The Portland daily press., 1899-01-20
IN THE HOUSE.
Election Case Decided and Post-of'ics
Appropriation Bnu Considered

Election Case Decided aud Post-ofIics
Appropriation Bill Considered
Washington. January 10. Tho House
today practically decided tho Brown
swanson contested election case from tn q
oh Virginia district in favor OF the
sitting member, Mr.. Swanson, Demo
crat, by declining to co nsider the case.
Twenty y-four Republicans Joined with the
Democrats and Populists on this vote.
The postofiice appropriation bill was then
taken up. The greatest surprise Of the
day was the adoption OF two amendments
striking out of the bill the appropriation
OF &i7i, 900 for the fast southern mall and
ss5 600 for special mail facilities from
Kansas City to Newton. Kansas. The
appropriation for the southern mail has
been fought annually for six or seven
years. but has always been retained. The
increase in the appropriation for the
pneumatic tube service from s225, 600 to
$500, coo was knocked out by the elimina-
ticn of the provision which fell under Q
point Of order for the repeal Of the law
against the extension of this service. The
House adjourned with motion to recom-
init pending. The motion carried instruc.
tions to strike out the words newly ,o-
quired territory" In connection with an
appropriation of $500, 600 for mail facilities
In Porto Rico, Cuba and the Philippines.
The House today passed the Senate bill
authorizing tho Arkansas and Choctaw
Railroad company TO con struct q rail road
through the Chooktaw and Chiokasaw
nations in Indian Territory.
In accordance with notice previously
given. Mr.. Crumpaoker, Republican OF
Indiana, called up the contested election
case of Brown VS.. Swanson for the Fifth
Virginia district. Mr. Miers, Democrat
of Indiana. raised the question OF consid-
GRAFTON and the House decided 20 to 1856
not TO consider the case.
President James ID. Angel of Michigan
university was appointed regent Of the
Smithsonian institute.
The House then went into committee Of
the whole on the postoffioe appropriation
bill. MIR. Loud, Republican Of California.
IN charge of the bill. explained its general
provisions. II carried, he said eros, 5,47l,-
63s, being S2f7, 63S more than the esti-
mates and 81, 269. 33s more than the
amount carried by the current law.
MIR. Dookerv spoke of the provision ap-
propriating $780, for postal service in
newly acquired territory. He suggested
the propriety of defray ing the expenses Of
the postal service in the new territory out
of the receipts there. MIR. Loud agreed
with the suggestion.
MIR. Brucker, Democrat of Michigan.
made point of order against the pro-
vision of the bill In connection with the
appropriation OF 100000 for the pneu-
matte tube servioe. This repealed the pro.
hibition against an extension of the SER
vice.
MIR. Loud contended that II the point
WAS sustained against the proviso, 1t
would carry out the whole paragraph in
Guiding the appropriation itself.
IL the pneumatic tube system was
agreed to Mr. Loud said, It should be ex-
tended II not 1t should be continued.
de insisted that MIR. Bruoker should
make the point against the whole para
graph or withdraw II altogether.
Mr.. Hopkins In the chair, sustained the
point of order. whereupon MIR. Loud
moved to reduce the appropriation to
Sz26, 900. The amendment was adopted.
Mr. Moody, Republican OF Massachu-
setts moved to strike out the paragraph
appropriating Sl7l Z3S for special southern
fast mail facilities. A fight has been
made annually against this appropriation
for many years. MIR. Moody also opposed
the appropriation o. $50, 100 for special
facilities from Kansas City to Newton,
Kansas. The latter appropriation, he
said. benefited only the newspapers.
Mr.. Cowherd, Democrat Of Missouri.
defended the latter appropriation. There
was debate of more than an hour over
Mir. Moodys amendment 1t was sup
ported by MIR. Todd, Democrat II Michi-
gan, and opposed by Swanson. Democrat
OF Virginia; Carmaok. Democrat OF
Tennessee; Gaines, Democrat Of Iennes-
see, and Ogden, Democrat Of Iowa.
The amendment WAS carried So to 46
and the appropriation was stricken out.
MIR. Moody then moved TO strike out the
appropriation Of s25, 600 for special mail
facilities from Kansas City, Mo-. to New
ton, Kas. sss,.
MIR. Simpson. Popnlist of Kansas. de-
Tended the appropriation. The amend
ment was adopted ana the appropriation
stricken out
Mr.. Clark, Democrat of Missouri,
uovsd an amendment to the appropria-
tion for stamped envelopes, providing
that no portion of IL should be expended
in printing return cards upon stamped
envelopes The amendment was ruled
out on point Of order.
MIR. Dockery, Democrat, Of Missouri,
offered an amendment prohibiting the
issue of postoffice money orders to bearer.
1t was adopted. There were no further
amendments and the bill was reported to
the House.
MIR. Swanson then moved to rocommit
the bill with Instructions to strike out
from the paragraph appropfiating $500. 600
for mail facilities in territory hsld by
military occupation the words newly ac-
quired territory which he eontended
liked the attitude of the United States to-
wards this territory to some extent and
were therefore improper until Congress
had decided upon "a policy. This amend
ment was pending when the House az
5.l5 p. H., adjourned.