The herald., 1898-03-20
POSTAL BILL PASSED
SUBSIDIES TO THE RAILROADS
NOT CUT DOWN
DINGLEY BILL TARIFF RATES
Will Not Be Collected on Material
Imported For the Purposes Of
National Defense
Associated rrr.. .rrci, wIrs

Associated Tres .rrcr Wra
WASHINGTON. March 1s.-The house
aoday passed the postoftice appropria-
tion bill, which has been under corsid-
oration since Wednesday,. The NAH
points of attack today were the appro-
priations of $50 200, 900 for railway trans.
portation of mails and $171,O fof spe.
cial facilities between New York and
New Orleans and 5000 for special facil.
tiles from Kansas City to Newton, Kas
THESE items annually attract more O,
less Of contest. This year the opposi-
tion seemed to be less intense.
All efforts to reduce the appropria. .ior
for railroad transportation sagnally
failed. and the vote on ths southern
mail subsidy was n to % against strik
ing out. BY neat parliamentary ma.
neuvering the pr>onents of the subsidy
We're prevente,a from getting a direct
vote on notion to recommit with in.
structio.as.
Al me opening Of the session today Mr.
D-ngley, the floor leader Of the major
lty, offered the bill reported from the
Ways and Means Committee providing
for the free entry into this country OF
guns, ammunition and other naval sup
plies and war material purchased abroad
until January 1, 1S39 He explained that
the committee had unanimously re-
ported the BILL 1t was asked for by the
SECRETARIES of War and the Navy.
Some of the Democrats undertook to
poke fun at Mr.. Dingley by asking him
why these supplies should be admitted
free Of duty If the foreigner paid the
tax.
Mr.. Dingley replied rather sharply
that 1t was perfectly understood that
where articles were purchased abroad
and imported, the purchaser paid the
duty.
This is a bill to indemnify the tax
payer" observed Mr.. Dockery (Dem.) of
Missouri.
Mr.. McMillen said he believed that
xhe government should always have the
right to import and he thought there
should be general statute for that pur-
pose.
The bill was passed without division.
Mr.. Henry (Dem) of Mississippi,
claimed the floor as a question of per-
eonal privilege and sent to the Clerk .
desk for the purpose of having it read
to the House, a quotation from an in
terview with the Spanish Ambassador
at Vienna, contained in an Associated
Press dispatch In which the bassador
said that If the United States, in the
event of war, should incite the Philip
pines to revolt, Spain could revenge her.
self by raising revolts in the American
Southern States. Before the reading of
the interview, Mr.. Dingley made the
point that 1t did not constitute personal
privilege.
1T contains reflection against por-
tion Of the people Of the United States
which desire to repel," said Mr. Henry.
but the Speaker held that he had not
presented a question Of privilege and he
was taken off the floor.
The House then went into Committee
of the Whole and resumed considera-
tion of the Postoffice Appropriation bill.
1t was agreed that there should be an
hours debate on the paragraph appro-
priating 30500,000 for inland transpor-
tation of mails. The debate was rather
lively. Mr.. Bland of Missouri cham
'pioned reduction of the rates paid the
railroads for trasmltting the mails. The
rates on all other classes of freight had
been greatly reduced since 1876, yet
there had been no reduction in mails.
He thought there should be reduct ion
of at least 20 per cent
Mr.. Castle (Dem.) of California offered
an amendment to reduce the appropri-
alton to s3.S12.060.
Mr.. Grosvenor defended the appro-
priation which. though vast, was ex-
pended in the splendid expedition with
which our mails were everywhere hur-
ried to their destination.
The chairman of the Postoffice Com
mittee pointed out the fact that all such
amendments as that of which Mr.. Bland
had given notice had been ruled out of
order in past Congresses.
The Castle amendment was rejected
without division.
Mr.. Bland then offered an amendment
to reduce the appropriation from $50, 900,
900 to $24,500,OO0. 1t was defeated-74
to 50.
Mr.. Lewis (Dem.) Of Washington
moved to strike out the appropriation OF
100000 for the transportation of mail
by cable and electric cars. He contended
that the real purpose Of the appropria-
tion was to insure government protec-
tion for cable and electric car lines in
the event of strikes. The amendment
was defeated-72 to 36.
The paragraph appropriating 1921, 1,31s
for special mail facilities from New
York and Washington to Atlanta and
New Orleans precipitated the annual
fight against the appropriation.
Mr.. Bromwell of OHIO moved to strike
1t out. This appropriation was consid.
cred In connection with a similar one
OF s25,0O0 for special facilities from Kan.
sas City to Newton, Kas. The debate on
both paragraphs was limited by agree.
ment to one hour.
Mr.. Fleming Oem) of Missouri yigor.
ously opposed the appropriation.
Mr.. Simpson (Pop) of Kansas advo.
Gated the appropriation Of $25, 900 for spe.
cial facilities from Kansas City to New.
ton, Kas. He said that unless this an
preparation was made the mails from
Western Kansas, Northern Texas AM
Oklahoma would be delayed twely,
hours.
A few minutes afterward Mr.. Bar
low (Pop.) of California bitterly attacked
Mr.. Simpson for supporting subsidy.
Mr.. Meyer Of Nebraska offered al
amendment to appropriate $500, 900 fol
special mail facilities from Chicago tc
Omaha, Neb. 1t was ruled out on 6
point of order.
Mr.. Fisher (Rep.) Of New York made
a point Of order against the provision
in the bill authorizing the postmaster.
general to consolidate the Brooklyn Of.