The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-09
IN THE HOUSE.
Use of Private Postal Cards-Indem-
nifty For Lost Registered Letters.

| Use of Private Postal Cards-Iniiem-
nifty For Lost Registered Letters.
Washington, Dec. S.-The house of
representatives in its second davis
session plunged into routine business
Mr.. Hull eRep.), Connecticut, offered a
resolution referring to the committee
on military affairs so much of the re-
port of the boards of soldiers homes as
| under the rules should go to that COM
mittee. After some desultory dis
cussion, the speaker stated he would
refer the report to the appropriation
committee. This was satisfactory, and
! the resolution was agreed to.
Mr.. Loud (Rep.), California, from the
committee on postofficeS and postroads
called up the bill authorizing the use of
private cards to be no longer than
the official cards, and to be carried by
affixing q stamp The bill takes effect
July 1, 1897. 1t was passed without OBJ
lection, and without further argument.
Mr.. Doud also called up the bill au-
thoriZing the postmaster general to
make regulations by which senders of
registered letters or packages may be
Unidentified in q sum not exceeding
SO, in any one case, for loss of letters
or packages in the mail to be paid out
Of the postal revenues. Postmasters
General Bissell and Wilson approved
the bill.
Mr.. Quigg Rep.), New York, opposed
the bill, suggesting an increased fee
to meet the cost of insurance to recoup
the government to meet his objections.
Mr.. Bingham (RepD, Pennsylvania,
supporting the bill, replied to Mr.. Hop
kins (Rep), Illinois, stating that the
experience of every country which had
adopted the indemnity for losses had
been that the revenues from increased
h1IcinaSc vastly orr %ol tba
cost of insurance.
The bill was passed-76 to 49,
Mr.. Loud also called up the house bill
directing postmasters at places where
there is no free mail delivery, upon the
petition of 20 persons receiving mail at
one office, TO appoint carriers, who shall
be paid for their services by the
patrons who utilize them.
Mr.. Sperry (Rep.), Connecticut, adj
vocated the passage of the bill, and
Mr.. Bingham opposed it, because of in
creased liability to mail depreciation
the employment of such a force would
incur
The passage of the bill was advo-
Gated by Messrs. Williams Oem)
Missouri, Smith (Rep0 Illinois, John
son (Reo) California, and Picker
(Rep) South Dakota, and opposed by
Mr.. Loud. The latter gentleman said
that this amounted to nothing, con-
ferred no privilege or right that did
not now exist. Any man or body of
men could select messenger to COL
lect ard deliver their mail and pay
nm Tor IT, II they wanted to do so. 1t
was, besides, a dangerous measure
The bill was 9assed-101 TO 10.
The house then resolved itself into
committee Of the whole and proceeded
to consider the general pension appro-
priation bill
The provisions of the bill were briefly
explained by Mr.. w. A. Stone (Rep1
pennsylvania. It carried a total APP
preparation of s141, 2S3 SS0-less by s65.-
coo than the appropriation for the cur
rent lear and the estimates for the
commissioner. No legislation was nro-
posed in the bill.
Mr. Grow (ReD.), PENNSYLVANIA. the
venerable representative and ex
speaker of the house, took occasion of
the liberty accorded under the rules
TO make a tariff speech. He took for
his text those statements in the presi
dents message relating to the Wilson
tariff bill: The only entire fiscal year
during which this law has been in
force ended on the 30th day of June.
1896. In that year, our imports in
creased over those of the previous year
more than $6,500.000 While the value of
the domestic products we exported and
nearly $4,000, 900 more than during the
preceding year. Whatever may be it's
shortcomings as complete measure of
tariff reform, it must be conceded that
it has o9ened the way to freer and
greater exchange of commodities be-
tween us and other countries and
thus furnished a wider market for our
products and manufactures
In the two years and five months
ended December 1. Mr. Grow said, the
deficiency in the revenues of the gov
eminent amounted to over S110, DOC, 900:
and yet the president made no recon-
mendation to CONGRESS regarding the
increase of revenue. He did say, how
ever. that no deficit that had oc-
CURED, Org that was likely to occur
need excite or disturb us. Most placid.
comfortable frame of mind said Mr..
Grow. 1.-The president evidently thinks
that the creditors of the nation will
not be anxious so long as the en-
gravers and printing presses of the
country do not break down." Mr..
Grow said he would not consider the
tariff in anS partisan sense, but as a
simple business mater. affecting the