The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-06
CUTTING DOWN
POSTAL SERVICE
Not More Than -Four Deliveries Daily to
Be Allowed
BY THE SENATE'S ACTION
The. Rural Free Delivery System Entirely
Ignored In the Bill.
ASSISTANCE FOR THE CUBAN ARMY
Bill Passed Authorizing President and Army
officers to Supply Them Munitions of
War as Wen as Supplies to
Needy inhabitants.
ASSISTANCE FOR THE CUBAN ARMY

entire session today the senate had under
consideration the postoffice appropriation
bill. The measure carried 800 ,224,300, being
very much the heaviest of all tthe appro-
priation bills. The most important ac-
tion taken upon the measure was the adop-
ton of an amendment offered by Mr.. Till
man. reducing the number of deliveries
of mail in all cities of the country to a
number not exceeding four each day. The
amendment was sharply antagonized as a
blow to business in the large cities, but
it prevailed by decisive majority.
A lively debate was precpitated by an
amendment of the committee striking out
the appropriation of 100000 for rural free
delivery. The proposition was discussed
for nearly two hours, Mr.. Chandler and Mr..
Butler leading the fight in favor of rural
delivery. By the close vote of % to g.
however, the committee was sustained and
the bill now carries no appropriation for
such delivery. An important amendment
was one which will prevent star route con-
tractors from sub-letting their contracts.
In order to get their money they must be
able to swear that they performed the SER
vice themselves.
To Supply Insurgents
Just before adjournment the senate
passed an important war measure authorize
ing the president and other general army
officers to supply the Cuban insurgents with
arms and munitions of war and empowered
officers of the army serving in Cuba to
supply needy inhabitants of the island
with medicines and subsistence. =
Consideration of the postoffice appropria-
tion bill was begun at the instance of Mr..
Quay in charge of the measure. The
amount CARED by the bill as 1t passed the
xuae Ac m ha
senate it carried $4,000 more
The committee amendment providing that
no contracs should be entered into for
pneumatic tube service unless authorized
by law was adopted.
Mr.. Stewart offered an amendment to the
star route section providing that no money
appropriated should be paid to sub-con-
tractors nor to any person other than the
contractor himself.
l. Mr. Cockrell declared the adoption of the
amendment would result in loss to the
government of $5,0OO,0O0. The amendment
was agreed to.
The amendment of the committee strik-
ing from ihe bill the Appropriation of $780,
600 for rural free delivery caused consdera-
BILE discussion. Mr. Quay explained that in
the opinion of the committee the results
of the experiment thus far scarcely war
ranted changes in going forward with the
experiment.
Mr.. Quay insisted upon the committee
| amendment to strike out the proposition
and he demanded the yeas and nays. The
clause was stricken OUTS to %.
r,imited t. F..ur Deliveries
Mr. Tillman offered an amendment pro-
yiding that no more than four mail de-
lieries should be made in any city during
any one day and that any amount thus
saved shall be covered back into the
treasury.
Mr.. Hoar antagonized the amendment
holding that 1t amounted to class legisla-
ton. Mr.. Quay's motion to lay the amend
ment on the table was lost. The amend
ment was then adopted.
Mr.. Chandler moved, in view of the adop-
ton of the amendment, that the amount
to be appropriated for free delivery be re-
. duced from s13.oS5,40O to s12,OOO,OO0.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Pettigrew, of South Dakota, offered
an amendment directing the postmaster
general to adjust the compensation to be
paid for transportation of mails on railroad
routes by reducing the compensation to all
railroad companies 20 per cent. year from
the rates for such transportation on the
basis of the average weight hereafter fixed
and allowed by law. Pending action upon
the amendment 1.-THE bill was laid aside until
tomorrow.
Assistance for the Cubans
Mr.. Cockrell reported from the military
affairs committee a bill to provide asss-
tance to the Inhabitants of Cuba, and arms,
munitions and military stores to the insur-
gent force, and for other purposes. The
text of the bill follows:
Section THAT while serving in
Cuba during the existing war Off
GERS of the army of the United
States exercising separate COM
mands may, by special order, cause
subsistence, medical and quarter
masters supplies to be issued and
other aid rendered to inhabitants of
the island of Cuba who are destitute
and in imminent danger of perishing
! unless they receive the same
! Section 2-That the president and
/ general officers commanding troops
! in Cuba are hereby authorized to
furnish to the proper officers of the
Cuban insurgents such arms am
munition equipments and military
stores and supplies they may re-
/. quire to render the services of that
army as allies in the existing war
available. and may enlist not to ex-
/ coed so for each brigade, inhabitants
of Cuba qualified to serve as inter-
prefers, guides, scouts and assist
ances
| The bill was passed without debate. The
! senate then at 5:25 p. m. went into execu-