The San Francisco call., 1897-02-28
Labor Antagonizes Capital,
With the Usual
Result.
Postofice Appropriation Bill Is
the Subject OF Long
Debate.
Senator Allison Waxs Facetious at
the Expense of Hill and
Dubois.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Feb. 27.-In the
Senate to-day the naval appropriation bill
was reported by Hale (R.) of Maine, and
placed on the calendar.
Hoar (R.) of Massachusetts, introduced
a bill to punish obstruction of the exercise
| of constitutional power in either house of
Congress by member thereof, by impos-
ing fine of $1000for willful absence. 1t
also makes the seat vacant upon failure
to qualify. Hoar said he did not expect
action on the bill now, but he hoped it
might be passed in the near future, in
order that the dangers of the situation
which might arise at any time might be
avoided.
long sworn statement was read by the
clerk from officers of the Knights of La
Dor N regard to the dismissal of some en-
pIoyes by the Metropolitan Street Rail-
way Company of Washington and in sup
port of a concurrent resolution introduced
by Hill CD of New York for the with
drawal from the President OF an act a1-
thorizing the extension of the company's
road. The contention of thu knights OF
Labor was backed by Allen (Pop.) of Ne
braska, who arralgned the committee Tor
the District of Columbia for not having
reported to the Senate the hearing given
by the committee to the representatives
of The Knights and to the officers of the
railroad company.
Mills CD of Texas spoke in favor of the
recall of the act, and said that If it came
again before the Senate he would move to
insert in it provision that no employe
of the company should be discharged un-
til charges were preferred against him
and sent before the District Commission
ers, who have authority to hear evidence
and to pass upon the validity of the
charges.
Faulkner CD of West Virginia, a men,
ber of the District Committee, defended
tue action of the committee in the mat
ter.
After some further discussion Gallinger
(R.) OF New Hampshire moved to lay on
table the resolution for The recaI of
the bill. The motion was agreed to-ayes
30, noes "a.
Peffer (Pop.) of Kansas offered a resolu-
tion instructing the Committee on Finance
TO report at the present session what
action it had taken in the matter of the
inv sugation ordered last session into The
bond sales by the Secretary of the Treas
ury. The resolution went over without
action.
u
evening passing bill for refunding the
debt of the Territories was made by Butler
(Pop.) of North Carolina and went over
without action.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
then proceeded with, and Pettigrew (Sil-
ver) OF South Dakota made statement as
to the eXorbitant railroad charges for mail
transportation. He said that the pending
bill ought to be amended by providing
that no more than so per cent of the
amount now paid for railroad mail trans
portation shall be paid hereafter. This
would strike one-fifIh off the cost, saving
nearly SIX millions year.
Allison remarked that there was in the
bill an amendment for the appointment of
a committee to inquire into the whole SUBJ
ject and the amendment, therefore, was
unnecessary. Ii was ruled out, however,
on point of order made by Faulkner that
it was general legislation.
Butler offered another amendment 10
the item appropriating S., SOC, 600 for rail-
way postofhce-car service the amend
ment being that not more than 10 per cent
of the cost of cars shall be paid for their
use. The amendment was laid On the
table.
Allison offered substitute for the COM
mittee amendment for the appointment
of select committee of three Senators
and three representatives to inquire into
the whole subject of mail transportation
and its costs The subs itute merely
changes the committee into commission.
The amendment was modified accord
ingly.
Chandler (R.) of New Ham pshire moved
as substitute for the committee amend
ment as thus modified, proposition that
the questions concerning the correction OF
alleged abuses in the postal service, inelud-
ing second-class mail matter, ne exten-
sion OF free delivery in the rural region. the
reduction OF the cost OF railroad transpor-
tation, the adoption of 1-cent postage for
single letters and other like questions, be
examined by a special reform commits
sion, consisting of the Senate and House
Postoffice Committee chairmen, the Post
master-General and two citizens, to be
appointed by the President, and which
shall make Its report TO the next Con-
gress. He made a statement about the
hearings given by the Senate Postoffice
Committee on the Loud bill and said that
the committee had come to the conclu-
sion that 1t was impossible to have any
legislation on the subjecl at the present
session and that a commission should be
created as proposed.
At $3.50 Allison proposed that there be a
recess from to o'clock this evening,
ana 1t was agreed to.
The discussion of Chandler's substitute
was continued.
Stewart (Silver) of Nevada complained
OF the low cost at which newspapers were
carried through the mails, ridiculing par
ticularly the Sunday newspapers, which
were so heFvy and voluminous that some
persons refused to take them for nothing.
On the other hand, he said, educational
literature, like pamphlets on silver, was
ooyeotted by the Postotfice Departm Mt.
dubois (Silver) of Idaho took advantage
OF the backward condition of the appro-
prlation bulls 10 make a speech in advo-
q 3 L. ns<.~ -.
distribute the appropriation bills among
the committees having charge OF the yari-
Gus subjects The idea OF noldin a ses-