The herald., 1897-02-13

ately after the reading of the journal
1t was arranged that the general debate
! should close in one hour. Bromwell,
| Republican, Ohio, resumed his argu-
ment against the appropriation of Sl96
| 900 for special mail facilities from Bos-
ton to New Orleans. Replying to Swan
sons remarks yesterday he declared 1t
| was absurd 10 say the Southern railroad
| carried more mail than any other trunk
| line in the country. There were, he said.
| twenty-five trunk lines which carried
| more mail than the Southern.
He referred to the advantage gained
! by the New York papers by this special
mail train and pointed out that newspa-
per specials run out of Chicago, St.Louis,
Cincinnati and other centers obtained
no special compensation.
Gardiner, Republican, OF New Jersey.
and Pearson, Republican, of New York,
defended the appropriation The latter
called attention to the fact that the bill
appropriated $1,000 for eXpediting the
mails to the islands of the Pacific. Were
not the Democrats and Republicans of
the south and even the Populists. he
asked, entitled to as much consideration
as the residents of the South Sea ISL
ands? He said it expedited the mails
in the south from twelve TO fifteen hours.
Simpkins, Republican. of Massachu-
sets, opposed the resolution and called
attention to the fact that for many years
none of the money had been expended
between Boston and New York.
After some further remarks the gen.
eral debate closed and the bill was taken
up for amendment under the five minute
rule.
Southard Republican, of Ohio, moved
to strike out the proviso for the appro-
priation for marine free delivery at De-
troit. designed to abolish the use of
steam launch and to confine the service
to rowboats. He said the proviso would
seriously cripple this important service
a Detroit.
= Belknap, Republican, Of Illinois, and
other representatives of the cities on the
great lakes. supported the amendment.
The amendment was agreed to.
On motion of Talbot Democrat of
South Carolina. the appropriation for
experimental free delivery was increas-
ed from $50 600 to 100000 Williams Of
fered an amendment to the appropria-
ton of $25, 900 for transportation of the
mail, proviso to reduce the compensa-
tion to non-aided roads to the amount
paid land grant roads. In support of
his amendment he recalled Mr.. Loud's
statement yesterday that land grant
railroads make good profit in carrying
the mails at the reduced rates. The
amendment was ruled out on point of
order While a discussion was in pro-
gress as to the rate of compensation al
lowed street car mail service. Hepburn,
Republican of Iowa, asked what func-
tions these cars performed.
1T has been intimated," said Terry,
Democrat of Arkansas, that these cars
are put on street car lines so they can be
filled with federal bayonets to suppress
strikes
When the item appropriating $4,000
for special mail facilities from Boston
to New orleans was reached, Bromwell,
Republican. of Ohio, moved to strike it
out
The house Immediately divided and
the Bromwell motion was lost-46 to 10I.
Simpkins then moved to strike out so
much of the provision as related to the
special facilities between Boston and
New York and to reduce the appropria-
ton to Sill POS. The amendment was
without division.
An amendment was adopted re-
ducing the per diem of railway postal
service agents for expenses from So to
81 per day.
Without further amendment the bill
was reported to the house, whereas, on
the appeal of Mr.. Loud the amendment
adopted in committee to increase the
appropriation for rural free delivery
was rejected and the bill passed.
The remainder fthe day until 4:45
o'clock was devoted to reading the sun
dry civil appropriation bill. The formal
first reading of a bill is usually dis
pensed with, but this eXpedient was
adopted to prevent the consideration of
private bills, which is the regular order
or Friday.
At 4:45 pm, the house adjourned until
tomorrow, thus dispensing with the
regular Friday night session.