The San Francisco call., 1896-04-03
Interesting Debates Grow Out of
Amendments to PoStoffce
Appropriation Bill.
ONLY FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES
Senator German Objects to Giving the
Officials Power to Violate Civil
Service Rules.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 2.-In the
Senate to-day George of Mississippi con-
cluded the speech begun by him on Tues
day and continued yesterday against the
Committee on Privileges and Elections,
declaring that Dupont was duly and le-
gally elected as Senator from the State
of Delaware. Georges argument occupied
in all ten hours. 1t closed with an asser-
:tien that if Dupont obtained the seat he
would be elected to it not by the Legisla-
ture OF Delaware, but by the Senate of the
United States. No action was taken on
the report, and it is very uncertain when
the vote will be reached.
The remainder of the DAYS session was
taken up in the discussion of an amend
ment to the postotfice appropriation bill
relating to the consolidation of suburban
postoffices and changing them into sta
tions and sub-stations.
Reading of yesterdays journal was dis
pensed with. and the Senate on motion of
Hoar (R.) of Massachusetts ordered that
the adjournment to-day be until Monday
next
House Dill granting to the Atchison and
Nebraska and TO the Chicago, Burlington
and Quincy Railroad companies the right
OF way over part of the Sac and Fox and
Iowa Indian reservations in Kansas and
Nebraska was reported and passed.
The Delaware Senatorship case was
taken up, and George CD of Mississippi
began the third days installment OF his
speech against the right of Dupont to the
seat. George concluded his speech at 2:45
O'Clock, having In the three days occupied
just ten hours. His summing up was that
If the Senate admitted Dupont it would
perform the act of eIecting him when the
Legislature of the State had failed to do it.
The Delaware case went over without ac-
ton.
The Indian appropriation bill was re-
ported from the Committee on Appropria-
tions by Pettigrew (R.) of South Dakota,
who gave notice that he would ask the
Senate on Monday next to take it up.
PETER (Pop.) of Kansas asked unani-
nous consent that after the postoffice ap-
preparation bill is disposed of the Senate
should take up his resolution for an inves
tigation into recent bond issues, but Hill
objected.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
taken up, the pending question being on
an amendment for an additional compen-
sation for carrying the Australian mail.
The amendment was laid aside tempo
rarily and Wolcott (R.) of Colorado offered
an amendment to regulate the compensa-
ton of the postmasters in sub-stations of
cities. Wolcott's amendment was to in
sert this proyiso: Provided, that when
ever by order OF the Postmaster General
any postotfce is nsolidated with any
office so as TO become station or SUBJ
station OF the same the salary of the clerk
in charge may be paid. ont of the appro-
]. priation."
German (D.) OF Maryland opposed the
amendment.
A Democratic Senator asked whether
the change was made for political pur-
poses.
''Of course it is for political purposes, !"
German said, "but don't care to speak
of that. / am against the principle which
enables the Postmaster General to abolish
all these small offices at his will. II is
not only un-Democratic and un-Repu bli-
can but 1t is un-American. The post
masters at small postoffices are all the
Government officials that the people have
to look to-"
German made a pointed allusion to the
question of politics as affected by post.
Office consultations. The men who had
shouted most loudly for civil service re.
form were using that consolidation scheme
as powerful machine 10 accomplish po-
litical ends.
The discussion of the amendment was
broken in upon to allow Elkins (R.) oil
West Virginia, who said he would be
absent on Monday, to make an argument
in favor of the committee amendment for
additional compensation to the Oceanic
Steamship Company for carrying the Aus.
tralian mails.
No action was taken on either of the
pending amendments, and the bill was
laid aside.
The Senate al $40 adjourned until Mon.
u