The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-18
PNEUMATIC TUBE SERVICE.
OFFERED AS SENATE AMENDMENT
TO PosTOFFICE BILL.
The Project Meets Determined OPP
position From senator Wolcott
and as Warm support From Mason
Plat VIII Reply TO Bacon.

WASHINGTON, May 1.-THE post
Office appropriation bill was considered
in the senate today. The committee
amendment for the extension of the
pneumatic tube service created some de-
bate and was under discussion when the
measure was laid aside for the day. Mr..
Wolcott, chairman OF the committee on
postoffices and post roads. vigorously at
tackled the committee proposition TO APP
propriate 900 for pneumatic tube serv-
ice, declaring the extension of the serv-
ice was unnecessary and the appropria-
ton a waste of money.
Mason quite as vigorously supported
. the proposition. An amendment by But
Ter to reduce. by ten per cent, the amount
to be paid the railroads for the transport
alton OF mails was rejected, II TO Al.
The senate today agreed 10 further
conference on the District Of Columbia
appropriation bill conference was
agreed to on the naval appropriation Dill
and Hale, Perkins and Tflman were
named as conferees. A bill was passed
granting a pension TO General Robert g
Dyrenforth of $50 per month. Jones Of
fered and had adopted a resolution call
Ing on the secretary Of war to inform the
senate how many Filipinos have been
killed and wounded since the beginning
of hostiities, how many have been cap
tured and are now in our possession. a
bill was passed for refunding certain
moneys Illegally assessed and collected
IN the district of Utah.
Platt. chairman of the committee on re-
lations with cuba, said he would seek an
earlv opportunity to reply 10 the speech
Bacon delivered yesterday, not In oppo-
sition to the resolution, but to correct
some statements made by Bacon.
Wolcott called up the postoffice appropri-
alton bill and it's reading for amendments
was begun
A committee amendment was agreed to
providing that In case the postmaster gen
ernl shall rent cencelling machines and
motors. he shall pay therefor, as an an
nual rental, a sum not exceeding 10 per
cent. OF the cost thereof.
Pneumatic Tube Matter.
When the committee amendment APP
propriatlng $4,000 for mail transportation
by pneumatic tubes was reached, Wolcott
asked that Il be passed over, as II was GER
tain to create much discussion He said
he differed from the committee on the
proposition. Wolcott also said he opposed
the Southern fast mail subsidy and the
subsidy for the carrying of mail between
Kansas CITY and Newton. Kan. No post
master general. he said. has recommended
the subsidies.
A committee amendment struck out
part Of the paragraph relating to the rail-
way mail service and provided for i,632
clerks at 81 200 each 3,6o5 clerks at 81 900
each, and 1887 clerks at $500 each. The
final section OF the bill was senate COM
mlttee amendment, providing for the con-
tlnuance OF the commission to investigate
the question whether or not excessive
prices are paid to the railroads for the
transmission OF the mails.
Pettigrcw questioned the advisability of
continuing the commission, as II had not
yet made report upon any subject.
Compensat ton 10 Railroads.
wolcott chairman Of the commission.
made an explanation of the difficulties en-
countered by the commission In obtaining
the information desired. He said more
than 1900 printed pages of testimony mad
been taken by the commission, IN all parts
OF the country, and much Of II was very
valuable. An effort had been made to get
at fair hagia OF compensation for the
railroads. IL had been said by some that
1-cent letter postage could be reached, but
he did not think 50 per cent. OF the mail
matter of the country could he carried at
q small per cent, OF the cost and l-cent let
ter postage adopted az the same time. lie
thought by tho end OF the present year
the commission would be prepared to se-
port OF the $1,000 appropriated for ne
committee, $500 was stlll In hand, ecGlse-
quentiy there had been no waste OF tho
public money In the unfinished state II
the commissioners work he thought 10
man could submit a fair report or "A log
ieal pan for the compensation ~ the :all-'
roads. No man wanted TO pay them more
than they deserved and none lcss than
they earned.
cau@e he said 1t stood In he way OF re-
duCing the compensation of the railroads
by at least si5,0aa,ea a year. Tho amend
meat was passed over temporarily.
Butler offered an amendment reducing
the amount appropriated by the bill for
railroad transportation Of the mails from
SaNi0l0e % ST.. $4,000 and directing the
postmaster general 20 reduce the COM
pcnsation 10 he paid railroads from and
after July I, 1917. Tor the transportation
of mails by no least 10 per cent per an
mum from the present rate,
Butler and PettiHrew's Nagnries,
Hutlcr said he proposed again 10 submit
facts which no had presented 20 the SEM
ate three or four tunes before as 60 the
excessive cost OF Transporting the nttils.
lie believes the postal commission which
THIS bill sought Go continue WAS scheme
&C. deinS reduction 81 the cost OF trans
porting uiAils I'm brief reply 10 Butler
aud lvtuErcw. Wolcou characterized
some of thVir statements nR wild va
carries which would hc regarded as pre-.
roeterous if tbey had not fallen from the
hps 81 rap eHusEFFHtiNe statesman as the
Ciay said that simply 80 name the sem
ate members 81 tho postal commission.
Senators W0lcutt Allison, Chandler and
Martin NOT 90 mention che house mym-
hera MesNrs t.oud Moody, Catthiugs
and Flrming--was Is suF1etcut rrfuAtiun
az any charges against the commission
The amendment ur hatler Was frl-.,-
"a hN 10 to %. The committee anne nd
r,,e,i extending thc HE of thc us-Id
commission WAS agreed 90 without d,s-
cuesteu
Itotiyr maao point az order against the
committee amendment appropriations StHH.-
poe fov t'ir transmission 81 mail bl preu-
matte tuhrs ou tNc ground That So Wat
new lsEtsiatiar. HH1 enc point was uNtr-
ruled hv jhc chairman.
Web-att spoke lu opposition 60 the
amendment The e,uice Neirrtt Ie-
ciarcd had made 81 rav.us 20 neither cX-
peuse nor OF aruseriHn,c time iu Now
YORK the wagon service actually hnA
been Increased since the purumAuc
tlbes bad beer Pu' in
Woicott declared the pneumatic tube
reopie had "swarnlgd th. senate errri-
aors an wluier uke bees n hiyinS upe.
ThvV did nat want merfiN tDc E4. nan
necessary to Support lte pre~e9t serve
tee. bat they wanted the Hrtt'o1a! APP
propr}afion ot Sfa0,oWA'
"a. rnfnefF otsF that fEr rruHlHHF cone