The herald., 1896-04-03
THE F|FTY-F0URTH CONGRESS
THE COUNTRY POSTOFPTcE THE SUBJECT
OF SENATORIAL DISCUSSION
Speeches Por and Against the Subsidy sys-
tem-The House Listens to More Fiery
elequencs on the Subject Of Appropria-
tlous for Sectarian Purposes
Associated Press Special wire.

Aseoc1ated Press 6peclal wire.
WASHINGTON, April 2.-The postoffice
appropriation bill served to bring out some
sharp discussion in the senate today on
the propristy of abolishing country post
offices and absorbing them as branches of
city offices. Mr.. German opposed the
plan a. undemocratic. He stated that the
Baltimore postoffice power was exerted
for congress. After a speech by Mr..
Elkins, advocating subsidies and other
means OF extending American commerce
on the seas, the postoffice bill went over.
During the day Mr.. George closed his
speech, covering three days, in opposition
tion for investigating the bond sale again
went over on Mr.. Hills objection.
The house bill was passed granting the
Atchison and Nebraska and Chicago, Bur-
lington and Quincy railways right of way
through the Sac and Fox and Iowa Indian
reservations in Kansas and Nebraska.
Mr.. Pettigrew reported the Indian ap-
preparation bill and gave notice that he
would ask to take it up Monday. The
postoffice appropriation bill was then
ment to regulate the salaries of postmas-
ters of sub-stations in cities. The senator
spoke in favor of the policy of the post
Office department in establishing metro
politan centers with many minor offices
surrounding them, as in Chicago and Bos-
to abuses.
Mr.. German opposed the amendment. 1t
was Q step toward doing away with the
small fourth-class postoff1ces and making
them branches of the city postoff1ces. 1t
was, said Mr.. German, part of the prevail
ing tendency of the world to absorb power
and place it in the hands of few men.
Those small postofi1ces were local institu-
Gons; the postmaster was one of the local
people, and the people did not want their
Office absorbed by the great city Offices.
Mr.. German declared that this consolida-
ton WAS undemocratic and I'M American.
"I am 10th to take the postoffices away
from the people," declared Mr.. German,
vehemently. ''The entire tendency of the
day ia to discredit the people, to take from
them the powers OF government and the
power to name their own servants. When
the people are to have guardians appointed
over them, then this government will be-
come q failure"
Mr.. German went on to make pointed
reference to the politics involved in this
loudest for civil service reform were using
this plan as powerful machine to accom-
plish political ends.
Mr.. Villas, Democrat of Wisconsin, felt
compelled to disagree with the senator
from Maryland. He favored the amend
ment, first because it would improve the
postal service to the postoffice system.
He felt that the civil service idea has been
much used for exploitation by persons who
used it to attract attention to themselves,
yet he believed it was the true principle to
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. tioea-ins - not
Democratic in the party sense.
Mr.. Villas went or to show that postoffce
consolidation was desirable, as the little
country offices were under no supervision
or control.
Mr.. HawIey, Republican of Connecticut,
spoke in favor of the old-fashioned rural
postotfices-an institution that was in the
affections and traditions of the people.
This was = move toward making a ma
shine out of the government; it was carry.
ing civil service to All extreme. The
amendment was laid aside to allow Mr..
Elkins, Republican of West Virginia, to
speak in support of the subsidy item. He
spoke Of the British activity in securing
control OF the ocean commerce and of the
Canadian Pacific railroads 3 violation of the
interstate commerce law, and urged that
the company be disciplined by an aboli-
tion Of the bonding privilege which it en-
joyed.
AS means of reviving our ocean COM
merce Ms. Elkins advocated the re.enact.
ment of the old law giving 10 per cent
rebate on duties on goods carried in Amer
ican ships.
The postofice bill was then laid aside,
and at 8 :35 tho senate went into executive
session and soon after adjourned until
Monday