The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-25
DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE.
Consideration of the Postoffce Ap-
preparation Bill Continues.

Consideration of the Postoffce Appro-
priation bill was continued in the House
yesterday. The item appropriating 81. I50.
coo for experimental rural free delivery
and the appropriation for letter carrier
services held the floor for most of the
time. Both went through the Committee
of the Whole as reported in the bill. es-
Gaping a number of amendments. The
pneumatic tube service and special sub
sides for fast mail facilities will be the
principal topics for todays debate
The bill was read by sections for amend
ment. To the paragraph appropriating for
letter carriers several amendments were
proposed 20 increase the force and to put
substitute carriers upon salary. In the
course Of the rather rambling discussion
1T was intimated that the Committee on
Postofiices had smothered the bills classi-
flying postal clerks and carriers, and in
collusion with the Speaker had decided
that these measures were not to be con-
sidered at this session.
Mr. Bromwell of Ohio. a member of the
committee. resented these intimations de-
claring that in his individual opinion the
bill would be reported.
The amendment proposed by Mr.. Corliss
Of Michigan, to give a regular salary to
substitute carriers was supported by
Messrs. Mann of Illinois and Cummings of
New York The latter denied the asser-
tion OF Mr. Fitzgerald of Massachusetts
that the House was hyp0critcal; ii was
an honest House. and it would manifest
that fact he said if it were given an op-
portunity to vote upon the bill, by pass
ing it.
Mr.. Talbert of South Carolina said that
the officials and employees of the Govern
ment from the President down were the
best paid body of men in the world. and
yet they are always asking for more In the
House the people of the country seemed to
be divided into the skinners and the
skinned And nearly everybody was in ia
vor of the SINNERS. He wanted to say q
word for the skinned. At this point the
gavel fell and Mr.. Talbert asked leave to
extend his remarks in the Record"
Mr Gaines OF Tennessee-I prefer to
have them continued on the floor.
Mr. Talbert Ton the other side of the
halD-What did the gentleman who so
seldom speaks say?
This apparently innocent quest ion caused
much laughter in the House. Mr. Gaines is
frequently on his feet.
Chairman Dalzell ruled the amendments
relating to letter carriers out of order as
ne.s business. An amendment offered by
Chairman Loud was agreed to, making
forty-eight hours the maximum period
which letters carriers should work in
week Of six days. For Sundays and holi-
DAYS. they must, in addition. perform
whatever labor the necessities OF the SER
vice demand.
The paragraph appropriating ST. 10000
for experimental free delivery gave rise to
considerable criticism of the PostoiIice De-
partment for alleged fayoritism in the
matter of establishing routes Messrs.
Maddox of Georgia. and Clark of Missouri.
asserted that if the work was to be con-
tinued it must be fairly apportioned
among the several States. Mr. Maddox in
troduced an amendment directing the
Postmaster General to distribute the ser
vice equally among the Congressional Dis
tricts. which was ruled out OF order
Mr.. McRae of Arkansas moved to strike
out the word experimental from the par
agraph.
Dir. Loud explained that to do this would
plaoe all the employees under the Civil
Service Commission. Hcwever desirable
tbat result might be, to simply strike out
the word now. without previous explana-
tlon. would be to throw the delivery under
civil service without officials or provisions
for its management and control.
The amendment was lost Without dis
posing Of the bill the comr,!ttee rose and
at ) % the House adjourned until today.