The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-19
HOUSE STOPS TO TALK
Gets Over Two Pages of the
PoStOhiCe Bill.
PNEUMATIC TUBE SERVICE
And the Padding of Mail
Weights Discouraged,
PNEUMATIC TUBE SERVICE

Washington, March 1s.-The house spent
another day on the postofice appropria-
ton bill. but only disposed OF TWO pages
II the bill. Most OF the day was devoted
20 a debate on the merits Of the pneumatic
tube mail service in New York, Boston
and Philadelphia, and the Availability OF
continuing the existing contract. An ef-
fort to strike out the appropriation OF
SZ25gJ Was defeated, but the opponents Of
the appropriation succeeded n securing
the adoption OF an amendment providing
that no additional contracts should be
made An amendmen was adopted, max
ing II q misdemeanor 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-
-Oads for their transportation. The
amendment was recommended BY the de-
parCment.
The house early in the session agreed
TO the conference report on the agricuI-
turaI appropriation bill and then went into
committee Of the whole and resumed con-
sideration Of the postofice appropriation
bill
Mr.. Cooper Dem. Texas offered an
amendment providing that star route con-
tracts should be made only with persons
residing in the sites and territories
through which the routes pass. He said
the practice of making contracts with
star route syndicates should cease. The
.mendment was ruled out on a point Of
order.
Mr.. Moon Dem, TENN made point
II order against the appropriation OF s225.
100 for pneumatic service.
The point Of order was overruled and an
attended debate followed upon the merits
# the tube system. Mr.. Loud, chairman
Of the committee, defended the appropria-
ion, declaring that the system was a dem
onstrated success and should be con
-inued.
The appropriation was finally retained.
Mr.. McEwen CRep.. N. j. offered an
amendment to the appropriation Of $780,
10000 for railroad trans ortauon, pro-
viding that the dates when railroads
should be weighed to furnish a basis for
the compensation of railroads should be
communicated secretly to postmasters.
Mr.. McEwan declared that the chief de-
iciency in the postoffice revenues was due
to railroad weighing mails. It was extor-
donate, dishonest and unfair, and he ex-
pressed the opinion that the fabrication
IF false weights could be prevented if
the railroads had no knowledge in ad-
vance Of just when the weighing was 10
take place. Mr.. Grosvenor (Rep.. Ohio
made a point of order against the amend
ment and il was sustained. Mr.. Loud read
a letter from the postoffice department,
indicating the urgent necessity Of a spe-
ciic statute making the stuffing of the
mails during the weighing period mis-
demeanor punishable by heavy fine.
Mr.. Loud admitted the draft of an amend
ment drawn at the postofice department.
L made it a misdemeanor fer any person
to place. or caused TO be placed, in the
mails anything during the regular weigh
ing period, with intent 10 icrease the
weight Of the mails and the compensation
paid therefore. 1t made the ofense pun
ishable by a fine Of not less than $500, nor
more than $4,000, and imprisonment not
TO exceed five years.
The amendment was adopted without
division.
Several other amendments were ruled
cut on points Of order. All were directed
against appropriations for railroad trans
} ortation. one proposed to create a COM
mission 70 investigate the subject Of ran
transportation, and another to reduce the I
amount TO Sl5.o0ooo0.
Without completing the bill, the house at /
p. m. adjourned until tomorrow