The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-20
Spirited DEBATE IN SENATE.
Reduction of Letter-Carrier Force
Causes n Warm Discussion.


WASHINGTON, Jan. ia spirited de-
by the introduction of a resolution by Mr..
Hoar providing for an inquiry by the com
mittee on postoffices and post roads con-
corning the recent order of the postmaster
general reducing the force of letter carriers
in several cities of the country. Mr.. Hoar
declared that the order had had the effect
of q dynamite bomb in creating conster-
nation among business men throughout the
country while apparently all that was
needed by the Postoffice Department was
an appropriation of $4,000 fully to MAIN
tain the efficiency of the carrier service.
The debate took a wide range, Mr.. VOL
colt. chairman of the committee on post
offices and post roads, insisting that many
New England people represented by the
senator from Massachusetts (Air Hoar)
were responsible for the deficiency in the
funds of the Postoffice Department. be-
cause they insisted that the government
should carry second-class mail at ar enor-
NOUS loss and Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska,
charging that the government was annual
1y defrauded out of millions of dollars
through the underweighing Of mail matter.
The resolution, in modified form, is still
pending.
Mr. Vest gave notice that he would move
tomorrow to take up for consideration the
Teller resolution reported by the finance
committed prOViding that bonds of the
United States may be paid in standard sill
yer dollars. Mr.. Vests notice seems to in
dictate an intention on the part of some
senator's to diSplace, temporarily, the da-
waiian annexation treaty as 1t Is evident,
as Mr. White said, that consideration of the
resolution would 'precipitate some slight
a hin authorizing the attorney general,
the secretary of the treasury ana the sec
rotary of war to compromise ana ad!ust
certain claims of the United States against
the State of Tennessee and the State OF
Tennessee against the United States was
4 Joint resolution providing for the APP
pointment of a commission 10 make Il sur
vey of a ship canal by the lower part OF
Lake Michigan to the Wabash river was
offered by Mr. Turpie and referred to the
committee on commerce.
Mr. Hoar then offered his resolution rela-
tive to the recent order of the postmaster
general, reducing the number OF letter car
rierS in some of the large cities on account
Of a deficiency in the free-delivery appro-
priation, and providing that the committee
on postoffices and post roads should imme-
diately ascertain what amount was neces-
sary to preserve the postal tree-dellVery
service of the country For his resolution
MIR Hoar asked immediate consideration.
Mr.. Wolcott objected to the reference OF
the resolution to his committee. He said
that the committee was utterly powerless
to afford relief for the trouble at which the
resolution directed. He thought the
resolution ought by all means TO go 10 the
committee on appropriations. The commit
tee on postoffices and post roads, he added.
is anxious to extend and make more en-
cient the Ietter-carrier system. but was
powerless.
Mr.. Hoar thought the question was a
most important one. Affecting as II does
hundreds of thousands OF people who re-
ceive mail. This order of the postmaster
general" declared Mr. HOar, created con-
sternatiOn among business men. The order
was based on a deficiency in the appropria-
ton Tor free delivery of about Sl30,00O All
that is needed 60 remedy the difficulty en-
countered by the Postotiice Department.
and which confrontS the business men OF
the country, is a small additional appropria-
ton. 1t is absolutely intolerable. said Mr.
Hoar that this great branrn OF the public
service should stop or be crippled. Many
OF the smaller cities of the country are TO
be deprived practically OF mail delivery ia
cilities and il is time that something be
doEe TO avoid serious business embarrass-
ment."
general be sent a resolution inquiring why
the issuance OF such an order as had pro-
voked this discussion was necessary, and
what remedy was necessary. No sugges-
ton had been made to the committee on
appropriations that the postmaster general
had not at his disposal sufficient funds to
meet the needs of his department.
At this point Mr. Wo.cott said that he
desired to call the Senates attention 10
The real basis of the trouble with the imam
eial affairs of the Postofiice Department.
1T is ell understood, said Mr.. Wolcott,
that the second-ciasS mail OF this country
absorbs S. per cent. of the expenses of the
Postoffice Department and supplies only
about per cent. of the revenues. This is
a serious point of this discussion and If
2 Congress should enact into law the measure
relating TO second-class matter. which viii
be laid before Congress. the recurrence OF
the present difficulty will be obviated." MIR.
Wolcott then called attention TO the oppo-
sltion of the publishers of New England TO
the enactment Of the bill restricting second
class natter
Mr. Allen spoke sarcastically of the good
times the people of New England were
having under the Dingley law with their
) strikes and lockouts. He thought that a
good many OF them would now have time
10 90 to the postofices TO get their mail
Il II was not promptly delivered by a car
rier. he thought the great point involved
IN the discussion Of the Postoffice Depart
ment finances was the charge that there
was an annual leakage of from 81 600 0O9 "a
<l9.00ti00 on account OF the underweighing
o. mail matter. ii is most remarkable"
said Mr.. Allen. that charges Of such gray
ity should be made IN the public prints.
Arc yet that the party in power should re-