cards of the same
weight and form as the postal cards
now in use, when a one-cent stamp
is affixed. The bill, he said, had been
approved by the postoffice department,
as 1T would tend to populariZe postal
cards besides effecting a saving to the
government of the difference between
the cost of the cards and the stamps
The scheme had been successfully put
in operation in England, where in six
months the number of such cards mail
ed had increased from 46,000000 to
1886, 100000. The bill was passed. 1t
takes effect July 1, 1897 He also call
ed up bill to provide a limited in
demnity for the loss of registered mail
matter. 1t provided an indemnity of
not to exceed $40 for any one register
ed letter, but if of less value, not to
also approved by the postoffice depart
ment. Such an indemnity is made by
nearly all the foreign countries. The
postmaster general expressed the opir-
ion that the increased revenue from
registered mail would more than Off
set the indemnity losses to be paid
Mr.. Loud said that on the basis of
last years statistics the government
could have revenue of 100000 with
liability of $4,000. There was some
criticism Of the bill on the ground that
it treSpassed on the rights of ex-
press companies, but it was passed by
76 to 13.
Mr.. Loud then called up the bill Of
Mr.: Sperry (Rep., Comm, to authorize
the collection and delivery of mail in
cities, towns and villages, where no
letter carrier service exists, by the
employment under mutual arrange
ment between the citizens of any per-
son In such place to perform this SER
vice at a cost not exceeding one cent
for the delivery of each letter or
package. The expense of delivery un-
der the terms of the bill is to be borne
by the beneficiaries, and there is no
liability so far as the government is
concerned.
Mr.. Sperry said there was a strong
demand for the passage Of the bill from
New England, and from other farming
sections. 1t would be in effect, he
said, a revival of the old penny post.
The bill was opposed by Mr. Bing-
ham (Rep., Penn.,) and Mr.. Loud (Rep..
CALI and supported by Mr.. Smith
Pop., lid and Mr.. Piekler (Rep., s. d..
The bill was passed. The house
then, on motion Of Mr.. Stone
Rep., PENN went into committee of
the whole and took up the considera-
tlon OF the pension appropriation bill
Mr.. Stone briefly explained that the
bill carried $141, ,263, $50, about SIS. 900 less
than the bill for the current year. The
committee, he said, did not feel war
ranted in making a reduction on the
estimates for pensions, but did reduce
the amount for attending surgeons.
$4,000, and In the amount for clerk hire
at the various agencies, $40, 000 The
latter reduction was made possible by
the system Of payment by check inaug-
urated this year There was, he said
no attempt at legislation in the bill.
Mr.. Grow (Rep., PENN the venerable
ex-speaker of the house, took ad-
vantage Of the latitude allowed in de-
bate on an appropriation bill to attack
that portion of Mr.. Cleveland's mes
sage relating to the effects from a
revenue standpoint of the enactment OF
the present tariff law. The deficit for
the first years life of the law, he said
was $25, 900; for the second $45 O0O. OOC
and for the first five months Of this
year $40, GIG, ,453. Yet he said,- the pres
ident had not seen fit with these large
deficits, to recommend any measure for
the increase of revenue. The necessity
for revenue, he argued, could not be de-
MED in the face of the figures submitted
by the president himself. 1t was, he
declared, purely a business question
He showed that importations We're in
creasing and the revenue decreasing
1t indicated, he said, lack of business
capacity in the, imposition of duties
Mr.. Grow received a round Of applause
from the Republican side when he
concluded.
When the bill was taken up under the
five-minute rule, Mr.. Connolly Rep.
Il1.) offered an amendment. to the pro
visions requiring examining surgeons
to state specifically, the rating the ap-
plicant for pension is entitled to in
their judgment, so as to make the rat
ing, fixed by the examining board
binding in the pension Office, If any
pension should be allowed The
amendment was ruled out on a point OF
order. Without amendment the bill
was passed.
The notice given by Thomas E. Wat
son, of contest against J. c. Black. of
Georgia, who was elected at special
election last spring, was read to the
house and referred to the committee on
election after which, at 4:30 p. m. the
house adjourned.
The action of the caucus In refer,ring
the Dingley bill to its steering com
mittee, and the circumstances under
which this action was taken, are ac-
cepted in the senate as practically the
end Of the agitation in the interest of
this measure. The debate in the
caucus developed that there was wide
difference as to the advisability of at
tempting to pass the bill. even among