The Portland daily press., 1898-05-06
TO CUT DOWN DELIVERIES
Senate Aims a Blow at Interests Of
Large Cities.
MAKES FOUR THE LIMIT OF MAIL
DELIVERIES.

of Passage-Preident Authorized to
Furnish the Insurgents Arms and Am
munition.
Washington, May 5.-During almost
the entire session today the Senate had
under consideration the post office ap-
preparation bill The measure carries
800, 1924 300, being very much the heavi-
est of all the appropriation bills The
! most important action taken upon the
measure was the adoption of an amend
mcnt offered by Mr.. Tillman of South
| Carolina, reducing the number of deliv-
| cries Of mail in all fcities Of the country
to not exceeding four each day. The
amendment was sharply antagonized
as blow to business interests in the
large cities, but the feeling of the Senate
was such, that despite the vigorous on
position. it prevailed by decisive ma
jority.
A lively debate was precipitated by
an amendment of the committee striking
out the appropriation of $1,000, 900 for
rural free delivery.
: The proposition was discussed for near
ly two hours, Mr.. Chandler of New Hamp-
shire. and MIR. Butler of North Carolina
leading the fight in favor of rural deliv
cry. By the close vote of 90 to 90, how
ever. tho committee was sustained the
bill now carries no appropriation for
| such delivery. An important amendment
to the bill was ons which will prevent
star route contractors from sub-letting
their contracts In order to get their
! money they must be able to swear they
have performed the services themselves.
Just before adjournment the Senate
passed an important war measure, au-
| thorizing the President and general Off
GERS of the army to supply the Cuban in
surgents with arms and munitions of
| war and empowering officers of the army
serving in Cuba to supply the needy in
habitants of the island with medicines
and substance.
Washington, May 5.-Soon after the
Senate convened today. Mr.. Money of
Mississippi, gave notice that on Thurs
| Jay, the Goth inst. at 2 p. M, he would
present resolutions in memory Of Mr..
Walthal.
Consideration of the post Office bill
was begun at the instance of Mr.. Quay of
Pennsylvania in charge of the measure.
The amount carried by the bill as it
passed the House of Representatives was
500. IL, 300 AS reported to the Senate, it
carried Sl12,000 moro. When the commit
tee amendment was reached providing
that no additional contracts should be
entered into for pneumatic tube service,
unless authorized by law, Mr.. Pettigrew
maintained that a provision ought to be
inserted making it the duty of the United
States to purchase of individuals or cor
porations whatever Of rights they might
have in the pneumatic tube service. Mr..
such right was already reserved to the
government.
Mr.. Petttigr ew admitted that the pro.
vision was in the law of last year, but no
effort had been made to put it in opera
ton. In New York today, he said, the
penumatic tube service was under control
of corporation. The plant cost Between
$500, 600 and $500, 200, yet the corporations
compensation was more than three per
cent of So, 0U0. 00Os He held that it was
an outrage upon the people, thus to
fatten the corporation and build up
lnonopolies. The committee amendment
was agreed to.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Cockrell
of Missouri, providing that the weight of
franked official lettars might be increased
from one ounce to two ounces was
adopted.
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada, offered an
amendment to the star route section of
the bill which was agreed to, providing
that no part of the sum appropriated for
such service should be paid to any SUBJ
contractor and that the postmaster gen.
eral must require affidavits from contrac
tors that they themselves did the work.
The amendment Of the committee
| striking from the bill the appropriation
of $500, 900 for rural free delivery created
considerable discussion. Mr.. Quay OK
| planned that in the opinion OF the COM
mittee, the results Of the experiment.
thus far scarcely warranted Congress in
going forward with the experiment.
Mr.. Chandler thought the matter
ought not to be stricken out entirely.
Rural free delivery Was boon to people
| in the country.
Mr.. Pettigrew inquired whether the ex-
tension of free delivery meant the aboli-
ton of the country post oftice.
Mr.. Quay replied that that would GER
tainly be the effect of 1t.
Mr.. Pettigrew declared that the farm
ing people of the country were not de-
handing rural free delivery and he re-
garded 1t as humbug.
While Mr.. Chandler was discussing the
question, Mr.. Tillman of South Carolina
inquired of him whether 1900, 600, 600 a
year would be sufficient to secure the de-
livery of every paper and letter directed
to any inhabitant in the country.
Mr.. Chandler replied that it could
doubtless DO done for less. Mr.. Hale
again energetically attacked the rural de-
49, ~