The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-24
In lIla House.

yv.sHrNc4TON. April 23-The House
to-day entered upon the consideration OF
the postof1fce appropriation bill, and the
general debate, which closed win tne az
iorrnment this afternoon, was devoted
largely to the discussion OF pertinent
matters, with a little adnliXture Of poll
tics. The minority of the committee DIS
scented from the provision in the bill re-
rlatins to the extension of the pneumatic
tube service, special fast mail faculties,
and the cost Of railroad transportation,
and these were the main subjects OF con-
tention The speakers were Messrs. LOUD
of California, Norton Of South Cafoiiha'
Bell of Colorado, Bromweu OF ONO
Gaines of Tennessee, and Sibley OF Penn
sylyan:a.
At the opening unanimous consent was
given to set aside May list and I'd for
the consideration of the Nicaraguan ca
nal bill Mr.. Hepburn, chairman of the
committee in charge, said tnat one DAY
would be given for general debate and
one for amendment under the 11Ve-mlnute
rule.
A bill was passed to establish terms of
courts at Newberry and Elizabeth City,
n. C.
The postoffice appropriation bill, carry
ing SIZE. 49,, 500 was then taken up. Chair
man Loud, of the committee. explained
its provisions.
.e1Yill not the increase of half a mil
lion for pneumatic tube service involve
millions in the near future?' asked MT.
Moody, of Massachusetts.
s@That is about it, replied Mr.. Loud
.sI warned the House this would be the
case
He declared his opinion to be that the
tube system could not be successfully
and economically administered
81 hope to Cod said he, that Con-
,,-;n c.fr 1crfb mr. wisdom
to prevent the government from embark
ing in any more enterprises than 1t is
now in
Mr.. Norton, of South Carolina who fol-
lowed Mr.. Loud. took advantage OF the
latitude allowed in general debate to de-
liver an hours speech on the subject OF
the conditions in the South. He replied
to some of the structures on the South,
showing that the South had proportion
ately= spent more for education than some
| of the States of the North. He described
the wonderful strides of the South in ma
| terial wealth. and predicted glori-
| Gus future for the southland.
MAIL RATES.
Mr.. Bell, of Colorado, attacked the ex-
orbitant compensation paid the railroads
| for carrying the mails, which averaged 8
| cents per pound. The express rate from
| Boston to Chicago, he said. was less than
| / cent per pound. Why should the gov
ernlnent pay more? Since 1878 railroad
rates had decreased So per cent and pas
! senger rates II Ii per cent, but the rate
| for carrying the mails had remained un-
| changed. A reduction Of . per cent IN
| railroad transportation, he said, would
wipe out the postal deficit and create a
| surplus.
! Mr. Cromwell, of Ohio, opposed the ex-
| tension of rural free delivery service, the
| pneumatic tube system and the special
railway mail facilities, but said he would
/ be surprised if combine OF the several
| interests did not prevail.
/ Mr. Gaines, OF Tennessee, discussed
questions relating. to the solution of the
/ trist problem, and Mr.. Sibley, OF Penn
| sylvania. concluded the debate for the
| day I'VE were engaged to-day. he
said, .in the commercial conquest of the
| world, and anything which expedited COM
1nunication, whether it was rural free de
| livery, fast mail service subsidies OF
pneumatic tube service, would command
| his SUPPORT.
AT o'clock the House adjourned.