The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-27


the Postofce Appropriation bill for four
days, finally disposed of it, it being passed.
with a number of amendments. The Cnly
important one was that striking out the
appropriation Of 1928. 000 for the pneumatic
tube service. Two hours were devoted
TO a discussion Of the appropriations Tor
necessary and special fast mail facilities
from New York and Washington to Atlanta
and New Orleans aud from Kansas City
to Newton. Kan. with the result that the
items were retained.
without previous business the Appropri-
alton bill was taken up in Committee OF the
Whole. Mr.. Tawney OF Minnesota who on
wednesday failed 10 secure a general ad-
vance OF the salaries Of railway postal
clerks, by substituting for the provision
in the Appropriation bill the provisions OF
the general bill TO reclassify the railway
postal clerks moved to increase the sala-
ries Of 479 clerks Of Glass from 81 800 to
81 800. the salary allowed by the bin TO
74S clerks Of that class.
Mr.. Loud of California. iu charge Of the
bill, opposed the amendment on the ground
that the men did not an perform the same
service Mr.. Loud read a postal card print
ed for circulation among the clerks in the
railway mail service advising them to
stand firm for the reclassihcation proposed
on Wednesday. They were being sup
ported, the card stated. by Representative
Tawncy and Captain White. General Su-
perintendent Of the railway mail service.
These two. said MI Loud we're in league
10 secure a radical increase in the salaries
of postal employees. Captain White, Mr
Loud explained. wanted the men TO re-
ceive even larger salaries than Mr. Taw-
ney would suggest. II that amendment
were adopted. Mr. Loud said, the commit
tee would have opportunities to increase
the total Of the bill by $4,000, 0O0 Mr.
Tawney asked il the Postmaster General
had not recommended the passage Of the
reclassification bill
oh" responded Mr. Loud. in a per
functory way, without knowing what the
measure was. But I know that when I
went to the Postmaster General and told
him what his assistants were doing he was
paralyzed at the facts"
Mr. TawHey replied that the gentleman
had not given the name of the author Of the
card. He did not know him. Mr.. Tawney
said be had written a letter to a personal
friend in the railway mail service telling
him what they ought to do.
The amendment was advocated by Mr..
Fitzgerald Of Massachusetts,. Il was agreed
TO by vote Of So to 81.
Mr.. Little Of Arkansas moved to strike
out the appropriation OF SI7l 23S for eXpe-
diting the mails from New York and Wash
ington TO Atlanta and New Orleans. II was
lost-4l to SO. The same fate awaited MI
Littles motion to strike out the appropris-
tion Of $25 600 to expedite the mails from
Kansas City to Newton. Ksn.-32 to S5.
The paragraphs having been disposed OF,
denounce Mr.. Bromwell Of Ohio for stating
that Mr.. Dockery. for sixteen years a
Representative from Missouri took a deep
interest in the passage Of The Kansas City
Newton subsidy because he was part owner
OF newspaper in Kansas City.
Mr.. Cowherd said the statement was
absolutely unfounded. Mr. Dockery never
owned an interest in a Kansas City paper.
The statement in his opinion, was made to
influence a pending political contest. and 4
was unworthy Of gentleman represent
Ing constituency on the floor OF the
House.
Mr.. Bromweu warmly replied that he did
not know that Mr.. Dorkery was a candi-
date for any Office and did not know what
Office he wanted But Nr. Dockery had .
come 10 him when the subsidy was first I
before the House and begged him not to
DO anything to defeat the item and the ]
fact struck him as peculiar in view Of Mr.. /
Dockery's record on appropriation bills.
And when he enquired the reason Of Mr. I
Dockery's interest in the matter and mem /
bers of the House told him it was because
OF his (Mr. Dockery'sl interest in a news 4
paper. Mr. BromweU said he slpposed he 4
had right TO believe them.
Mr. Bartholdt OF Missouri-Did Mr.
Dockery ask you to support the subsidy2
Mr.. Bromwell-He did
Mr. Bartholdt-I asked because The gen
teman is likely to be the Democratic can /
didate for Governor Of my state.
Later Mr. Bromweli said that upon re-
Election in the cOolnegs following the heat
OF debate he desired 10 say that he had no I
intention Of making any charge that could /
be taken as reflection upon Mr Dockery. I
and he realized that it was not necessary I
FOR him to make an allusiOn TO that gen
tleman. He therefore asked hat all his 4
remarks about Mr.. Dockery be stricken 4
from the record. This was agreed to Also a
request by Mr Cowherd 10 strike out his
remarks. The incident closed with a tri-
butte to the character and record Of Mr.
Dockcry by Mr Hepburn. Of Iowa He had /
known Mr. Dockery during his service In 1
Congress, he said and knew as everyone
cid. that In his career here his actions
were all above reproach. No one ever left
Congress, said Mr. Hepburn followed bv
more general regret than Mr. D0ckerv.
An amendment offered by Mr. Mudd was
agreed to authorizing the Postmaster Cen
eral 10 eypend s20.000 for conducting the
postal service in Porto Rico in the months
OF May and June. 1900
Mr. Cummings Of New York had read an
appeal from the Merchants Association OF
New York. asking that the House recon
Eider its action in striking out The item
appropriating for the pneumatic tube ser
vice
The bill was then reported to the House
the amendments agreed TO. aud the bill
passed
Mr. Hopkins OF Illinois Chairman OF the
Committee on Census. called up the bill
to authorize the Director Of the Census
TO DO the preliminary printing in the bu-
reau. II also increased the salary Of the
Director to $500. and Of the supervisors
Of census by giving them > per cent OF
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