The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-19
TUBE SERVICE DISCUSSED
Thc Debate Continues for Four
Hours in the Senate.
Consideration of the Amendment to
the POstofiicc Bill ApprOprintinE
of Handling the Mails-Thc PrOpo-
sition Attacked and Defended.


The Senate yesterday resumed the con-
sideration of the PostofIice Appropriation
bill, and after arguing for four hours the
matter went over until today. The amend
ment apprcpriating S725,000 for the pneu-
matte tube service was under discussion
all day, and Messrs. Mason, Tillman, Hale,
Chandler, Allison, Wolcott, Carter, Well
against this item.
Mr.. Mason made long address, favor
ing the pneumatic tube system, and espe-
| cially advocating it for Chicago.
He wound up with compliment to Mr..
Milholland, who had taken hold Of the
| invention and made 1t great success.
| There had been no cloud, he said, upon
| Mr.. Milholland's character except by "men
who assassinate character and assassinate
reputation to keep their friends driving
| wagons and drawing pay
Mr.. Allison, Chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations, said that he had no
| doubt of the value of the invention but
still it was a fact that it did not dispense
with the general distribution of mail mat
ter by wagon. He was opposed to any in
crease of the pneumatic tube service; but
favored an appropriation to carry out eX-
isting contracts. He. regarded the FRO
posed extension of the system as extrava-
gance and waste of public money.
Favored by Mr.. Chandler.
Mr.. Chandler argued in favor Of the
amendment, and said that it should be
adopted without much cavil. 1t left the
question entirely to the judgment of the
Postmaster General. Should the Senate
take a retrograde movement, and have
that swift service arrested? For his part
he was an advocate of the extension of
the pneumatic tube service. He secuted
Mr.. Allisons prediction that the cost
would run up to several millions year.
This will be step forward. as the au-
tomobile was a step forward said he.
THE Postofiice Department has tried the
system and has found it to be successful.
The world does move in spite of the Sena-
tor from Iowa and we ought to keep pace
with it,
Il would like to make suggestion that
We amend the amendment by having the
Government construct the tube service
said Mr.. Tillman. IF the tubes are prop
erly constructed they will never wear
out"
mo more will South Carolina mule"
added Mr.. Chandler.
mo. nor South Carolina niggeri" said
Mr.. Tillman.
why does the Senator from South
Carolina always bring colored people into
Ills speeches." said Mr.. Chandler. HE
makes me tired
Mr.. Tillman's Questions.
Mr. Tiilman injected question as 20
why the Postmaster General SHOULD not
be authorized to have the work done for
the Government instead of paying every
year as much for the use of the pneumatic
tubes as their laying would cost.
THE Senator from South Carolina" Mr.
Chandler said, tires himself and makes
other people tired by the speeches which
he interpolates into the remarks of other
Senator's
Mr.. Ffllman drew near to where Mr..
Chandler stood, the latter drew back. get |
ting farther away from the South Carolina |
Senator to the amusement Of Senators and |
spectators. AS Mr. Tillnan retired the |
Senator from New Hampshire came for
ward with a comedy air, as If he felt him
self out of danger and went on with his |
argument in favor of the amendment. MI. |
Wolcott asked him whether he meant 10
Intimate that railroad companies were OPP
posing the pneumatic tube service. iii' ~
Il believe" Mr.. Chandler replied, that
service extended
Mr.. Hale spoke of the opportunities
brought to bear in the past to have the |
number of daily deliveries of mail in the
great cities increased. At first three daily
deliveries had been increased'to four, then
to FIVE, then to six, and now. every hour of
the business day, the banker, the broker. !
The merchant, and the retailer has his mail
brought to him. Finally, seven daily de-
liveries had to be allowed in the great
titles.
"And the next thing that confronted Con-
yress was the demand for pneumatic tubes.
L will DO good once in while for the Sen
tie" said Mr.. Hale, ito stand up against
hese things. 1t will be strengthening of
he Senate in the country, If 1t opposes this
scheme. 1t is pure case Of importantly
md / protest against 1t.
Mr.. Wellington argued for the amend |
nent and asked why. If the pneumatic tube ,
service was good for New York, it was
lot also good for Chicago and Baltimore
Mr. Carter also spoke in support of the
amendment, which, he said, had had the
support of all the members of the Post
,fIice Committee except two. There was a |
vide difference of opinion. he said, be- :
ween the committee and its chairman (Mr.
NoIcotU and that difference did not re-
lect credit on the Senator from Colorado.
\ proposition that nad been so Vlclously
nd numerically assailed by that Senator,
lot with facts and figures, but with pom {
erous defamation, had been approved
With unvarying regularity by the POST s
fiice Department: for the past three years. !
Mr.. Carter gave a synopsis of the plans
( the pneumatic tube companies which en- ]
,raced. he said, service to twenty-seven I
tiles of over 100, 600 inhabitants, beginning
With New York. Those cities he said, s
ielded &c per cent Of the total postal rev. I
nues and net profit Of SO, 491 GOO a year. {
The cost of the plant was estimated at I
80 COO, o0O, and it was proposed to give the
ervice at 10 per cent-which was. in view '
the large deterioration of such property, l
very small rate of compensation. He | !
tated that the use of pneumatic tubes I
irgely interfered with Geographic business
4 cities, giving as an illustration the fact Q
hat a letter posted at the Battery in New q
'ork would reach its address in Harlem
efore a telegram sent from the Field
uilding. '
Mr.. Lodge, while expressing his desire |
Dr. an extension of the pneumatic tube G
ervice said that he could not vote for a