The San Francisco call., 1896-04-08
From Appropriations the States.
men Branch Off to Civil
Service Reform.
HoKE SMITH soUNDLY SCORED.
But the Bill Is Passed and With 1t
an Increased Subsidy for Carry
ing Ocean Mails.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April THE
Senate mad long and important session
to-day, the postoffice appropriation bill
being the subject of consideration and ac-
ton. There was quite an extended discus
sion over the question of the consolidation
of fourth class postoffiees in the vicinity
of large towns and cities and the substitu-
tion for them of stations, sub-stations and
branch offices. The opponents of the sys-
tenn were successful in having its extern
sion restricted-an amendment offered by
Wolcott of Colorado favorable to the sys-
TEN having been laid upon the table by a
vote of 4S to z. That decisive vote was
followed by the adoption of an amend
ment offered by Pasco of Flor-da-ayes 36,
noes 25--whieh restricts the consolidation
system to the limits of corporate towns
and cities.
The committee amendment appropri-
ating $50, 900 as additional compensation
to the Oceanic Steamship Company for
ocean mail service from San Francisco to
New Zealand and New South Wales was
agreed to-ayes 49, noes 81.
The item of S196,614 for necessary and
special mail facilities on trunk lines from
Boston to Atlanta and New Orleans by
way of New York and Washington. was
retained in the bill, the motion by Villas of
Wisconsin to strike ii out having been
voted down, ayes 13, noes SO.
An amendment requiring the expendi-
ture OF $4,000 for experiments in rural
free delivery was offered by Butler OF
North Carolina, and was agreed to, ayes
81, noes %.
Teller presented resolutions from
branches of the American Federation OF
Labor in various States for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver without wait
ing for the aid OF any other nation, one of
them declaring tha. the members of the
branch would not assist any candidate
who was not in favor of free coinage, no
matter to what political party he might
belong.
The Senate bill to pay to Edward Rice of
Denver, Colo, $270O for United States
coupon bonds lost by him in July, 1886,
was passed.
Butler (Pop.) OF North Carolina intro
duced a joint resolution proposing an
amendment to the constitution of the
United States limiting the Presidents veto
power. 1t proposes that a Presidential
veto may be overcome by majority vote
NHlopCo0 VI tWO-lLlldS fOtCJ III DOtu
Houses; also that all orders, resolutions
and votes to which a concurrence of both
Houses may be necessary, except on the
question of adjournment, shall be pre-
sented to the President, and shall be ap-
proved by him before they take effect. 1t
was referred.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
taken rp, the pending question being on
the proposition as to the compensation of
clerks at postal stations and sub-stations,
involving the matter of the consolidation
OF postoffices throughout the country.
Villas O.) of Wisconsin made an ex-
PLANTATION of the points at issue. He said
that the proposition was mere provision
that the postmasters who would be pay
able out of the appropriation for post
masters salaries might be paid out of the
appropriation for clerks when the offices
OF such postmasters were discontinued and
incorporated with other offices.
Villas said the advantages of the postal
consolidation system were so obvious that
no opposition would have been made to it
had not the Senator from Maryland
tGorman) uncorked the bottle and let out
the genius of opposition to civil service
reform. "And," he added, "civii service
advancement in this country owes its
success to the man now at the head of
this Government"
Allen (Pop.) of Nebraska challenged
Villas to point out any benefits derived
from civil service reform.
eff nothing else had been gained" Villas
replied, than the decency and cleanliness
of political conduct on change of admin
istration that would have been enough to