The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-12-10
PETITIONS FROM MANUFAC-
TURERS URGING PASSAGE
OF DINGLEY BILL.
HOUSE PASSES some POSTAL BILLS
Authorizing Private Mailing Cards and
Providing an Indemnity for Regis
tered I4ctters-Thc Pension Bill
Passed the House.

about the only feature Of interest de
veloped today at the brief session of tn
senate, which lasted only twenty-five
minutes. Senator Cullom gave notice o
n speech on Cuba next Thursday. Th,
senator's had expected to start tn
wheels of actual business, but the ap
pearance of house resolution relative t.
the death of cx-Speaker Crisp led t.
the customary adjournment as mari
of respect. A large number of bureau
reports were received, including that Of
the government directors Of the Unior
Pacific railroad.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Dec. S.-The senate
settled down to business today and
there were few evidences of the ex'
element of the opening session of yes.
tcrday. The attendance was small.
When letter from the secretary of
the treasury was read answering a
senate inquiry as to the number Of aliens
in the treasury, Mr.. Callinger (rcp,) of
New Hampshire remarked that he was
glad that foreigners, whose services had
been conspicuous in the department, had
seen fit. as n result of the inquiry, to
take out naturalization papers.
Many petitions were presented from
manufacturing concerns, urging the
passage of the Dingley bill. .".t
The early opening of Cuban discus
sion was forcshadowed by notice from
Mr.. Cullom (rep.) of Illinois that on
Thursday he would address the senate
on the Cuban question
The house bill relative to the death of
rx-Speaker Crisp was then laid before
the senate.
Mr.. Bacon (dem.) of Georgia stated
that at later day he would ask that Il
guished Georgian.
AS mark of respect to the deceased,
she senate at 12:23 p. IN. adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
Washington, Dec. S.-The house, with
out wasting time, proceeded to business
today and before the session closed had
passed three bills of considerable i'm
portance and the first of the regular sup
ply bills-that for pensions. The three
bills related TO postal matters. One
provided for the use of private mailing
cards of the same general size and char
7acter rs the present postal cards, VIII IN
one-cent stamps are affixed. Another
provided for limited indemnity of SO
Tor the loss of registered mail matter,
and the third provided for Il private
carrier service in towns and villages
where no free delivery exists. 1t pro-
rides that on the application of twenty
persons receiving their mail at the same
Office the postmaster shall appoint such
persons as are willing to undertake the
collection and delivery of mails; that the
charge is not to exceed one cent for each
letter. and that the charge shall be paid
by the beneficiary. The pension bill
was passed without factious opposition,
but Mr.. Grow of Pennsylvania took oc-
Casion in the debate to submit some
views in favor of higher tariff duties,
based on that portion of the presidents
message relating to the tariff. The bill
carries Sill, 263, $50, about $4,000 less
ihan that for the current year
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
Washington, Dec. S.-The attendance
of members was very large when the
house met today, but the galleries were
almost deserted. No program had been
arranged before the house met. After
the Journal had been read there was
"a hurried consultation of Mr.. Dinglcy
and other republican leaders, as the re-
suit of which it was decided to proceed
with the regular ordcr-the call of com
mittecs.
-, WI i[ouu Vcp.J OF CallllOrnla, from
the committee on postofIices and most
roads, called up bill to authorize the
use OF private mailing cards of The same
weight and form as the postal cards
now IN USE when one-cent stamp is
affixed.
The bill, he said. had been approved
by the postoifice department and it
would tend to popularize postal cards,
besides erecting saving TO the govern
nT hn
OF the cards and stamps. This scheme
had been successfully put in operation in
isngland where in six months the num-
her of cards mailed had increased from
24S,OOO,OOO to 32S000,OOO. The bill was
passed, to take effect July 1, 1897. ~
>, lie also called up a bill to provide for
limited indemnity for the loss of regis
tered mail matter. 1t provides an in
demnity of not TO exceed $40 for any
one registered letter but if of less value,
not TO exceed the actual value
This bill was also approved by the
postoihce department. Such an indemni-
ty is made by nearly all the foreign coun-
tries The postmaster general expressed
me opinion that increased revenue from
registered mail would more than offset
the indemnity losses to be paid.
Mr.. Loud said that on the basis of
last years statistics the government
navy Al l'N'lut VI NJuV,UtU Wlln
liability of $4,000 There was some
criticism of the bill on the ground that
1t trespasSed on the rights of express
companies, but it was passed by 76 to Is.
Dir. Loud then called up the bill of Mr.
Sperry lrcp.) of Connecticut to authorize
the collection and delivery of mail in
cities, towns and villages, wherein no let
Ter carrier service exists, by the employ
ment under mutual arrangement between
the citizens of any persons in such places
10 perform this service ut Il cost not ex-
ceeding / cent for the delivery of each
letter or package. The expense of de-
hvering under the terms of the bill is
10 be borne by the heneliciaries and there
is no liability SO far as the government
is concerned
Mr.. Sperry said that there was a strong
demand for the passage of the bill from
New England and from other farming
sections. 1t would, in effect, he said be
"a revival of the old penny post.
The bill was opposed by Mr.. Bingham
rep of Pennsylvania and Mr.. Loud
Srep.) of California and supported by Mr..
Smith pop.) of Illinois and Mr.. Picker
rep of South Dakota. The bill was
passed, 100 to Is.
The house, on motion of Mr.. Stone
(rep) of Pennsylvania, went into the COM
nittee of the whole and took up the con-
sideration of the pension appropriation
bill