Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-19
NAIL TUBES FOR CHICAGO
Illinois Senator Offers Petition Asking for
That Innovation.
AMENDMENT IS FINALLY LAID ON TABLE
senate Enncts Considerable Amount
of Miscellaneous Legislation, In
GLIDING the Granting of Sew
eraI Rights-Of-Wny.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The senate
spent most of the day on the postoffice ap-
preparation bill, but failed to complete it,
After an animated discussion of the pneu-
matte tube system, Mr.. Cullom's amendment
Increasing the appropriation for this pur-
pose and designed to extend the system
to Chicago was tabled. An echo of the old
star route developments was heard when
several senators criticised the method by
which combination of spectators secured
the star route contracts
number of bills of minor Importance
were passed early in the day.
Bills were passed as follows: EX-
tending the time for the Arkansas
& Northwestern Railway company to con-
struct railroad through the Indian Terri
tory; granting an extension of time for the
construction of railroad through the In
dian Territory to the Gainesville, McAllister
& ST. Louis Railway company: giving pref
erence right of entr. to persons procuring
a cancellation of fraudulent or double al
lotments to Indians; providing for the ac-
qulring of rights of way by railroad COM
panies through Indian reservations, Indian
lands and Indian allotments; amending sec
tion 1896 of the Revised Statutes SO that
when an applicant for a patent becomes
insane pending the granting of a patent, the
guardian conservator or representative Of
the inventor shall proceed and obtain the
patent and hold it in trust for his estate;
authorizing the commissioner of the general
land Office to cause public lands to be sur
veyed in certain cases. providing for the
construction of telephone line from Table
Bluff to Salmon Creek, in Humboldt county,
California at cost not exceeding $1,000;
providing for the sale of the surplus lands
on the Pottawattamle and Kickapoo Indian
reservations in Kansas.
CuIIom Offers Petition.
Consideration OF the postoffice appropria-
tin bill was then resumed Mr.. Cullom
Tered an amendment appropriating $780,
70 instead Of 1925, 900, as provided by the
Dill for the extension of the pneumatic tube
mail service either by purchase or other
wise. He presented a long petition from
business men OF Chicago urging that the
city be given the benefit Of the pneumatic
service and the idea of his amendment was
that it should be extended to Chicago.
Mr.. Quay in charge of the bill, favored
the use Of pneumatic mail tubes, but was
inclined not to admit the propriety of put
ting the amendment on the bill.
Mr. Allison made the point of order
against the amendment that it was new leg
islation. The point of order was discussed
at length by several senator's.
Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire strongly
controverted the point of order, holding
that the proposition OF Mr.. Cullom was
simply one to increase an appropriation car
ried by the bill.
After some parliamentary sparrlng the
point of order was withdrawn temporarily
in order that senators might express their
views upon the merits of the proposition.
Mr. oh n the DOStal
mission appointed by congress, in oppos-
ing the amendment, declared that it would
cost $25, 900 900 year to properly maintain
a pneumatic tube service in the principal
cities OF the country.
Mr.. Wocott said the pneumatic tube
service had come to stay, but there would
have to be a well devised plan considered by
the government for the introduction OF the
service lest 1t become involved in serious
difficulties.
Mr.. Pettigrew opposed the adoption OF
the service unless it could be operated under
the government ownership. Mr.. Mason and
Mr. Cullom advocated the amendment. The
amendment was tabled, % to %.
The bill was amended by extending the
franking privilege to the Hawaiian islands.
A spirited controversy arose over the
senate amendment that star route bidders
shall reside on the route where the service
is to be performed.
MIR. Stewart upheld the amendment, de.
claring that at present the country was di-
vided up by a combination of star route
speculative bidders, who sublet the contracts
TO irresponsible persons, The amendment
was allowed to stand with suggestion from
Mr.. Jones OF Arkansas that the confreres
refrain from subletting star routes.
The bill was not completed when at 420
D. IN. the senate took up the special order
OF euloges en- the late John Smpkins.
At 4:5O the senate adjourned.