The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-03-18
POsTFOFICE APPROPRIATION.
Proposed Amendments Precipitates
A General WraDplp

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Contrary to expectation, the postoffce
appropriation bill was not passed by the
House yesterday. and there is much
doubt if it is voted upon before tomorrow.
BY unanimous consent yesterday it was
agreed by the members to substitute
Monday for today for private bill day. to
enable the debate on the appropriation
bill to be continued, so that a vote may
be taken as early as possible Immedi-
ately after the Boutele bill. for the re-
lief of the Maine victims is passed Mon
day, the war claims and pension bills
that should come up today will be placed
on the calendar.
The first wrangle yesterday over the
postofIfce appropriation was caused by an
amendment introduced by Mr.. Sperry
of Connecticut, to increase the allowance
for clerk hire from $11 100000 to $780,
0OO The debate on this amendment con-
WINGED Mr.. Loud of California, Chairman
of the Postoflice Committee, that he had
hard fight on his hands. and that the bill
would not pass without amendments. He
was strongly opposed to the proposed in
crease, but some of the Republican mem
a vote was taken on the amendment. it
resulted in a tie eighty-five being for it
and the same number opposed to it.
Chairman Hull broke the tie by voting
against the amendment.
This decision was Immediately followed
by another amendment to increase the
clerk hire 100000 but by hard work on
the part of Mr.. Loud and members of
the Appropriations Committee, the meas
ure was defeated. Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa,
soon after this submitted an amendment
to the bill which permitted the Postmas-
ter General to eXpend 1000 of the APP
preparation in third and fourth-class
postofices, as in his discretion seemed
best for the service. The amendment
was defeated by vote of 60 to As.
Mr.. Stokes of South Carolina created
considerable debate by Offering an amend
ment to the bill providing for an appro-
!. priatiOn of $500 900, instead of $3.50 000 for
| rural free delivery service as provided in
the bill. Mr. Loud became angry at this
attempt to increase the appropriation,
and he denounced it, Mr.. Brucker of
Michigan advocated the amendment, and
declared that it appropriated little
enough, if it became a law. He said the
Postoffice Committee had provided for
subsidy of more than $50 600 for one rail-
road alone, and that if it could do this
it could give rural free delivery the in
crease asked for. He turned toward Mr.
Loud and declared that in his opinion
! the reason so small sum had been al
| lotted rural free delivery was to enable
! the Government to pay the railroads
these great subsidies. The amendmen.
| was adopted by a vote of 10S to 81
| Half a dozen other amendments were
| voted down. the most important being
| the attempt to remove from the bill the
! proviso that no portion of the money
| appropriated for the support of rural free
| delivery shall be used for any other pur-
| pose than for the payment of carriers and
| horse-hire and necessary mechanical
| equipment. Democrats came to the res
| cue of Mr.. Loud on this amendment and
! prevented the Republicans from eliminat-
| ing the provision from the bill