The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-07
ANOTHER WAR MEASURE
PROVISION MADE by THE SENATE
FOR MORE ARMY SURGEONS.
Long Debate on the Proposition to
for Transportation of Mails.

WASHINGTON, May 6.-One war meas
ure was passed by the Senate to-day It was
a bill to increase by fifteen the number of
surgeons in the United States army and to
authorize the secretary of war to employ as
many contract surgeons as he might deem
necessary. Consideration for a bill authoriz-
ing the postmaster general to establish
postofices in military posts and camps was
sought but, under objection, it went over
until Monday. Almost the entire session
was occupied in discussion of an amend
ment to the postofice appropriation bill Of
fered by Mr.. Pettigrew, providing for a re-
duction of 20 per cent. in the compensation
of railroads for the transportation of mails.
The amendment was still pending when the
Senate adjourned until Monday
In requesting a conference upon a pension
bill, Mr.. Gallinger, chairman of the pension
committee, said that the House had tacitly
adopted a rule that in cases where the
widow of a general officer had no pension
able status in the Pension Department. no
pension exceeding $50 a month would be
granted but in such cases where pension
was already being received, the pension
might be increased to $50 a month. Mr.. Gal
linger made the statement, he said, in order
that the Senate might realize the futility of
pressing for pensions of SIS or 500 month.
Consideration of the postoffice bill was re-
s1rned. the pending question being upon the
amendment offered yesterday by Mr.. Petit
grew, providing for reduction of 20 per
cent in the amount paid to railroads for the
transportat ton of the mails. Concerning the
amendment, Mr.. Quay pointed cut that Sec
ton of the pending bill provided for
joint commission, consisting Of three mem
Of ba 0f
of Representatives, to make a thorough in
veStigation of the entire subject touched by
the amendment offered. He added that the
committee on postoffices and postroads al
ready had made a partial investigation of
the matter and had had before it for ex-
animation officers Of the principal railroads
of the country This investigate had
shown that the amount paid for the trans
portation of mail was much less in proper
ton than that paid for the transported ton
OF freight or express matter. Mr.: Quay
ON the subject to the committee in order,
as he said, sarcasticaly, Ito prepare for
the political diatribes which are to follow
my remarks" zaa
After the reading of the statements by the
clerk Mr.. Quay said the adoption Of Mr..
PettigreWs amendment would result In re-
ducing the compensation Of the railroads
$6OOO,UO0 without any evidence as to the re-
suits of the righteousness of the action. He
by the pending bill ought to be made before
any action taken.
Mr.. PettigreW supported his amendment.
He said that the statements presented by
Mr.. Quay were purely ex-parte in their ma
ture The railroad officials presented their
own statements Of facts and drew their own
conclusions from them. He did not regard
this as evidence. He charged that eX-Sec-
ond Assistant Postmaster General Nelson
was only a creature of the railroads and
of the railroads. The present sec
ond assistant postmaster general, Mr..
Shallenberger, Mr.. Pettigrew declared. had
been captured by the clerks beneath him
clerks who were put into the department
when railroad officials were at the head of
it. This he said, was the reason why Mr..
Shallenberger, in his report, had stated that
the rates for carrying mail during the past
fifteen years had declined 40 per cent. The
only way to ascertain whether the govern
ment was now paying less for mail than it
paid one hundred years ago was to figure
from what was paid then, what is paid now
and the weights of the mail for the two
periods. This he had figured out and was
prepared to say that the postoffice' officials
statements were utterly inaccurate and
valueless. After further debate the bill was
laid aside.
Mr.. Hawley, chairman of the military af-
fairs committee, presented House bill to
increase the number OF surgeons in the
United States army by fifteen and in emer-
gencieS giving the secretary of war authori-
ty to appoint contract surgeons as may
be necessary the salary of each not to eX-
coed $50 month.
The bill was passed. Mr. Cannon secured
the adoption of a resolution directing the
committee manufactures to investigate
the adulteration of food articles by manu-
facturerS.
The Senate. at $50. went into executive
session and, at $40 p. M, adjourned until
Monday.