The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-18
POSTAL APPROPRIATION
Lively Debate on the Bill lakes Place Ii
The Senate.
OPPOSITION TO THE PNEUMATIC TUBES
for Transporting MaiIs--yyoIcott
Talks of Corruption.


agreed to further conference on the
District Of Columbia appropriation bill.
A conference was agreed to on the ma
val appropriation bill and Mr.. Hale (Me.)
Mr.. Perkins (cni.) and Mr.. Tillman Is.
CO. were named as conferees.
MIR. Jones (Ark.j had adopted a
resolution calling upon the secre-
tnry of war to Inform the senate
how many Filipinos have been
killed and wounded since the be-
ginning of hostilities, and also how
many have been captured and are
| now in our possession.
Mr.. Plat Comm, chairman of the com
mitee on relations with Cuba, said he
would seek an early opportunity to reply
TO the speech of Mr.. Bacon (Ga), dely
cred yesterday, NOT IN OPPOSITION. but
to correct some statements made by MIRA
Bacon.
MIR. wolcott (Colo.) called up the post.
office appropriation bill and It's reading
for amendment was begun
When the committee amendment apprp-
priating $4,000 for mail transportation
by pneumatic tubes was reached Mr. VOL
colt asked that 1t be passed over, as It
was certain to create much discussion. He
said he differed from the committee oil the
proposition.
Mr.. Wocott also said he opposed the
Southern fas& mail subsidy and the sub
sdy for the carrying of mail between Kan
sas City and Newton, Kan. No postmaster
general he said had ever recommended
/ the subsidies.
committee amendment struck out
part of the paragraph relating to the rail-
way mail service and provided for 1902
clerks at $1,000 each, 1905 clerks at $1,000
each and 1883 clerks at 5000 each
The final section of the bill was a senate
amendment providing for the continuance
of the commission to investigate the ques-
ton whether or not excessive prices are
paid to the railroad companies for the
transportation Of mails
Mr.. Pettigrew questioned the advisable
ity of continuing the commission, as Il
had not yet made report on any subject.
Mr.. Wolcott, chairman of the commits
sion made an explanation Of the difficult
ties encountered by the commission in
obtaining the information desired He
said more than 1000 pages OF printed testl-
mony had been taken In all parts Of the
/ country and much OF It was very valuable
An effort had been made to get AT n fair
basis OF compensation for the railroads It
had been said by some that i-ccnt letter
postage could be reached. but he thought
90 per cent of the mail matter of the coun-
try could be carried at small per cent
OF the cost and 1-cent letter postage adopt
ed at the same time. He thought by the
end of the present year the commission
would be prepared TO report In the uu-
finished state OF the commissions work.
he thought no man could submit a fair re-
port or logical plan for the compensa-
ton OF the railroads.
Mr., Butler (N. C.) offered an amendment
reducing the amount appropriated by the
bill for railway transportation of the malls
from S33 2f0 mn -,
ing the postmaster general to reduce the
compensation to be paid railroads from
and after July |, 1900. for the transporth
ton Of malls by at least 10 per cent per
annum from the present rate
Mr.. Butler said he proposed again h
submit facts which had been presented
10 the senate three or four times before
as to the excessive cost of Transporting
the mails. He believed the postal com
mission which this bill sought TO con-
tnue was a scheme to delay the reduc-
tion OF the cost OF Transporting mail
IN brief reply to Mr.. Butler and Mr..
fettlgrew, Mr. Wolcott characterized
some of their statements as wild va
garies.' which would be regarded las
preposterous If they had not fallen from
the lips of so conservative a statesman as
the senator from North Carolina"
The amendment of Mr.. Butler was re-
iected--l1 to 81.
The committee amendment extending
the life of the postal commission was then
agreed to without division
Mr. Butler made point OF order
against the committee amendment ap-
propriating $75000O for the transportation
OF mall by pneumatic tubes on the ground
that Il was new legislation, but tho point
was overrulod by the chair MIR. Frye.
Mr. Woloott smoke in opposition to tho
amendment He said The entire scheme OF
sending mail by pneumatic tubes was
covered by patents except the hole in the
ground. and that had to be obtained from
the municipal authorities, The scheme.
too was a monopoly and the servce In
New York, Brooklyn. Boston and Phlla-
dalnhll was very limited.
We all want good mail service" said
Mr. Wolcott, "bui dc not want It at the
expense Of iobhery and corruption-.we do
not want TO be held up to secure it."
Tho conference report on the agrlcul-
tura appropriation hill was agreed to.
Tho senate then, after a hrei executive
session, at 4i4O p, m. adjourned