The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-20
THE POSTOFF|CE BILL
1t Passes the House by a Large
Majority
FREE ENTRY FOR SUPPLIES
Guns and Ammunition May Now Re
Brought in Without Paying Duty.
Democrats Get Dig in at
Leader Mckinley.

Washington. March is-The house to-
day passed the postoffice appropria-
tion bill which has been under consid-
Grafton since "Wednesday. The main
points Of attack to-day were the appro-
priations OF $30, 1000. 900 for railway
transportation OF mails and S25. 900 for
special facilities from Kansas City to
Newton. Kan. These items annually
attract more or less of a contest. This
year the opposition seemed to be less
intense. All efforts to reduce the ap-
preparation for railroad transportation
signally failed and the vote on the
Southern mail subsidy was - to 9s
against striking out. By neat parlia-
mentary maneuvering the opponents OF
the subsidy were prevented from get
ting a uirect vote on a motion to recon-
NIT with instructions.
AT the opening session Dingley Of
fered the bill reported from the ways
and means committee providing for free
entry into this country of guns. ammu-
milton and other naval supplies and
war material purchased abroad until
Jan. i. 1899. He explained that the
committee unanimously reported the
bill. II was asked for by the secretaries
of war and navy.
Some democrats Undertook to poke
fun at Dingley by asking him why
those supplies should be admitted free
OF duty IL the foreigners paid the tax.
Dingley replied rather sharply that il
was perfectly understood where the ar
ticles were purchased abroad and i'm
ported the purchaser paid the duty.
Mcmillan said he believed the govern
ment should always have the right to
import and he thought there should be
a general statute for that purpose. The
bill was passed without division.
Henry dem Miss claimed ba f3oor
as question Of personal privilege and
sent to the clerks desk fore the pur-
pose of having II read 10 the house a
quotation from an interview with the
Spanish ambassador at Vienna. contain
ed in an associated press dispatch. in
which the ambassador SAID IL the Unit
ed states. in event of war. should in
cite the Philippines to revolt, Spain
could revenge herself by raising re-
volts In American Southern states.
Before the reading of the interview
was concluded Dingley made a point
that IL did not constitute a personal
privilege.
''It contains a reflection against a por-
tion of the people OF the United States
which desire to repel." said Henry, but
the speaker held he had not presented a
question OF privilege and he was taken
of the floor.
The house then went into committee
VI the WuOIc ana resumed consideration
of the postoffice appropriation bill.
1t was agreed that there should be an
hours debate on the paragraph appro-
priating S30,5o0.000 for inland transpor-
tation of mails. The debate was rather
lively. Mr. Bland. dem. NO., cham
pioned a reduction OF the rates paid to
roads for transmitting mails. The
rates on all other classes of freight had
been greatly reiuced since 1878, yet
there had been no reduction in mails
He thought there should be a reduction
OF at least 20 per cent MIR. Castle. dem.
Cal. offered an amendment to reduce
the appropriation to S24.50o. 900.
Mr.. Grosvenor defended the appro-
priation. which. though vast. was well
expended in the splendid expedition
with which our mails were everywhere
hurried to their destination. The chair
man OF the postoff'ce committee point
ed out the fact that all such amend
ments as that OF which Mr.. Bland had
given notice had been ruled out on
points OF order in past congresses. The
Castle amendment TO reduce the ap-
from $50. 800. 900 to se4.5oo, 900.
Ii was defeated. 7i-s2.
Mr. Lewis, dem. Wash. moved to
strike out the appropriation of $500. 900
FOR the transportation of mail by ca
Bile and electric cars. He contended
that the real purpose of the appropri-
alton was to insure government pro-
lection for cable and electric car lines
m the event of strikes. The amend
nent vas defeated-72-3s.
The paragraph appropriating S121.3ls
Tor special mail facilities from New
York and Washington to Atlanta and
New Orleans Drecipitated the annual
light against this appropriation Mr..
Bromwell of Ohio moved to strike IL
put. This appropriation was consid-
x-.I L..
)f $4,000 for special facilities from
Kansas City to Newton, Kan. The de-
bate on both paragraphs was limited
oy agreement to one hour.
Mr.. Fleming, dem. Mo-, vigorously
opposed the appropriation. Mr.. Simp-
son. pop, Kan. advocated the appro-
oriation of s25.o0o for special facilities
rom Kansas City to Newton. Kan. He
said unless this appropriation was
made the mails from western Kansas.
northern Texas and Oklahoma would
De delayed IL hours. A few minutes
ifterward Mr.. Barlow. pop. Cal. bit
terly attacked Mr.. Simpson for sup
porting a subsidy. Mr.. Myer OF Ne
oraska offered an amendment to APP
propriate $300.000 for special mail ia
,ilities from Chicago to Omaha. Neb.
L was ruled out on point OF order.
Mr.. Fischer. rep. N ". made a
he bill authorizing the postmaster gen.
sral to consolidate the Brooklyn ONCE
with the New York Office. The point
VAS sustained and IL went out The
pill was reported to the house without
'urther amendment.
The friends of the appropriation for
special mail facilities then. by an
adroit move. prevented a vote in the
house on a motion TO recommit the bill
With instructions to strike out these ap-
propriations. Only one motion to re-
commit was in order. and Mr. Living
ston. dem. Ga. friend OF the apprO-
made this motion. and tmme-
iiately demanded the previous queo-
ion. This CIT on the motion To re-
'ommit with instructions. and then the
notion TO recommit was promptly vot-
"A down The opponents OF the sub
Idly thereupon demanded q record vote
N the passage Of the bill 10 emphasis