Evening star., 1900-05-19
PNEUMATIC TUBE SERVICE
POST OFFICE BILL OCCUPIES THE
SENATE's ATTENTION.

The post office appropriation bill occupied
| the Senate yesterday afternoon after The
| Stars report of the proceedings was closed.
| Mr.. Mason. resuming his discussion of the
| committee amendment providing for the
| extension of the pneumatic tube service,
| said that Chicago desired its share of this
service no less than eastern cities. He de-
| Tended Mr.. Milholland against insinuations,
| declaring there was no cloud on Mr.. Mil
| hollands character except by men who
| assassinate character and assassinate repu-
tation to keep their friends driving wagons
and drawing pay
Mr.. Allison Qowa) said the invention was
| a good one. but it did not do away with the
| requirements of wagon service. 1t was not
useful in proportion to dts cost, and he did
not favor its extension.
Mr.. Chandler's Contention.
Mr.. Chandler On. H) declared that this
| useful modern invention should not be
abandoned any more than we should aban-
| don electric lights, or telephones, or auto
| mobiles. he added. turning to Mr.. Wolcott,
| in charge Of the bill, and an ardent auto
mobilist
| Mr. Chandler had several amusing tits
with Mr.. 1fllman over the latter's brief in
| terjectfons on lobby. robbery and steal"
The New Hampshire senator defended the
Ol TIE system ana the methods
employed to advance it. and said the
amount involved was trifiing compared with
the vast expenditures to railroads for
carrying the mails.
ordinary delay of the postal commission
in not making a report. which delay per-
mitted the railroads to increase their vast
receipts for carrying the mail and at the
same time prevented an adequate under
Standing Of the merits of the pneumatic
tube service. He believed the railroads had
| much to do with the difficulties Congress
encountered in dealing with these Ques-
tions.
Mr.. Hale protested against loading down
the bill with "a mere fanciful scheme"
with the most "brazen effrontery." 1t
would be good day for the Senate to
stand up against some of these schemes.
Mr.. Wellington (Md.> supported the tube
and urged its extension to Baltimore and
other large cities.
Tube system in New York.
Mr.. Carter (Mont) said the differences
of the chairman of the post office commit
tee (WolcotD with the members Of that
committee did not reflect credit upon that
senator. He had attacked private charac-
ter with that immunity given those speak
ing in public debate instead of presenting
facts-had indulged in ponderous declama-
ton. Mr. Carter said that in New York the
tube service permitted letters to ba deliv-
cred from the Battery to Harlem more
rapidly than kilograms. The extension of
the system would to some extent add COM
petition to the telegraph and express COM
panies. and this. the senator thought, might
account for some of the opposition to the
system.
Mr. Lodge said the system had operated
to advantage in Boston, but he could not
vote for this loosely worded amendment
providing an extension committing the gov
ernment to enormous expense.
Mr.. Hoar suggested a proviso that any
extension Of the service be limited to $4,000
q mile.
Mr.. Wolcott's Response.
Mr. Wolcott said he would not be d.
verted by the grossly unjust and unfounded
remarks of the senator from Montana
Carter, nor Of the charge of the senator
from New Hampshire (Chandler) that the
railroads were behind this opposition. The
railroads had no more to do with II than
they had in fixing the color of the stamps.
He declared that the whole tube scheme
had been conceived In sin and born in
iniquity."
Mr.. Wolcott read a letter from the post
master of Chicago, written in 1888, not
approving the tube system.
Mr.. Mason offered an amendment provid-
ing that in any extension Of the service the
rental shall not exceed 10 per cent of the
actual cost of construction and mainte-
nance plus the actual cost of operation.
The matter went over without final ac-
ton.
The bill authorizing a railroad bridge
across the Warrior river, Alabama, was
passed.
Also the bill to enlarge the powers Of the
Department Of Agriculture, prohibiting the
transportation by interstate commerce of
game killed in violation of local laws and
for other purposes.
The Senate at $50 pm adjourned.