The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-25
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POSTOFFlCE BILL TAKEN UF
Fast Mail, Pneumatic Tube and Rail-
way Charges in Question.

Washington, April 23.-The house today
entered upon consideration of the post
office appropriation bill and the genera
debate which closed with the adjournment
| this afternoon, was devoted largely Il
discussion of pertinent matters. The mi
| nority of the committee dissented from
the provisions in the bill relating to the
extension Of the pneumatic tube service
special fast mail facilities and the cost
of railroad transportation, and these were
the main subjects of contention.
AT the opening of the session, upon re-
quest Of Mr.. Hepburn Qowa), chairman
| Of the interstate and foreign commerce
committee, unanimous consent was given
to set aside May l and for consideration
of the Nicaragua bill. Mr.. Hepburn said
that one day would be given for general
debate and one for amendment under the
fve-minute rule.
The postofice appropriation bill was
then taken up under an arrangement to
close general debate today and to devote
two hours to the contested items in the
bill-special mail facilities and pneumatic
tube service-and one hour to the provi-
sion relating to railway postal clerks.
Mr.. Loud (Cal), chairman of the post
Office committee, explained the provisions
Of the bill, which carries s11s, 1874, 500.
'Will not the increase of half a million
for pneumatic tube service involve mil
lions in the near future " asked Mr..
Moody of Massachusetts,.
THAT is about it." replied Mr.. Loud
who added: 1.-The service should stop all
together or be extended I have argued
that it should be stopped, but congress
has seen fit to continue it Foreign coun-
tries employing the tube service charge
extra compensation for its use.
1T was used emily for the transmission
of kilograms and special delivery letters.
He declared his opinion to be that the
tube system could not be successfully and
economically administered 81 hope to
Cod said he. that congress win have
the strength and wisdom to prevent the
government from embarking in any more
enterprises than it is now in
Mr.. Bell Of Colorado attacked the Eek
orbitant compensation of railroads for
carrying the mails" which averaged
cents per pound. The express rate from
Boston to Chicago, ne said, was less than
cent per pound. Why should the gov
eminent pay more? Since 1878 railroad
rates had decreased IS per cent and pas
senger rates III per cent, but the rate
for carrying the mails remain unchanged.
Mr.. Bromweu OF Ohio thought rural free
delivery service should be kept within
the experimental stage. He opposed the
extension OF the pneumatic tube service
and the special railroad mail facilities.
Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee discussed trusts.
and Mr. Sibley Of Pennsylvania coDcluId-
ed the days debate. We were engaged
today, he said. in the commercial conquest
OF the world and anything which exre-
oited communication, whether it was ru-
raj free delivery. fast mail SUBSIDIES or
pneumatic tube service. would command
his support II we desired 10 control the
markets Of the world we must be able
TO communicate with them quicker than
any other country II . per cent Of ,ba
compensation CT the railroads was taken
away the efficiency OF the service must
suffer 70 that extent
At O'Clock the house adjourned.