The record-union., 1898-01-20
PrecipItates Spirited Debate in the
United States Senate.
Hoar Declares That the Order Had
The Effect of Dynamite Bomb
in Creating CONSERVATION
Among Carriers Throughout the
Country, While but a Small APP
preparation Was Needed to
Maintain the Efficiency OF the
Service.

WASHINGTON, Jan. ia spirited
debate was precipitated in the SENATE
to-day by the introduction OF reSo-
aution by Hoar of Massachusetts, pro-
yiding for an inquiry by the Commit
Tee on PostofficeS and Post ROADS con-
cerning the recent order of the POST
master-General reducing the force OF
letter carriers in several cities OF the
country, Hoar declared that the order
had had the effect of a dynamite bomp
in creating CONSERVATION among these
men throughout the country, While ap-
parently all that was needed by the
Postoffice Department was an appro-
priation of S150,000 to maintain the
efficiency Of the carrier service.
The debate took a wide range, VOL
cott. Cha irrnan of the Committee on
Postoffices and Post Roads, insisting
that many New England people, repre-
sented by the Senator from Massachu-
setts. were responsible for the defl-
cheney in the funds of the Postoff1ce
Department, because they insisted that
the Goyernmen should carry second
class mail at enormous loss, and AL
aen of Nebraska charging that the Gov
eminent was annually defrauded out OF
millions of dollars through the under
weighing of mail matter
The resolution, in a modified form, Is
still pending.
Vest gave notice that he would move
tomorrow to take up for consideration
the Teller resolution, reported by the
Finance Committee, providing that the
bonds of the United States may be
paid in standard silver dollars. Vests
notice seems to indicate an intention on
the part of some of the Senators to
displace temporarily the Hawaiian an
nexation treaty, as it is evident, as
White Of California said, that the con-
sideration of the resolution would pre-
cfpitate some slight discussion"
After the reading of the journal in
the Senate. Vest of Missouri gave no
fice that he would at the conclusion OF
the morning business move to take up
the Teller resolution, which was re-
ported by the Finance Committee yes
9erday
A bill authorizing the Attorney-Gen-
eral. the Secretary of the Treasury and
the Secretary of War to compromise
and adjust certain claims of the United
States against the State of Tennessee
and the State of Tennessee against the
United States, was passed.
A Joint resolution, providing for the
appointment of commission to make a
survey of a ship canal from the lower
part of Lake Michigan to the Wabash
River was offered and referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
Hoar offered resolution relative tc
the recent order of the Postmaster
General reducing the number of letter
carriers in some of the large cities or
account of a deficiency in the free de-
livery appropriation. the resolution
providing that the Committee on Post
offices and Post Roads should imme-
diately ascertain what amount was
necessary to preserve the postal free
delivery service of the country. Fol
his resolution, Hoar asked immediate
consideration.
Wolcott, Chairman of the Postofficf
and Post Roads Committee, objected
to the reference of the resolution to his
committee. He said that the commit
tee was utterly powerless to afford re-
lief for the trouble at which the reso.