The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-03
Senate

Senate.
Washington. April The poSeofficc ap-
propr.ation bill served to bring out some
sharp discussion In the senate today on
the propriety of abolishing country post
offices and absorbing them as branches
of city offices.
| Mr. German opposed the plan as undem-
ocratic. He stated that the Baltimore
postoffice power was eNerted toward in
/ fluencing the selection Of men for con-
gress
After a speech by Mr.. Elkins, advocat-
ing subsidies and other means of extend
! ing American commerce on seas, the post
office bill went over.
During the day Mr. George closed his
spacch covering three days in opposition
| 10 DIR. Dupont's claim 10 seat
The resolution for investigating the
bond sale again went over on Mr. Hill's
I objection.
| An agreement was reached as soon as
/ me senate met today that adjournment
( "a, the close OF today's session be until
next Monday.
! The house bill was passed granting the
Atkinson and Nebraska and the Chicago,
/ Burlington and quincy railways a right
Of way through the Sac and Fox and
Iowa reservations in Kansas and Ne
orasks.
Ny. Pettigrew reported the Indian ap-
p.ouriation bill and gave notice that lie
would ask to take it up on Monday.
| The postoffice appropriation bill was
taken up,
Mr.. Wolcott offered an amendment to
| regulate the salaries OF postmasters OF
! sutstations in cities The senator spoke
n favor OF The policy Of the pos>oIiice
/ department III establishing metropolitan
! cenlers with many minor offices surround
ing them. as in Chicago and Boston.
! Mir. German opposed the amendment.
| II was step towards doing away with
| the small fourth class offices and making
1t was, said MIR. Gorman. part OF the
/ prevailing tendency OF the world 10 ~
few men. Those small Qostoffices We're
local Institutions the postmaster was
one Of local selection and The people did
not want their office absorbed by the
that this consolidation was undemocr2t!e
and un-American.
Il am 10th to take the postoffice away
from the peoplet declared Mr. German
vehenNntly. The tendency of the day
is to discredt the people, to take from
them the power of government and the
power 10 name their own servants. w her
the people are 20 have guardians appoint
ed over them, then this government will
become failure"
MIR. German went on to make pointed
reference to the politics involved in this
consolidation. The men who had shoutei
ioudest for civil service reform were
using this plan as a powerful machine
10 accomplish political ends.
Mr.. Villas Dem. WIS., felt compelled
70 disagreed, wish me senator from Mary
because Il would improve the postal Ser
vice. lie felt that the civil service ldes
mad been much used for exploitation hS
10 themselves vi he believed it was III,
true principle TO maintain democratic in
siiuuons-not democratic in The party
sense.
~, rN2 one would s,gspa.c;t." interiected
would make such use Of the word demo
cratic. because everybody understands
now mat that word would not commend
the amendment to American people"
NJ; Villas took the remark seriously
and he said he must decline 10 be diverted
Although he added perhaps some
thing might be said on the subjec, in view
.oad 10 the hope tina, the American people
ere not yet quite ready to be sold or
Mr.. Villas went on to show that post
! little country offices were nowhere under
! supervision or control.
yor Of tho old fashioned rural postoffice-
an Institution that was in the affections
ard traditions of the people.
nG F fSndR Rsn VS. 2a aside to allow
support of subsidies. He spoke OF the
british activity in securing control of the
OCEAN commerce As means Of reviving
at'd tho re-enactment Of the old law
giving 10 per cent rebate on duties on
goods carried in American ships.
| NJ 5:35 the senate went into executive
! Monday.