The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-20
THE SENATE.
Mr.. Hoar on the Curta.lment OF Carrier
Service in Large Cities.


Mr.. Hoar on the curta.lment OF Carrier
Service in Large Cities.
Washington, Jan. 20.-A spirited de-
bate was precipitated in the senate by the
introduction OF a resolution by Mr.. Hoar
OF Massachusetts, providing for an in
quiry by the committee on postoffices
and potsroads concerning the recent
order of the postmaster general reduc.
ing the force OF letter carriers in several
cities of the country. Mr.. Hoar de-
slared that the order had had the effect
of a dynamite bomb in creating conster-
nation among business men through
out the country, while apparently all
that was needed by the postoffice de-
partment was an appropriation OF $780,
900 to fully maintain the efficiency OF
the carrier service. 1T is absolutely in
tolerable." said Mr. Hoar. that this
great branch OF the public service should
stop or be crippled. Many OF the smaller
cities are to be practically deprived OF
mail delivery facilities and il is time
that something be done to avoid busi-
ness embarrassment"
Mr.. Wolcott said IL was we'll under
stood that the second class mail OF the
Country absorbs G5 percent OF the ex-
pcnses OF the postoffice department and
supplies only about percent of revenue.
IL congress should enact into law the
measure relating to second class matter.
the recurrence OF the present difficulty
Will be obviated. Mr.. Wolcott called
attention to the opposition OF the pub
fishers OF New England to the bill re-
stricting second class matter, and point
edly intimated to Mr.. Hoar that il New
England business men desired excellent
free delivery service they ought to be
willing TO prevent the government from
being imposed upon by the second class
mail fraud. 1T is opportune." he said,
TO call the senate's attention to the tre-
mendous loss which is being sustained
by the government In carrying second
class mail matter at one cent a pound"
After some good natured sparring be-
tween Mr. Hoar and Mr. Allison as TO
the terms Of the resolution, the former
agreed TO change it so that the post
master general should be instructed
forthwith to inform the senate what
amount OF money was necessary 10 MAIN
tain the excellence of the carrier service.
Mr.. Allen spoke sarcastically of the
good times the people CT New England
were having under the Dingley law with
their strikes and lockouts He thought
that good many Of them would now
have time to go TO the postofiices to get
their mail II Il was not promptly de-
livered by carrier. He thought the
great point involved in the discussion OF
postoffice finances was the charge that
there was an annual leakage of from
eight to ten millions OF dollars on az
count OF the underwelghing Of mail mat
ter. 1T is most remarkable" said Mr..
Allen, that charges of such gravity
should be made in the public prints. and
yet that the party in power should re-
main with reference to them as silent
as the grave. If we only had the nerve
TO eradicate these frauds we should have
money enough to put corps OF efficient
letter carriers in every city in the land"
Mr.. Vest gave notice that he would
move today TO take up for consideration
the Teller resolution reported blythe
finance committee. providing that bonds
OF the United States may he rcdeemd in
standard silver dollars. Mr.. Vests no
tice seems TO indicate an intention on
the part OF some senators TO displace.
temporarily. the Hawaiian annexation
treaty. as II is evident as Mr.. White OF
California cald, that the consideration
ofthe resolution would "precipitate some
slight discussion"
Ia the executive session MIR Morgan
repeated his assertion that President
Cleveland wAs favorable " the acaaisi-
ton VI the islands aid again expressed
ths Opinisn ,bat IL vas his intsnti.n to
have restored queen Liliuoksisui and
to have negotiated with her - treaty of
annexation. he believed tha NJ. risvc
land would never have taken such a