The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-26
STRICKEN FROM THE BILL
Successful Opposition TO the Pneu-
matte Tube Nail Service.
The House. in Committee of the
Whole, Takes Adverse Action on
the Proposed Appropriation of
Ss25.O0o - Charges Made by Mr.
Moody-RaiIvay Mail Clerks Pay.

|
by vote of 81 to So the House yes
terday, in Committee of the Whole, struck
out of the Postofice Appropriation bill tie
item of S725, 600 for the continuance and
extension of the pneumatic tube service
nov in operation in Boston, New York,
Brooklyn. and Philadelphia.
The principal speech against the ap-
preparation was made by Mr. Moody who
| is a member of the commission appointed
to investigate the postal service. He at
tackled methods of management Of the
Pneumatic Tube Company of New York
| and related several incidents that were
not Of a creditable nature. He said that
| if the attention of the House were fully
: directed to the appropriation lit would die
the death of dog, as it ought to do
The paragraph appropriating for the
/ salaries of officials and employees of the
railway mail service was the subject of
a two hours debate, in which Messrs.
| Tawney of Minnesota Cummings of New
| York and Loud of California, in charge of
the bill, made the principal speeches. The
| paragraph reported made an increase in
] pay Of about 5000. 900. Mr.. Tawney offered
| a substitute, making a reclassificdtfon OF
the service, increasing the pay over the
amount carried in the bill about 81 200 600.
| At the end of the discussion the substi-
| tute was ruled out of order and the House
adjourned.
The Bill Taken Up.
The House at 1890 o'clock resolved itself
into Committee of the Whole, with Mr.
Dalzell in the chair Consideration was
then resumed of the Postoffce Appropria
;ion bill The pending paragraph was that
appropriating for the pneumatic tube
! service Mr.. Little OF Arkansas re-
served a point of order against the item.
He said that the Pneumatic tube service
added so little to the acceleratioH of the
mail and it's continuance and extension
would not be wise. For some parts of the
tube. said Mr.. Little the Government was
paying So a foot and for eight and a half
miles S225, Geo. II 1t were extended to the
cities of the country generally the cost
would amount TO millions. Only irst-class
matter was handled In the tubes and OF
that it handled bat so per cent.
Mr.. Mann of Illinois said the pneumatic
| tube service was of value and interest pri-
marily to the cities and he said ii was but
fair that they should have their part of
the experimental service of the Depart
ment. On Tuesday the House voted
81, $50, ,O00 for rural free delivery and no one
objected The city of Chicago paid over
SO, ,00O, COO into the Treasury from its net
postal receipts and it needed the tube
service. Not so much, he said. to trans
NIT the mails from the central office tc
the railroad stations and vice versa but to
the branch stations, especially to the stock
yards which now requires from an hour
and half to two hours each way.
Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts. who said
that if the House took the step proposed
in the BILL and increased the appropria-
tions half million dollars, it would not
be a question of half a million dollars
only. but of many millions added annually
in the near future, to be added to the ex-
penditure for postal service. Mr.. Moody
declared with great force and earnestness
that there seemed to be no sentiment in
the Horse or out Of it. for the economical
administration of public affairs. Sixteen
hundred million dollars appropriated in the
last Congress. and every Department
is knocking at the doors. Of, Congress for
its part Of the increase OF public expen-
ditures" ne said.
The speaker reviewed briefly the history
of the appropriation for pneumatic tube
service, which began with a tentative $40
900 appropriation in 1888. 1t appeared next
in 1896. while Mr.. Wilson was Postmaster
General and Charles Nelson Second AS
sistant Postmaster General, when $35, 900
was inserted in the bill. The subsequent
history Mr. Moody said, was malodorous
throughout.
Replying TO a suggestion by Mr.. Little of
Arkansas, Mr.. Moody said that if the at
tention of the House could be directed to
the facts in the case the appropriation
would die the death of a dog as it ought
to do"
Testimony of MiihoIiand.
Mr.. Moody quoted from the testimony OF
John E. Mlholland. representing the New
York Pneumatic Tube Company. taken by
the postal committee in 1898. MilholIand
said that shortly after Nelson retired
from the office of Second Assistant Post
master General the company made an ar
rangement with him by which for $1,000
cash and $4,000 in the companys stock
he represented the company for year at
Washington. What service he could rem
der the company in that position. Mr..
Moody said. he could not imagine. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Moody said:
THE commission found that the tubes
in New York had been laid by contractors
who took for their pay stock and bonds of
the company, whose sole value was found
ed upon the contracts OF the company with
the United States. And it was with
sense of shame that We found that large
part of the stock and bonds was owned
by a member OF the Committee on Appro-
priations"
Mr.. Livingston OF Georgia-Does the tes-
tiInOny disclose his name7
Mr.. Moody-Yes
Mr.. Livingston-Then name him.
MIR. Moody won't do il.
Continuing, Mr.. Moody said that a block
of the company's stock was sent as a New
Years present to a relative OF a promi-
nent member OF the House. And ! am
glad 10 say that the return mail was not
permitted to leave Washington without
carrying with it that dishonoring and dis
honorable gift. And that is the kind OF
transaction which you are asked to eX-
tend"
The tube service. Mr.. Moody said was
in the hands of two companies only. and
if they got the contracts desired the prob
ability was that they would combine.
Shaking his head Mr.. Moody said: Don't
come here talking humbug about trusts il !
you are willing to set this one on its |
feet" Concluding, he said that if the |
pneumatic tube service were TO be extend |
ed ii should be done by the United States |
and an extra charge made for its use. An |
attorney lor the tube company had told |
the committee that in his opinion the |
United States could establish a system |
without infringing any patents now out
standing. Warning the House against the |