The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-01-16

After the reading Of the journal IN the
House today the Speaker laid before the
House a message from the President trans
mitting a third report upon the vegetable
resources OF Alaska. which was ordered
printed. Representatives Minor OF Wis
cOnsin and Cochran Of Missouri were
named by the Speaker as members en- the
part Of the House Of joint committee 10
dispose OF waste paper in the executive
departments.
On motion Of Mr.. Cannon the House
then resolved itself into Committee Of
the Whole TO consider the Urgent Def
cheney bill reported yesterday. Il was
agreed that today's session should he de-
voted 20 general debate and that tomor-
row the bill be taken up under the i've
minute rule
Explaining the bill. Mr Cannon oaid .
contained what the committee believed
would be all the deficiencies necessary to
be appropriated for the fiscal year The
direct appropriations carried in the bill
amounted 20 S8525. .gO9; the Indirect. con
| slstng Of reappropriatiOns Of balances left
OF appropriations made for the fiscal years
Uf 1888 and 1899 and not expended S4T.-
Z
pended balances referred 10. SIR. Cannon
stated to be So, ,3gS 26f.
Mr. Loud asked Mr.. Cannon about the
item Of $4,000 for experimental rural free
delivery. The service had been so extended
Mr. Cannon explained, that II il we're 10
be continued as extended, until July next
the additional appropriation was nee
essary- The committee was satisfied that
money vas necessary. and had recommend
I g he ann --Fa
( the extent to which the service had teen
Installed, Mr.. Cannon said he understood
u had gone INTO every state but three
Mr.. Brown CT Ohio asked IL the $50 900
would provide for extensions Of the service
not now authorized.
RssEondlng 10 this. Mr. Cannon had read
2 telegram 10 Representative Griggs OF
Georgia, from the department, stating that
SoVsvyy was necessary TO prevent a def-
cheney in carrying on the service now in
stalled and 500 600 was needed 10 make
EeW extensions asked for. The service was
altogether experimental. and II Congress
felt IL lnadvisable 70 appropriate more
money, the service would be reduced so
as 10 bring the expenditure within the ap-
preparation for the year $4,000
The method Of administration Mr. Can
non said, did not meet his approval. he
believed that expenditures should be con-
nned 10 the appropriations made and he
had no words strong enough 10 dislpprOva
the method followed by the department in
this case. Under the law, well ascertain
ed. the executive departments in his fudg-
ment. had no right 10 create deficiencies.
Ar. Steele Of Indiana. said that in this
case the Department was making an er-
pertinent, the service was under The con-
troll Of the Postmaster General and could
be cut OF at any time But the service had
proved 70 be so successful and satisfactory
that application for its establishment had
come i7om almost every district in the
Union
Mr. Cannon deftIy evaded a direct answer
TO the question fired az him by two or
three members whether or not. in his opin-
ion. the appropriation was justified by the
merits OF the service.
And for the reason he admitted L
suspect I'm in the fx that many other
members are, and am subject TO demands
Tor toe service Il Is enough TO say trat
the item is reported from the committee
over which I have the honor to preside,
and / expect TO vote for IT.
The item in the bill was coupled with
ProEiso that in administering the service
under this appropriation no deficiency
shall be created therein.
Mr. Smith Of Michigan. inquired II that
was not an unusual provision. and Nj.
Cannon said il was.
They why" thundered Mr.. smith" is
this subject selected for that treatment No
service authorized by Congress has proved
so popular among the people as this
To this question and one by Mr.. Hepburn,
Mr. Cannon replied that generally speak
ing deficiencies were created only by vio-
lation Of law, and the reason why this item
was restricted by the provisO was that
il was the only service undertaken with
out previous warrant OF law
Mr.. Griggs Of Georgia stated that the
service was wholly experimental, abso-
lutely under the control Of the Postmaster
General, and could be cut of by him at
any time. The appropriation in the bill
was not a deficiency; il was to provide for
additional service. There had been no VI
OlatiOn Of law by the officials OF the de-
partment Mr.. Griggs said. and it was not
fair nor truthful to charge them with a
violation Of the law.