The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-03-26

Maine disaster as soon as the report OF
the postoAice appropriation bill, which
was taken up in the house today, is out
of the way. Mr.. Loud, in charge Of
the postofice appropriation bill, ex-
pluiued its provisions br edy. 1t car.
ried 1913, 1862, 300, being $95S,301 less
than the estimates and 50, 296, 962 more
than the appropriations for the current
year. Mr.. Cromwell, Republican, OF
Maryland, made an extended speech
against the appropriation for special
fast mail facilities from Boston to New
Orleans. During the general debate
on the bill the members generally took
advantage of the latitude allowed in
committee of the whole to discuss var.
ious provisions and the debate accord.
ingly covered wide range. After re-
marks and criticisms on various topics
by the members the house at Sis ad-
journed.
WEDNEsDAY-The postoAice appro.
priation bill while technically the sub.
ject before the house. was almost lost
track of in the debate to-day. Az
on yesterday numerous topics were dis.
oussed but to-day for the first time the
Cuban-Spanish question, which had
been kept in the back ground hereto.
fore, forged to the front. Mr.. Coch-
ran. Democrat OF Missouri. brought
the question into the arena and in the
course Of the debate that followed Mr..
Grosvenor, of Ohio, took occasion to
deny emphatically the stories afloat to
the effect that the president desired an
early adjournment Of congress in order
that he might effect settlement with.
out congressional interference. Tue
subject OF Hawaiian annexation also
came in for more attention to-day.
Many enthusiastic speeches were made
on the present international oomplica-
tons and after considerable time thus
spent the debate then triaed back to
the bill. Mr.. Berry, of Kentucky,
announced his unqualified approval of
the proposition to annex tho Hawaiian
Islands, saying he regarded their &C.
QUESTION as indispensable for the pro.
lection Of the Pacific seaboard. The
house then adjourned.
THuRsDAY-No political questions
were discussed in the house to-day.
The whole session was devoted strictly
to the postoffice appropriation bill,
which was taken up for am endment un-
der the five minute rule. The ques.
tions which consumed the major por.
ton of the time related to tho allow.
ance for clerk hire at the postofices and
to rural free deliveries. The house in.
creased the allowance for rural free de.
livery from $4,000 to $500 900 and
defeated the proposition for increased
clerk hire. The amendment to increase
the rural free delivery appropriation
tor rural free delivery was offered by
Mr.. Stokes, OF South Carolina. The
house at $40 adjourned.
rR1DAY-ihe house spent another
DAY on the postoffice appropriation
bill, but only disposed Of two pages of
it. Most OF the day was devoted to
debate on the merits of the pneumatic
tube mail service in New York, Boston
and Philadelphia and the ACCESSIBILITY
OF containing the existing contract.
An effort to strike out the appropria.
ton of 1925, 900 was defeated, but the
opponents of the appropriation sue.
ceeded in securing the adoption of the
amendment providing that no add.
tlonal contracts should be made. An
An amendment was adopted making it
. misdemeauor for any person to
pad the mails during the period
when the mails are being weighed to
determine the compensation to be
paid to the railroads for their trans.
portation. The amendment was rec
ommended by the department. The
conference report on the agricultural
appropriation bill was agreed to. At
8 o'clock the house adjourned until
tomorrow.
SAruRDAY.-The house to-day passed
the postotfice appropriation bill which
has been under consideration since yes.
terdsy. The main points of attack to.
day were the appropriations of $780,.
OOO, 000 for railway transportation of
mails, and $4,000 for special facilities
between New York and New Orleans.
All efforts to reduce the appropriation
iof railway transportation signally
failed. The house at 6 O'Clock I'd.
journed till Monday.