Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-01-27
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

Washington, Jan. 49, In the SEN
ate Mr.. Hoar (rep, Mass) offered q
resolution relative to the recent order
of the postmaster general reducing
the number of letter carriers in some
of the large cities on account OF de-
ticiency in the free delivery appro-
priation.
Mr.. Allison rep, Ia.) urged that
the postmaster general be sent res
olution inquiring why the issuance OF
such an order was necessary and what
remedy is necessary. No suggestion
J had been made by the committee on
| appropriations that the postmaster
general had not sufficient funds to
meet the needs of his department. AT
this point Mr.. Wolcott (sil. rep,
COLI said that he desired to call the
senate's attention to the real basis OF
the trouble with the financial affairs
of the postofflce department. 1T is
well understood" said Mr.. Wolcott,
that the second-class mail matter of
this country absorbs IS per cent. OF
|
ment and supplies only about three
per cent. of the revenue. This is Il
serious point and if congress should
enact into q law measure relating
! to second-class matter which will BE-
laid before congress a recurrenc OF
the present difficulty will be obviated'
| Mr.. Wolcott then called attention Il
opposition of the publishers of New
England to the enactment of a law
restricting secondclass matter.
Mr.. Allen (pop., Neb.) thought
that the great point involved in dis
cussiOn of the postofflce finances was
the charge that there is an annua
| leakage of from $4,000, 600 to $4,000, 00C
on account of the underweighing OF
mail matter 1T is most remarkable, "
s@id Mr.. Allen, that charges
! VI such gravity should be made
in public prints and yet the party in
! power should remain with reference to
them as silent as the grave. If we
| only had th4 nerve to take hold of
| these frauds and eradicate them, we
corps Of efficient letter carriers in
every city in the land"
Mr.. Chandler rep, N. H. objected
to present consideration of the Hoar
resolution and on the suggestion OF
Mr.. Allison it went over.
| Mr. Tillman (dem.. S. c. presented
u resolution, for which he asked i'm
mediate consideration, extending the
committee SO that it might inquire tc
what extent the railroad companies
issue passes, whether the railroads
gave transportation for any other
consideration than cash and what ar
engagements they had made with news
papers regarding transportation.
Mr.. Cullom rep., ND chairman OF
the committee, objected to consider
ton Of the resolution as it would in
yolye long and tedious investigation
He said that he had no desire to evade
the truth in any part Of the investi-
cation, but that he was satisfied the
committee now had sufficient testi
mony before it to indicate the need
of stringent legislation. 81 do not
want to investigate throughout the
year." said he but desire to prepare
some bin which will cure the evils
that we have found"
Washington, Jan. 19.-All day long
the question of granting beligerent
! rights to the Cuban insurgents was
argued in the house. but the minority
| hurled itself against a stone wall. The
only vote taken was on motion de-
I.signed to override The decision of the
speaker and to direct the committee
on foreign affairs to report
without further delay the Gu
! ban resolution passed by the senate
at the last session. The republicans
| stood solid and voted to sustain the
chair, During the general debate
! Chairman Hit of the foreign affairs
committee made an impressive
speech explaining the situa-
ton which made action by con-
gress inadvisable. Mr. Hit said that
a declaration of belligerency would
allow Spain's war ships to hunt our
vessels on the high seas. In the exist
ing situation good men sympathizing
with Cuba's cause are constantly max.
ing their way to the islands. Sup.
plies, guns and ammunition are going
from the United States, it is said, and
every pound of powder fired in the
cause of Cuba's freedom had come
from this country. The members
he said, might ask why, with all OF
the disadvantages in store f." them
the agents of the Cuban republic in
this city desired belligerent rights
Il co Id explain it." said Mr.. Hit
but prefer to do so in the words O
one OF these agents to me. w,
know, said this gentleman, that W.
have much to lose in the matter O
supplies. but we also know that /
Spanish cruisers begin to stop Amer
| lean SkipDers IL will not he long he