The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-19
DULL DAY SPENT
BY BOTH HOUSES
PoStoffice Appropriation Bill 0c-
cupies the Senate
PNEUMATIC TUBE SYSTEM
Was the Subject of Somewhat Spirit
ed Debate-The Old Star Route
Scandals Were Reviewed
. Bill Not Completed.

Washington, February 1S.-The senate
spent most of the day on the postoffce ap-
preparation bill, but failed to complete it.
After animated discussion of the pneu-
matte tube system, Mr.. Culloms amend
ment making an appropriation for this pur-
pose and to extend the system to Chicago,
was tabled. An echo of the old star route
developments was heard when several SEN
ators criticised the method by which a COM
bination of spectators secured the star
route contracts.
When the senate convened bills were
passed as follows: Extending the time for
the Arkansas and Northwestern Railroad
company to construct railroad through
the Indian Territory granting an extension
of time for the construction of a railroad
through the Indian Territory to the Gaines
vile, McAllister and st. Louis Railway
company; granting a T ght of entry to per-
sons procuring cancellation of fraudulent
or double allotments to Indians; providing
for the acquiring of rights of way by rail-
road companies through Indian reserva-
tions, Ind an lands and Indian allotments;
amending section 1896 of the revised statutes
SO that when an applicant for patent be-
comes insane pending the granting of a
patent the guardian, conservator or repre-
sentative OF the inventor shall proceed and
obtain the patent and hold 1t In trust for
his estate; authorizing the commissioner of
the general land office to cause public lands
to be surveyed in certain cases; providing
for the construction of a telephone line
from Table Bluff to Salmon Creek, in Hum
boldt county. California, at a cost not ex-
ceeding 81 sou; providing for the sale of the
surplus lands on the Pottawatomie and
Kickapoo Indian reservations in Kansas.
Consideration of the postoffice appropri-
alton bill was then resumed.
Mr.. Cullom, of Illinois, offered an amend
ment approprating $500, 900 instead of $685.
900, as provided by the bill for the extension
of the pneumatic tube service, either by
purchase or otherwise. He presented a
long petition from business men of Chi
cago, urging that that city be given the
benefit of the pneumatic tube service, and
the idea of his amendment was that 1t
should be extended to Chicago.
Mr.. Quay, in charge of the bill, favored
the use of the pneumatic mail tubes, but
was inclined not to admit the propriety of
putting the amendment on the bill.
Mr. Allison, of Iowa, made the point of
order against the amendment that it was
new legislation. The point of order was
discussed at length by several senators.
After some parliamentary sparring, the
point of order was Withdrawn temporarily
in order that senator's might express their
views upon the merits of the proposition
Mr. Wolcott, of Colorado, chairman of
the postal committee appointed by con-
gress, in opposing the amendment, said 1t
would cost an enormous sum to maintain
a pneumatic tube service in the principal
cities of the country. He said the pneu-
matte tube service had come to stay, but
that there should be a well-considered
plan devised by the government for the in
PRODUCTION of the service, lest it become in
volved.
Mr. Mason and Mr.. Cullom advocated the
amendment.
The amendment was tabled-29 to %.
A spirited controversy arose over the
senate amendment that the star route bid
ders shall reside on the route where the
service is to be performed.
g Mr. Stewart upheld the amendment, de-
caring that at present the country was
divided up by a combination of speculative
star route bidders, who sub-let the con-
tracts to local bidders.
The amendment was allowed to stand,
with a suggestion from Mr.. Jones, of Ar
kansas that the conferees provide against
sub-letting of star route bids.
The bill was not completed when the SEN
ate adjourned.
THE HOUSE
Washington, February 1S.-The house to-
day spent two hours upon the naval ap-
preparation bill without making any pro-
gress, and devoted the remainder of the
session to eulogies on the life and public
services of the late Representative North
way, of Ohio.
The paragraph in the bill relating to the
Naval academy, against which Mr. Mudd
raised a point of order yesterday, was
stricken out, the point of order being sus-
tanned. Mr.. Mudd meved an additional ap-
preparation of $750,O00 for the completion of
the buildings at the academy authorized by
the last naval bill.