New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-12
AGAINST THE "SPY SYSTEM"
MONEY FOR MORE POSTAL INSPECTORS
REFUSED BY THE HOUSE
MP. CUMMINGS TELLS WHAT lie 81" oN ''''-
To THE NEW YORK POsToFFIcE-THE Ar-

-, c-.,,,r,.cs TELLS WHAT lie SAW on VISIT
tn THE NEW YORK PosToFFIcE-THE AP-
pnorR1ATIoN BILL PASSED
49, $3.50, u,rcb 1.-THE Postofrce Appropri-
a,ion bill was passed by the House 'o-'aS o..
g.. 20 tho senate The session was ch'eny oeYo'on
., consideration O. the spy system IN the ToS'
om,o Denartment, the espionage vi '
carriers has been called. and II was ''so''"''' "
lacked by several members
Mr. Oulgg G;ep.. y y moved to reduce INC al.
,,-.,,ria,lon for pay OF inspectors from SlZ'v" 10
- ~, 80 s % c,,i of the appointment OF the
,bir,v-,vo additional inspectors when the CUM
,i,foo INTENDED the Postoiiice Department 10 nave
In siu,or, OF the amendment Mr. Qulgs maoe i
sp..ch characterizng tie spy system "s p''
sued by the department IN the last TWO years ID
shame ana disgrace -
Nr Cummings dem, y. " made vigorous
speech against tho spy system ana the Po''0S u
the Pos,onice Department. lie sad:
NJ, many months ago | went INTO the New orH
los. once. found there several hun1rcu Sie. .h
Al work. and ! saw ln She room BRUCE IKE VIC
p,,i+, - Venice stretching across the apartment.
rovnreI with blinds-a sort OF duck blind Oaughtefl
through INTO this room the same a. - IN
woman can look ont OF the harefn. ! asheo %i s .
thai was why" was the reply IL IS o''"' 'o
w hat are they doing there"
They ar. watching the one or two hundred pos,,
ono, clerks Tor fear some one of them might s'eai
AhD watches the spies. ArhrI
.-Noboly." daughter and spplauseD
Whv IS ~ aat ne assgmp'Gn - aae fha, are
ii,fs are al! dishonest 'Appiause( ... g. -.
Mr. chairman. we have had n spy system IN the
the Nls lance League covered the cly WIN Sp.
80 watch ihr Police department. Ana what va
the RESULT Look AZ the records In The courts o.
New-York. There have been more spies convicted
90 llac kuan than there were police officers OF pau
shall vote FOR The proposition OF my friend from
Ncw-York. While / acknowledge ana any man
are raliel special agents to investigate postohices
vher. letters have been stolen or something OF
.brulI h.. placed upon the heels OF men whose
hon has heretofore been unquest!oncd IN" let
f.r-.arr.er with honest record Is entitled 10
tho same Treatment, as the Postmaster General and
ris assistants; but the Postmaster-General and
hts asan' rsTs 10 sS say po or hor 100" upon II
THAT hereafter 10 postmaster; postofce clerk;
cmpioyc shall visit Washington. whether on cave
alth or Without pay for he PURPOSE OF innuencins
violates this order IL liable 10 removal
Tho postorice clerk or the lciter-carrer ought 10
General ana his assistants. There IL no man IN
this House who has been on 2 committee Of the
llouse-take any committee: viii say the Army
committee or the Committee on Naval Anars-who
has not been importuned day In and day out TO sup
oN some oro vs pers c inte1esed Why do
you draw the line on the postoflce clerk and the
Mr. Loud-Dont Won think +, Is a practice that
ought TO he stopped in all departments OF tho
Mi Cummings think that you ought TO begin
tho head OF the stream before you go TO the
bottom Of H. Don't play the wolf and the lamb.
as Won propose do I'm this case. Let US apply II 10
all nike. If YOU going 10 apply II anywhere.
| say that the postal clerk and the letter-carrier
ought 10 have the same facilities FOR reaching Con-
gress that the heads OF tho Department, have.
Mr.. OugC closed the debate in favor OF the amend
ment after much desutory discussion had been In
dulged in, and II was adopted-lG2 to 60
No further amendment OF importance was pro-
posed. and the committee rose al 40 o'clock and
Mr.. Payne reported the bill 20 the House with a
favorable recommendation.
Mr. Bromwc! IRep.. oh!o) moved to amend tho
bill by striking out the appropriation OF $4,000 for
special facilities the trunk lines between Boston
via New York and Washington to Atlanta and
Newt Orleans. and on his amendment the yeas and
nays were ordered. The vote resulted: Yeas. III:
nays 1874 SO the appropriation remains In the bill.
There politics In this question: members from
the East and South voting IN favor of the appro-
priation and the Western members against It, The
bill then passed and at 400 o'clock the House
adjourned Just before adjournment Mr. Daniels
Iscp. y W gave notice that he would move at
the earliest opportunity tomorrow 70 proceed with
the consideration OF the Adrich- Robbins contested
election case.