The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-24
TIE HOUSE TALKS ABoUT IN.
Intiuaations That the Contract with the Tubs
Company was Made Wuheu Authority.

TIE HOUSE TALKS ABOUT II
Intimationa THAT tho Contract with the Tube
Company was Made without Authority.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 23.-when in considera-
ton of the Sundry Civil Appropriation bill by
the House, to-day, the item was reached APP
propriatinR $4,000 for furnishing power to
operate pneumatic tube service in New York.
Brooklyn. Boston, and Philadelphia. Mr.. Loud.
Chairman OF the Committee on Post Offices and
Post Roads, said:
II do not know why this provision is engratted
on this bill. am as much in the dark In regard
to this item here as the committee itself. am
not especially anxious that this item should go
out OF this bill and go into the Post Office APP
preparation bill. where it would have to 20 IL
1t went out OF here, II it be needed"
Mr.. Mcguire of California-Is the pneumatic
tube q SUGGEST / see in the papers this morn
ing that something like q thousand letters were
destroyed last night in one of these tubes.
Mr.. Loud know nothing about 1t. l have
never seen q tube in operation. 1t is now, l
suppose. in its experimental stage in New York
city. When We Appropriated last year. in the
closing hours Of Congress, $3.50. 900. I expressed
my doubt to some who were urging this appro-
priation about the advisability OF making an
APPROPRIATION at that time.
Mr.. Mahany of New York-This pneumatic
tube system has the unqualified Endorsement of
the Post Onice Department It is In the direc-
tion of meeting the growing necessities Of this
country for the annihilation OF time and space.
The department is now in the experimental state
regarding this system. But so far as the ex-
pertinent has progressed the system has been
found to be an absolute and unqualified success.
Mr.. Sullivan Of Mississippi-What about the
thousand letters ground up in one of these
tubes yesterday
Mr.. Mahnny-with the circumstances Of that
alleged accident am not familiar. but assum-
ing for the sake of rgument that such an acct
dent occurred. let me state that it is not more
serious than the accidents that have occurred
in connection with other mechanical systems
which have advanced the progress OF the world.
Mr.. King OF Utah-ls ii a fact, as charged in
the public prints. that there was a scheme on
foot for defrauding the Government of $500. 900
in the promotion OF This pneumatic tube system !
Mr.. Mahany-Quite the contrary.
Mr.. King-I wanted to inquire whether it is
true that this company. represented by Mr..
Milholland. has promulgated n circular TO the
effect that but q very small amount of capital
is required TO promote this scheme and
that those who invest in it will reap
large rewards at the expense of the Govern
menti And is 1t q fact further. as charged.
that they have q lobby that has interested itself
in securing the passage of legislation fayora-
BILE to this scheme
Mr.. Mahany asserted that 1t was . fslsehood
absolutely from beginning to end, and made one
OF his characteristic attacks on THE Sun.
Mr.. Loud-I think we shall get light upon this
subject by and by. ! DO not say but what this
thing is all right, but ! do say there has been
a misunderstanding II seems to me that we
arc paying. an enormous amount Of money
aGF t hi. s1 soSr M fSas GET ss ssPsSStailiE Is ~ to 90 Z 'f Sero
for operation. which. i supposed, OF course, was
included ths 9s In Inc @, amount ps t mSesy f1 have we Ds pst9
contemplated, and the on Post
Offices never contemplated. that there would be
any money called for from the Treasury 10 ope-
rate this pneumatic tube service. Now. you give
$50, 600. not for Philadelphia. because they
Boston. on this Contract. because they have no
service there; not for BROOKLYN. because they
ssTyice no po seFy yes in Sas II sdHh'ff oFp WhicS
We must give more money than the $4,000.
It is trps they may have IN S eoaiis S CRieaso ans a seT 7,
may be possible that they are proposing TO use a
certain amount OF money tina, we appropriated
in The city OF New York. for which they have
entered intN a contract. calls oniy for $d1si.
ssss sISo.SS0. Now; iii I..,S SsssIs.,
Boston and Phil1aelphia and Chicago must fall
70 INC srounu. VIC raw apP'op "SHt"SS
s YoTF %ser Sin5e' but In View of the fac.
that the service was not inaugurated at the
beginning OF tho year they have an amount Of
money left.
MI. Bingham-Does tho gentleman state to
this House that tho Post ONCE department
have entered into a contract for Sl5o.OOO for
the pneumatic service.
Mr.. Loud-I am informed that they have en-
tered into a contract for S14s 900 in New York
city. The service was not inaugurated In full
at the beginning of the fiscal year. Some OF II
was inaugurated In September, and the last Of
It was inaugurated but one week ago.
MT. BinRham-Does the contract run beyond
Mi. Loud-I understand they have entered
into a contract for four years. have never
Mr.. Bingham-How can they do 1t unless you
have got an authorization In yoIr Post once
blu
MI. Loud-We never have given such an, au,
thoriLatIon. Tho courts have repeatedly held
an Individual and the Government cannot
run beyond the life OF an appropria;
ton bill. and those who are interested
In the pneumatic service understand that this
contract Is not worth the paper on which II 10
written. When this House refuses 70 appro'
PIRATE the money. that contract falls to the
In view Of the "explanations' that had been
made, Mr.. Mcguire said he would Withdraw his
objection to tho items, and, no one else object
ing, they were passed.
Later. Mr.. Hepburn OF Iowa denounced the
pneumatic system as u fad, and arraigned the
travagance in appropriatinG for the "oTpe-
dition!" of mails. One way and anotheTS
he said, the country WAS spending, $iO,OOO.OOO
. year TO expedite the carriage and deliyery OF
difference Dos times out Of q thousand whether
q letter was delivered today or tomorrow,
The person who sent the thoubAndth letter