The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-09

NAShiNsTON. Dec s-The house.
without wasting time. proceeded TO busi-
ness today. and before the session closed
had passed three bills OF considerable i'm
portance. and the frat Of the regular sup
ply bilIs-that for pensions
Three OF the bills considered related TO
postal matters. One provided for the use
OF private mailing cards OF the same gem
efat size and character as the present
postal cards. when 1-csnt stamps are af-
fixed. Another provided for a limited In
atmnity Of sic for the loss OF registered
mail matter, and the third provided for
A private carrier service In towns and VIII
iases where no free delivery exists Il pro-
Fides lat on the application of twenty
persons receiving their mai at the same
office. the postmaster shall appoint such
persons as are willing to undertake the
collection and delivery OF mails: that the
charge be not 10 exceed l cent for each
letter. and that the charge shall be paid
BY the beneficlarias.
The pension bill was passed without fac
aoiis opposition. bat Grow OF Pennsyi-
Yanls. took occasion in the debate 70 sub
init some views In favor Of higher tariff
duties based on that portion of the presi-
dents message relating 10 the tariff The
bill carried <I41 2e3 $40 about $500 less
than the law for the current year.
After the Journal had been read there
was hurried consultation by Dingiey
and other Republican leaders. AZ a result
OF which 1t WAS decided 10 proceed with
the regular order.
Loud of California. from the committee
on posiotiices and post roads, called up
the bin 10 authorize the use OF private
mailing cards of the same weight and
form az the postal cards when l-eent
stamp IS affixed. The bill, he said, had
been approved by the posfoffice depart
meni. as II would tend 10 popuiarize pos
tai cards. besides effecg.ng a saving 10 the
government OF the difference between the
cost OF the cards and stamps. The scheme
had been successfully put n operation in
England. where IN six months the NUM-
Der of such cards mailed Increased from
2fs,0a.0@o to 33i.DaD.0so. The bill was pass
ed IL takes effect July 1. 1891
Loud also called up the bill TO provide
a limited indemnity for loss OF = registered
mail letter. Ii provides an indemnity not
20 exceed SO for any one registered letter.
but not to exceed tae actual value of the
letter. This bill was also approved by the
postofiice department. Loud said that on
the basis OF last years statistics the gov
eminent could have a revenue OF ssa.es0
with liability OF sse,0uA. There was crit
icism OF the oil on the ground that il
trespassed On the rights OF express COM
i,ah.es. Dut It was passed. Is 70 IL.
Loud then called NJ the bill OF Sperry OF
and delivery OF mail in towns and villages
where no letter carrier service exists. by
the employment. under mutual arrange
ment between citizens, OF any person TO
perform ths service at a cost rot exceed
ing / cent for each letter or package at
The expense Of the heneiiciaries The bill
was opposed by Bingham OF Pennsylvania
and Loud OF California. and supported by
Smith Of Illinois and Picker Of South Da-
okta. The bin was passed. TOO to 1ua
The house. on motion OF Stone OF Penn
sylvania. went into committee OF the
whole and took up the consideration OF
the pension appropriation bill Stone
briefly explained that the bill carried $Ifi.-
$3.50, about $4,000 less than the bin for
the current year. The COMMITTEES. he said.
did not feel warranted In making a reduc-
ton tn the estimate for pensions. but did
Fedpce the amount for attending surgeons
5000. and the amount FOR clerk hire at
the various agencies saooa The latter
reduction was made possible by the sys-
TEN or payment by check inaugurated
this year. There was. he said, no attempt
at legislation In the bill
Grow. the venerable ex-speaker OF the
house. took advantage of the latitude al
lowed In debate on the appropriation bill
20 attack the portion of Mr.. Cleveland's
message relating 10 tho effects from a
revenue standpoint OF the enactment OF.
the present tarin law. The deficit for the
first years life OF the law ne said. was
81. zee. for the second. S45 90. .Nae, and
for the FIRST five months OF this year. s4e.-
sis. IS5. yet. he said. the president had not
seen Ut. with these large deficits TO rec
ommend any measure for the increase OF
revenue The necessity for revenue. he
argued. could not be denied ia the face OF
The figures submitted by the president
himself. II was. he declared. purely a
business question. tie showed that inpor-
tati3ns were increasing and revenues de-
eyeaSing II Indicated. he said lack OF
business capacity IN the imposition OF siu-
lies Grow received a round OF applause
frem sta Republican side when ne con
eluded
When the bill was taken up under the
flvs-guinute rule Connolly. OF Illinois. OF
fercd au amendment 70 the provision re-
curing examining surgeons 10 stale spe-
cincAtiy the rating The applicant for PEN
sion Is entitled to. In their judgment. SO as
50 make the rating nxed by the examining
bard hindlnS in the pension office. II any
pension Should be allowed. The amend
rnent was ruled out on the point af order.
Without amendment the bin was passed.
Tee notice given hy Thomas r. Watson
or 9he contest against J. C. Rlack. of Cseor-
ga. who ~as elected az special election
last spring. was read 80 fhe house and
referred 10 the committee on elections.
after which. a. aso ?. m. the house ad-