The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-07
FOR CARRYING THE MAIL.
Senator Pettigrew Thinks Railroads
Arc Paid To Much.
AMENDMENT TO REDUCE COMPEN-
SATION 20 PER CENT.

Matter Discussed at LIE myth in Senate Yes
terday-Bil1 to Establish Military Post
| Ofices Goes Over-OnIy One War Meas
| ure Passed.
Washington, May Gone war measure
was passed by the Senate today. 1t
was bill to increase to 10 the number
of surgeons in the United States army
and to authorize the Secretary of War to
employ as many contract surgeons as he
might deem necessary. Consideration
for a bill authorizing the postmaster to
establish post offices in military posts and
camps was sought, but under objection it
went over until Monday. Almost the
entire session was consumed by decis-
ion OF an amendment to the post Office
appropriation bill offered by Mr.. Pettigrew
of South Dakota, providing for reduc-
ton of 20 per cent in the compensation
of,,railroads for the transportation of
mails. The amendment was still pend
ing when the Senate adjourned. until
Monday.
Rev. DR.. Tennis Hamlin, pastor of the
| Church of the Covenant, this city, de-
| livered the invocation at the opening of
the Senate today.
| In requesting conference upon PEN
sion bill. Mir. Gallinger Of New Hamp-
| tee, said that the House had tacitly
adopted rule that in cases where the
widow of a general officer had no PEN
sionable status in the pension depart
ment, no pension exceeding $50 month
would be granted, but in such cases
where pension was already being re-
ceived, the pension might be Increased to
$50. Mr.. Gallinger made the statement,
he said, in order that tho Senate might
realize the futility of pressing for PEN
sions of SIS or 800 month.
| Unobjected bills on the pension calen-
| der were passed.
The consideration of the post office ap-
preparation bill was resumed, the pend
| ing question being upon the amendment
offered yesterday by Mir. Pettigrew of
South Dakota, providing for reduction
Of 20 per cent in the amount paid to rail-
roads for the transportation OF the mails.
Concerning the amendment, Mir. Quay
pointed out that Section OF the pending
bill provided for joint commission,
consisting of three members of the SEN
ate and three of the House, to make
thorough investigation of the entire sub
ject touched upon by the amendment
| offered. lie added that a partial lnvestl-
CATION OF the matter had been made.
! This investigation had shown that the
amount paid for the transportation of
mail was much less in proportion than
that paid for the transportation OF freight
or express matter.
Mr.. Quay said the adoption of Mr.. Pet
tigrew's amendment would result in re-
duoing the compensation of the railroads
$50, 900 without any evidence as to the
results or Righteousness of the action.
Mr.. Pettigrew supported his amend
ment.
He charged that ex-Second Assistant
Postmaster Nelson was only creature
of the railroads and that he had worked
in the interest of the railroads.
The present. assistant postmaster gen
eral, Mr.. Shallenberger, Mr.. Pettigrew
declared, had been captured by the clerks
beneath him-clsrks who were put into
the department when railroad officials
were at the head of it. This, he said, was
the reason why Mr.. Shallenberger in his
report had stated that the rates for car
rying mail during the past 10 years had
declined 40 per cent. The only way to
now paying less for mail than it paid Is
years ago, was to figure from what was
paid then, what it paid now and the
| weights of the mail for the two periods,
This, he had figured out. and WINS pre-
pared to say that the post officials state
ments was utterly inaccurate and value
less. 80
Mr.. Pettigrew maintained in the course
of an analysis of mail and express Sta
tistics that the government paid ten
| times as much for the transportation of
the mails as the express companies paid
| for the transportation OF this matter
He illustrated what he termed 'sthe falie.
cy and falsehead' of the statements of
Mr.. Shallen berger before the committee
by presenting express and mail transpor-
tasion figures.