Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-15
1t is Taken Up by the House Of Rep
resentatives.
TO MAINE RELIEF MEASURE
viii Be Considered After the
Appropriation.
ACTION BY THE SENATE

AT the opening OF the session of the
House of Representatives today the Speak
er recognized Mr.. BouteIle CMe.), chairman
OF the naval affairs committee, to call up
the bill for the relief of the victims and
survivors of the Maine disaster. The bill
provided for the payment to the legal heirs
of those who lost their lives a sum equal
TO twelve months sea pay of the deceased
and the reimbursement to the survivors
of the value of personal effects lost, not
to exceed in amount sum equal to twelve
months sea pay.
The continuance of allotments to the
families of the deceased for three months
was also provided for
The consideration of the bill required
Unanimous consent. Mr.. Loud Cali said
the bill was important There was gen
eral law which covered such cases and
special act should receive deliberate con-
s:deration
Mr.. Bouteile said that the passage of the
bill was demanded by public sentiment all
over the country. He said there was
pressing necessity for the relief of the
sufferers of this terrible disaster, Benefit
performances were being held and sub
scriptions were being raised all over the
country for the relief of the widows and
orphans of the victims.
Mr. Loud objected.
That is the gentleman's privilege under
the rules said Mr.. Boutelle
Il object to the latter remark" said Mr.
Loud, and ask that It be stricken from
the record.
1t was finally arranged by unanimous
consent that the bin should be considered
as soon as the pest Office appropriation
ill was out of the way
Mr.. Danford (Ohio). chairman of the
&C mmittee Oil immigration, called attention
to the fact that he had given notice some
time ago that he would today call up The
immigration bill. He asked what the par
Eanentary status of the bill was and the
Speaker informed him that 1t was on the
Speakers table and could be called up at
any time when a privileged uatter was
not before the House.
The Post Office Appropriation Bill.
On motion of Mr.. Loud the House then
went into committee of the whole and
took up the post office appropriation bill.
All efforts to fix time for closing gen.
eral debate failed on account of the great
pressure for time to speak. Mr.. Loud, in
Charge of the bill, explained its provisions
briefly. 1t carried s9S962 800, being s,-s 391
less than the estimates, and s., 2!t5, 962 more
than the appropriations for the current
year.
Mr.. Cromwell (Ohio) made an extended
speech against the appropriation for special
fast mail facilities from Boston to New
Orleans.
For Rural Free Delivery.
The post office bill contains an item of
$4,000 for rural free delivery during the
next fiscal year. This is 100000 more than
the Post Office Department had available
for the same purpose during thu present
year. In addition to the frst-named
amount the Postmaster General may use
for the purpose stated a sum equal to the
aggregate compensation of postmastars,
mail a sta
vice ard mail messenger service that may
BE- discontinued by reason of the estab-
lishmert of rural free delivery.
Experiments that have been conducted
already by the department show that the
establishment of rural delivery in which
there is a hearty cooperation of the COM
munities interested, the discontinuance of
the offices of number of fourth-class post
masters and of the services of other en-
ployes can be effected so there will be a
considerable balance to be added to the
general fund of S150,OO0 to defray the ex-
penses of free delivery service where
economy cannot be practiced.
Under the scheme put into operation some
time ago by the department of establish
ing free delivery along the lines of star
routes probably 1000 people who formerly
mad TO travel considerable distances to
post offices to get their mail now receive it
either at their homes at places mucn
nearer than formerly. The first assistant
postmaster general expresses the opinion
mat uiiueI HDtTdi appropriations along the
direction indicated the department, Within
nve years would be supplying free deliv-
cry to 100000 people who do not now
enjoy it.
General Debate.
The general debate was not confined to
the subjects in the bill Mr.. Griggs tGn.)
contributed some remarks upon the mooted
question of the relative advantages pos
sessed by the cotton manufacturers of the
north and south. to prove that the adj
Vantages possessed by the latter were not
due to the longer hours of labor of Their,
operatives.