Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-02-20
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, February 20.
SENATE.

On motion of Mr. Chandler the vote
by which the naval personnel bill was
passed was recopsidered and Gne House
requested to return it in order that sew
eral mistakes may De corrected.
Mr.. Cullom presented an agreement
of the conferrees on the legislative mp.
preparation bill. 1t was read and vent
over until tomorrow.
The consideration of the postoffice
appropriation bill was then resumed.
The resolution offered by Mr. Cock
rell was passed directing the Secretary
of War to submit detailed statement
showing the cost of maintaining the
U. S. army as it existed by law prior to
April 20, 1898, and the cost Of main
tanning it SIS it is proposed to be organ
lied by the House bill, as amended and
presented to the Senate by Senator
Hawley, and giving the aggregate pay
OF the staff, the general officers and the
regimental officers and the enlisted
men, and the cost OF maintaining the
quart6rmasters' department, the sub.
sistence, the medical and the ordnance
departments, the signal corps and The
pay department. not including the pay
of officers and enlisted men.
Mr.. Butler made q long speech in
which he vigorously opposed the pay
ment of what he termed exorbitant
sums for carrying the mails. He in
sisted that there should be general
overhauling OF the whole matter, and
that compensation should be fixed Sc
that The government might save mil
lions of dollars. He declared that it
cost more to transport the mails than it
did passengers, even when the latter
were hauled in palace cars.
Mr.. Allison disputed the statement
and said the North Carolina Senator
figured on the maximum rates entirely
without considering the minimum.
Mr.. Hawley interrupted the conside-
ration of the postoffice bill, TO move
that the army reorganization bill be
taken up and made the unfinished bust
ness. He made a speech in which he
Insisted the matter should not be fur
Their delayed.
The motion to take up the army bill
Was carried. The vote was yeas A,
nays 26. 1t was not strict party vote,
ss number of democrats voted 10 take
up the bill, and the reading of the mes-
sure Was Immediately commenced.
HOUSE.
The first half hour of the House aes-
sion was consumed 10 concurring to
Senate amendments to pension bills.
After that bill came up for the pay
ment of private claim of Scranton,
Pa. man, whose premises were occu-
pied by the Federal army in 1862.
Mr.. Grow championed the measure
and MIR. Maddox opposed it.
After the debate the yeas and nays
were called for. The vote was lbs for
suspension of the rules to pass the bill
to II opposed, and as the necessary
two-thirds was not secured by Mr.. |
Grow, the rules were not suspended |
and the claim was refused.
dehare was iuaugurated by Mr.. |
Loud, of the postofiice committee, who !
presented bill to grant the Economic |
Postal Association the use of the mails. |
This association has patented system |
for issuing postal cards and envelopes
for the use of business men who |
wish to advertise their wares
and who object to paying for retSrn |
cards or envelopes unless they are used. If |
these cards or envelopes are used the govern |
ment is to collect the same from the Economic !
Postal Association.
Mr. Corlss opposed the measure, asserting !
that it was steal and would if put in opera
ZION. largely increase the expenses Of the post.
office department and that the association |
would be greatly enriched.
The fist vote on the suspension OF the |
rules to pass the bill showed 81 in favor TO |
40 against This not showing the required !
two-thirds, for its passage, Mr. Loud and mr..
BromwelI demanded the yeas and nays which
were ordered.