The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-07
Q REDUCE EXPENSES
AFTER THE RAILROADS
Pottsgrsw Wants . Reduction OF 20 Per
Cent. In the Amount Paid Them
for Carrying the
SAatA y

kfSutiu& tnG Sdutd Et a.
Canyon Railroad company right of way
through the Grand Canyon forest reser-
walton in Northern Arizona was passed.
In requesting a conference upon a pen
sion bill. Mr.. Gsllinger. New Hampshire,
chairman of the pension committee. said
hat the house had tacitly adopted a rule
that in cases where the widow of a gen.
eral officer had no pe~nsionable status in
the pension department no pension ex-
ceeding 80 per month would be granted.
hut in such cases where "A pension was
already being received the pension might
b increased to $50 a month. Mr.. Gallinger
made the statement. he said, in order that
the senate might realize the futility OF
pressing for pensions of s5 or 500 per
month.
The consideration Of the postoficc APP
preparation bill was resumed the pending
question being upon the amendment Of
fered yesterday by Mr.. Pettigrew OF South
Dakota. providing for a reduction of 70
per cent. in the amount paid to railroads
for transportation of the mails. Con-
cerning the amendment Mr.. Quay pointed
out that section ) of the pending bill pro-
vided for the appointment of a commits
sion consisting of three members OF the
senate and three Of the house of repre-
sentatives to make a thorough investiga-
ton OF the entire subject touched upon
by the amendment offered. He added that
the committee on p~ostofices and post
roads already had made a partial investi-
cation of the matter and had had before
II for examination officers OF the princi-
pal roads of the country. This investiga-
ton had shown that the amount paid for
the transportation Of mail was much less
IN proportion than that paid for the
transportation OF freight or express mat
ter. Mr.. Quay then read some of the
statements made on the subject before the
committee In order. as he said, sarcasti-
cally. Ito prepare for the political dia-
tribes which are to follow my remarks"
After tho reading Of the statements by
the clerk Mr.. Quay said the adoption OF
Mr.. Pettigrew's amendment would result
in reducing the compensation of the rail-
roads q, 900. 600 without any evidence as TO
the results or righteousness of the action.
He maintained that the Investigation au-
thorfxed by the pending bin ought to be
made before any action was taken.
Mr.. Pettigrew supported his amend
ment. He said that the statements pre-
scented by Mr.. Quay were purely ex-parte
in their nature. The railroad officials pre-
scented their wi statements Of fact and
drew their own conclusions from them.
He did TUy regard this as evidence. He
charged that ex-Second Assistant Post
master General Nelson was only a crea-
ture of the railroads and that he had
worked In the interest of the railroads.
The present second assistant postmaster
general. Mr.. s~hsilenberger. MIR. Pettigrew
declared had been captured by the clerks
beneath him-clerks who were put into
the department when railroad officials
were at the head of II. This. ne said. was
the reason why Mr.. Shallenberger In his
report had stated that the rates for car
rying mail during the past - years had
declined - per cent. The only way to as
certain whether the government was now
paying less for mail han II had Is years
ago was to figure from what was paid
then. what IL paid now and the weights
OF the mail for the two periods. He had
figured IL out and was prepared to say
that the postofice officials statements
were utterly Inaccurate and valueless.
Mr.. Pettigrew maintained in the course
OF an anlysis of mail and express Stats
tics that the government paid ten times
as much for transportation of the mails
as the express companies paid for the
transportation of their matter. He Illus
trated what he termed the ''fallacy. folly
and falsehood" OF the statements OF Mr..
S~hallenberger before the by
presenting express and mail transporta-
ton figures. Mr.. Shallenberger was an
honest man, he believed. but he had been
imposed upon by subordinates In the de-
partment who had obtained their places
through railroad Influences In the last
two administrations. No better officials
could be obtained until every one of
those fellows were turned out and a new
crop put IN"
At the conclusion Of Mr.. Pettigrew's
speech MI. Quay had the pending bill
temporarily laid aside In order that a
bill for the establishment of postoffices in
the military posts or camps might be con-
siAefed Immediately. "A communication
from Postmaster General Smith was read.
II requested that the proposed measure
vnaAQ an amendment IN the noStOfiCe
bill. hut Mr.. Quay expressed the belief
that II would be better TO pass II as a
separate measure.
Upon the objection of Pasco of Florida
the bill went over. Consideration of the
postohhce appropriation bill was then re-
sumed.
Mr.. Faulkner, West Virginia, presented
q strong argument against the Pettigrew
amendment He declared that IL would
destroy many of the railroads in his own
state, fully one-third OF those in the
Southern states and many ~rough the
country He presented an elaborate anal
ysis Of the evidence adduced upon the
subject by the postofices and post roads
committee. Of which he Is a member. to
show that both the statements of railroad
ofnciale and oficials of the postofice de-
partment practically agreed that the
price now paid for mail transportation
was entirely reasonsb BILE. He was. however.
in favor of the creation OF a commission
as provided for in the bill TO thoroughly
investigate the whole subject and submit
It's report and recommendations to con-
gress.
Mr.. Quay moved that when the senate
adjourned to-day IL be to meet on Mon
day next. The motion was agreed TO.
Unanimous consent was then given that
the final vote on the bill should be taker
before adjournment Monday.
Mr.. Hawiey. Connecticut. chairman OF
- -xrs-wr eRutrs roparufstes nrasartaa
q house bill to Increase the number OF
surgeons in the United States army by Is
and in emergencies giving the secretary
of war authority 20 appoint as many con
tract surgeons as may be necessary, the
salary of each not to exceed $50 a month
The bill was passed
Mr.. Cannon Utah. secured the adoptior
of a resolution directing the committed
Of manufactures to investigate the sdul'
f~eration of food articles by msnufsctur'
eu.
At $50 p. m. the senate went into ex-