The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-07
POSTAL BILL Is Up
Final Vote to be Taken in the
Senate Monday.
PETTIGREW is ANXIOUS
That Certain Alleged RascaIs
Be Turned Out,

| Canon forest reserve in northern Arizona
was passed in the senate today.
In requesting a conference upon pen
sion bill Mr.. Gallinger IN. H.), chairman
OF the pension committee. said that the
house had tacitly adopted a rule in cases
where the widow OF a general officer had
no reasonable status in the pension de-
| partment, no pension exceeding $50 moth
would be granted, but in such cases where
a pension was already being received the
pension might be increased TO $50 a month.
Mr. Gallinger made the statement, he
said. in order that the senate might real
ize the futility Of pressing for pensions of
S75 or $1,000 month.
The consideration of the postoffice ap-
preparation bill was resumed. the pend
ing question being upon the amendment
offered yesterday by Mr.. Pettigrew Is. d.
providing for a reduction of 20 per cent
in the amount paid to railroads for the
| transportation of the mails.
| Concerning the amendment, Mr.. Quay
pointed out that the pending bill provided
for the appointment of a commission
consisting of three members of the SEN
ate and three of the house of representa-
! tives, TO make thorough investigation
of the entire subject touched by the
/ amendment offered. He added that the
committee on postoffices and post roads
already had made a partial investigation
! of the matter and had had before il for
! examination officers of the principal rail-
roads of the country This investigation
| had shown that the amount paid for the
| transportation Of mail was much less in
proportion than that paid for the trans
portation OF freight or express matter.
Mr.. Quay then read some of the state
ments made on the subject to the com
mittee, in order. as he said. sarcastically,
ito prepare for the political diatribes
| which are to follow my remarks"
After the reading of the statement by
the clerk, Mr.. Quay said the adoption of
Mr.. Pettigrew's amendment would result
in reducing the compensation of the rail
roads S600O.o0o without any evidence as
to the results or righteousness of the ac-
ton. He maintained that the investiga-
ton authorized by the pending bill ought
to be made before any action was taken
Mr.. Pettgrew supported this amend
ment. He said that the statements pre-
scented by Mr.. Quay weer purely Elk parte
in their nature.
The railroad officials presented their
own statements of fact and drew their
own conclusions from them. He did not
regard this as evidence. He charged thar
eX-Second Assistant Postmaster General
Nelson was only a creature Of the rail-
roads and that he had worked in the
interest OF the railroads. The present
second assistant postmaster general Mr.
Shallenberger. Mr.. Pettigrew declared
had been captured by the clerks beneath
him-clerks who were put into the de-
partment when railroad officials were at
the head of it. This, he said, was the
reason why Mr.. Shallenberger, in his re-
port, had stated that the rates for carry
ing mail during the past fifteen years had
declined 40 per cent The only way to
ascertain whether the government was
now paying less for mail than it had ff-
teen years ago was to figure from what
was paid then, what is paid now and the |
weights of the mail for the two periods
This, ne had figured ont and was pre-
pared to say that the postoff1ce officials
statements were utterly inaccurate and |
valueless.
Mr.. Pettigrew maintained, in the course /
Of an analysis of mail and express sta
tfstics. that the government paid ten /
times as much for transportation of the |
mails as the express companies paid for
the transportation of TIER matter He /
illustrated what he termed the "faIIacy. |
folly and falsehood' of the statements Of
Mr.. Shallenberger before the committee
by presenting express and mail Transport
70
honest man, he believed, but he had been
imposed upon by subordinates in the de-
partment who had obtained their places
through railroad influences in the last
two administrations. No better officials
could be obtained until every one Of /
those fellows was turned out and a new
crop put in
Az the conclusion Of Mr.. PettiCrew's
speech Mr.. Quay mad the pending bill tenn
porarily laid aside in order that a bill
for the establishment Of postoff1ces in the
military posts or camps might be con
sldered Immediately.
Upon the objection OF Mr.. Pasco (F1a.)
the bill went over
IT WOULD KILL RAILROADS.
Consideration Of the postofice apropria-
ton bill was then resumed. 8Ir. Faulkner
CIV. Va presented a strong argument
against the Petugrew amendment. He de-
clared that 1t would destroy many Of the
railroads n MS own state, fully one-thIrd
Of those in the southern states ana many
throughout the country.
He presented an elaborate analysis OF
the evidence addueed upon the subject by
the Postofices and post roads COMMITTEES.
d which he IS a member. 70 show that
both the statements OF railroad officials
and officials OF the postof8cs department
practically agreed that the price now PAID
for mail transportation was entirely rea-
soaable. He was. however. in favor OF -.
ne creation Of a commission as provided
Tor in The bAl % thoroughly investigate
he whole subjec. and submit is report
and recommendations 10 congress.
Mr.. Quay moved that when ,he senate
adjourn today. i Be 20 meet On Monday {
iext- The motion was agreed TO-
Unanimous consent was then given THAI
ne final voss on the bi! should 5e taken ,
,efore adjournment on Monday.
Mr.. Hawiey tCoun3. chairman o. the
Military affairs committee. presented 3
.ouse b.I 20 increase the number q sur {
-eons IN the United States army BY ~
cen. ana n emergencies giving TIE Sec
etary Of war authority % appoint ~ Q
aany contract surgeons a. mag BE- zeces- +
AIRY. tas salary q each not 10 exceed
30 a mon.h- The hll2 vas passed.
Mr. Cannon CCtahg sscBrez shs aasP- :
ion % resolution directing The commit I
&c on manufactures 10 investigate shs
dGiters,Ioa x food srzlcsss - EnanEfac-
zre-z q