The Anaconda standard., 1898-03-19
MUST NOT PAD MAILS
The House Makes the Offense a
Misdemeanor.
IT is AIMED AT RAILROADS
A Debate on the Merits of the Pneu-
matte Tube Service In the Large
Cities Only Two Pages OF the
Bill Disposed Of

Washington, March 1s.-The house
spent another day on the postoffice
appropriation bill, but only disposed of
I two pages. Most of the day was de-
voted to debate on the merits of a
pneumatic tube mail service i'm New
York. Boston and Philadelphia, and the
advisability of continuing the existing
contracts. An effort to strike out the
appropriation of s225. 900 was defeated.
but the opponents of the appropriation
succeeded in securing the adoption of
an amendment providing that no addi-
tional contracts should be made. An
amendment was adopted making ii
misdemanor for any person to pad
the mails during the period when the
mails are being weighed TO determine
the compensation to be paid to the rail-
roads for their transportation. The
amendment was recommended by the
department.
The house to-day agreed to the con-
ference report on the agricultural ap-
preparation bill and then went into
committee of the whole and resumed
consideration of the postoffice appropri-
alton bill Mr.. Cooper, dem, Texas.
offered an amendment providing that
star route contracts should be made
only with persons residing ia the state
and territories through which the
routes pass. He said the practice OF
making contracts with star route syn
dicates should cease. The amendment
was ruled out on a point of order
Mr.. Moon, DEM, Tenn, made a point
of order against the appropriation of
x225,0o0 for pneumatic tubes service
The point of order was oyerruled and
an extended debate followed upon the
merits OF the tube system. Mr.. Loud,
chairman of the committee. defended
the appropriation. declaring that the
system was a demonstrated success
and should be continued. The appro-
priation finally was retained
Mr McEwan, rep, ". j., offered an
amendment to the appropriation of
$50, 100000 for railroad transportation.
providing that the dates when the mail
should be weighed to furnish a basis
for the compensation of railroads
should be communicated secretly to
postmasters. MIR. McEwan declared
that the chief deficiency in the post
Office revenues was due to railroad
weighing OF mails. Tt was extortionate.
dishonest and unfair and he expressed
the opinion that the fabrication of false
weights could be prevented If the rail-
roads had no knowledge In advance of
Just when the weighing was to take
place. Mr.. Grosvenor, rep, Ohio, made
a point of order against the amend
ment and II was sustained.
Mr.. Loud read letter from the post
office department. indicating the ur-
gent necessity of making specific
statute making the stufling of the
mails during the weighing period
misdemeanor punishable by a heavy
fine Mr.. Loud submitted the draft or
an amendment drawn al the postoffice
department. 1t made misdemeanor
Tor any person to place, or cause To be
placed in the mails anything during
the regular weighing period. with in
tent to Increase the weight of the mails
and the compensation paid therefor. II
made the offense punishable by a fine
or not less than $500 nor more than
5000. and Imprisonment not to exceed
five years. The amendment was adopt-
ed without division. Several other
amendments We're ruled out on points
of order. All Were directed at the
appropriation bill for railroad trans
portation. One proposed to create
commission to investigate the subject
OF mail transportation and another to
reduce the amount TO $4,000. 900
Without completing the bill. the
mouse, at p. m, adjourned until to-
morrow