The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-19

The Amendment Extending Pneumatic Tube
System to Chicago Tabled.

The Mouse Devotes Two Hours to
Consideration Of the Naval APP
preparation Bill, Without Max
ing Any Progress on the Meas
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The Sen
ate spent most of the day on the Post
Office appropriation bill, but failed to
complete it. After am animated dis
cuSsion of the pneumatic tube system,
Culloms amendment increasing the ap-
preparation for this purpose, and de-
signed 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 a combination of spectators
secured the star route contracts. A
number of bills of minor Importance
We're passed early in the day. At
O'Clock tributes to the memory OF the
late Representative Simpkins of Mas
sachusetts We're pronounced.
When the Senate convened to-day
bills were passed as follows: Extend
Northwestern Railway to construct a
railroad through the Indian Territory;
regranting an extension of time for the
construction Of a railway through the
Indian Territory to the Gainesville,
McAlester and st. Louis Railway
Company; providing for the ac-
curing of rights of way by railroad
companies through Indian reservations,
Indian lands and Indian allotments;
amending Section 1896 Of the Revised
Statutes so that when an applicant
for a patent becomes insane. pending
the granting of patent, the guardian
conversation or representative OF the IN
ventor shall proceed and obtain the
patent and hold it in trust for his es-
tate; authorizing the Commissioner OF
the General Land Office to cause pubic
lands to be surveyed in certain cases.
providing for the construction OF a. tele-
phone line from Table Bluff to Salmon
Creek, in Humboldt County, California,
at a cost not to exceed 81 800; provld-
ing for the sale Of the surplus lands
on the Pottawanee and Kickapoo In
dian reservations in Kansas.
Consideration Of the Postoffice appro-
priation bill was then resumed.
Cullom Of Illinois offered an amend
ment appropriating 100000, instead OF
S225. 600. as provided by the bill, for
the extension of pneumatic tube man
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
rheumatic tube service, and the idea
Of his amendment was that it should
be extended to Chicago.
Ouay. in charge of the bill, favored
the use of pneumatic mail tubes but
was inclined not to admit the pro-
priety of putting the amendment on
the bill.
Allison of Iowa made the point of
order against the amendment that 1t
was new legislation.
The point was discussed at length by
several Senators.
Chandler of New Hampshire strongly
controverted the point of order, hold
ing that the proposition of Cullom was.
simply one to increase an appropriation
carried by the bill.
After some parliamentary sparring,
the point of order was withdrawn tenn
porarily. in order that Senators might
EXPRESS their views upon the merits of
the proposition.
Wolcott of Colorado, Chairman of the
Postal Commission appointed by Con-
gress. in opposing the amendment de-
clared that it would cost $2o,OO0OOO a
year to properly maintain pneumatic
tube service in the principal cities or
the country.
Wolcott said the pneumatic tube SER
vice had come to stay, but there should
be a. well-considered plan devised by
the Government for the introduction or
the service, lest it become involved in
serious difficulties.
Pettigrew vigorously opposed the
adoption of the service, unless it could
he operated under Government owner
ship.
Mason and Cullom advocated the
amendment.
The amendment was tabled-29 to %
The bill was amended by extending
the Thanking privilege to the Hawaiian
Islands.
A spirited controversy arose over the
Senate amendment that star route bid
ders shall reside on the route where
the service is to be performed.
Stewart upheld the amendment, de-
claring that at present the country was
divided up by a combination of star
route speculative bidders, who sublet
the contracts to local bidders.
The amendment was allowed to
stand. with a suggestion from Jones
of Arkansas that the, conferrees provide
against subletting of star route bids.
The bill was not completed when, at
4 D. M, the Senate took up the special
order. eulogies on the late Representa-
tive Simpkins of Massachusetts,.
The Senate adjourned at 5:15 D. m.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The House
to-day spent two hours upon the naval
appropriation bill, without making any
progress, and devoted the remainder of
the session to eulogies upon the life
and pubic service of Representative
Northway of Ohio. The passage in the
bin relating to the Naval Academy,
against which Mudd (R.) of Maryland
raised a point of order. was stricken
out to-day, the point of order being
sustained Mudd then moved an addi-
tional appropriation of $4,000 for thu
completion of the buildings authorized
| in the last naval bill
A Dill was passed LOT the relleI OF
George A. Dickel of Nashville, Tenn.
A Senate bill was passed authorizing
| the term of the United States Court for
the Southern District of Mississippi to
be held hereafter at Biloxi.
| The House then went into committee
of the whole and resumed considera-
, ton of the naval appropriation bill.