Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-01-27

this point Mr. Wolcott (sil. rep.
COLI said that he desired to call the
senate's attention to the real basis of
the trouble with the financial affairs
of the postoffice department 1T is
well understood" said Mr.. Wolcott,
that the second-class mail matter Of
this country absOrbs 65 per cent. of
the expenses Of the postoffice depart
n ent and supplies only about three
per cent. Of the revenues. This is
serious point and if congress should
enact into a law a measure relating
to second-class matter which will be
laid before congress a recurrence of
the present difficulty will be obviated."
Mr.. Wolcott then called attention to
! opposition Of the publishers of New
England tC the enactment of a law
restricting second-class matter,
Mr.. Allen (pop., Neb.) thought
that the great point involved in a dis
| CuSsiOn Of the postoffice finances was
the charge that there is an annual
leakage of from $4,000, 600 to SIC, GOO, 900
on account Of the underweighing of
nail matter. 1T is most remarkable, -
said Mr.. Allen, that charges
of such gravity should be made
in public prints and yet the
party in power should remain
with reference to them as silent as the
grave. If we only had the nerve tc
take hold of these frauds and eradi-
cate them, We should have money
enough to put a corps of efficient let,
ter carriers in every city in the land. "
Mr.. Chandler rep., N. H.) object
ed to present consideration Of the
| EOar resolution and on the suggestion
of Mr.. Allison it went over.
Mr.. Tillman tdem., S. CD present
ed a resolution, for which he asked i'm
mediate consideration, extending the
authority of the interstate commerce
committee so that it might inquire tC
what extent the railroad companies
issue passes, whether the railroads
gave transportation for any other
consideration than cash and what ar
rangements they had made with news
papers regarding transportation.
Mr.. Cullom (rep., Ill. J, chairman OF
the committee, objected to considera-
volve a long and tedious investigation
He said that he had no desire to evade
the truth in any part Of the investi-
| cation, but that he was satisfied tn.
| committee now had sufficient Eesti-
mOny before it to indicate the neeC
/ Of t1sir
want to investigate throughout the
year." said he, "but desire to prepare
some bill which will cure the evils tina
we have found"
Washington, Jan. 19-AIl day Ions
the question Of granting belligeren
rights to the Cuban insurgents was
argued in the house, but the minorit,
hurled itself against a stone wall TIL
only vote taken was on motion de-
signed to OVerrule the decision of the
speaker and to direct the COMMITTEES
on foreign affairs to repor
without further delay the Gu
ban resolution passed by the senat
at the last session. The republicans
stood solid and voted to sustain thu
chair. During the general debate
Chairman Hit of the foreign affair."
committee made an impressive
speech explaining the situa
ton which made action by con
gress inadVisable. Mr.. Hit said tina
a declaration of belligerency would
allow SPANS war ships to hunt ou1
vessels on the high seas. In the exist
ing situation good men sympathizing
with Cuba's cause are constantly max
ing their way to the islands. Sup
plies, guns and ammunition are goins
from the United States, it is said, and
every pound of powder fired in the
cause of Cuba's freedom had come
from this country. The members
he said might ask why, with all OF
the disadvantages in store for them
the agents of the Cuban republic in
this city desired belligerent rights
L could explain it," said Mr.. HIT.
but l prefer to do so in the words of
one OF these agents to me. we
know said this gentleman, that we
have much to lose in the matter of
supplies, but we also know that if
Spanish cruisers begin to stop Amer
lean shippers it will not be long be-
fore hasty shot is fired With that
shot public opinion in Spain and the
United States will plunge those coun-
tries into war. Then our battle will
be over That perhaps is a very just
argument for the Cuban but not for
the American. If we are to have war
let us face it directly, not be forced
into it by chance" Mr. Hit spoke
of the Spanish authority in Havana
as tOtterlng between armed forces
without and tumultuous riot within.
| With impressive words he warned
the members that the responsibility
Of inaction with the momentous
| consequences that might ensue rested
on the shoulders of the executive, not
/ on the members Of congress who
might be making speeches for popular
! approval. Let us remember" said
| he, that we have a faithful pilot at
! the helm and if the ship of state is
near rapids we should be patient and
ready to support him if he takes steps
which the honor and interests of our
country may demand"
Mr. Dinsmore (dem., Ark, a
member Of the foreign affairs
| committee, declared that the time had
| come for giving the Cubans the rec
| ignition they had so long sought.