The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-22
CONSUMES ALMOST ENTIRE SESSION
OF THE SENATE.
THE PNEUMATIC TUBE SERVICE
This Committee Amendment Dis.
cussed at Length and Passed Over.
All Other Committee Amendments
Agreed to-Secretary OF Wan Asked
for Information as to Number of Fill
pinos Killed, Wounded and Captured.
House Passes River and Harbor Bill
SENATE.

VI LIZ j.
today the postoffice appropriation bill
was under consideration The measure
was ead and all Of the
amendments ere agreed to, except
that relating to the extension of the
pneumatic tube service. This created
some debate n was being discussed
when the measure was laid aside for
the day.
A conference was agreed to on the
naval appropriation bill.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, offered
an had adopted a resolution calling
upon the secretary of war to inform
the senate how many Filipinos have
been killed and wounded since the be-
ginning of hostilities; and also how
many have been captured and are
now in u possession.
Senator Wolcott, of Colorado, called
up the postoffice appropriation bill and
its reading for amendment was begun.
When the committee amendment ap-
propriating $3.50, 900 for mail ~transpor-
tation by pneumatic tubes vas reach
ed Senator Wolcott asked that it be
passed over as it was certain to create
much discussion. He said he differed
from the committee On the proposition.
He also said he opposed the southern
fast mail subsidy and the subsidy for
the carrying of mail between Kansas
City and Newton, Kansas. No post
master general, he said, had ever rec
commended the subsidies.
A committee amendment struck out
a part Of the paragraph relating to the
railway mail service and provided for
1852 clerks at $1,000 each; 9,605 clerks
at $1,000 each and 1887 clerks at 5000
each.
The final section of the bill was a
senate committee amendment prOvid-
ing for the continuance of the COM
mission to investigate the question
whether or not excessive prices are
paid to the railroad companies for the
transportation of mails and as a COM
~penSatiOn for postal a service, and
all sources of ven and all expendi-
lures of the postal service.
Senator Butler offered an amend
ment reducing the amount appropriate
ed by the bill for railway transporta-
ton of the mails from s33, $40, 900 to
$50, 4S3, 900, and directing the postmas-
ter general to readjust the compensa-
ton to be paid from n after July
l, 1900, for the transportation of mails
ON railway routes by reducing the
compensation to all railroad companies
for the transportation Of mails at
least 10 per cent. per annum from the
present rate.
Discussing his amendment, Mr.. But
Ter said he proposed again to submit
facts which he had presented to the
senate three or o times before as
to the excessive cost of transporting
the mails. He believed the postal COM
mission which this bill sought to o
tinue was a scheme to delay the re-
duction of the o S of transporting
mail.
Senator Pettigrew spoke in support
of the Butler amendment.
Senator Wolcott characterized some
of the statements of Senators Butler
and Pettigrew as wild vagaries"
which o be regarded as "prepos-
ferrous if they had not fallen from the
lips of so conservative a statesman as
the senator from North Carolina"
Senator Clay, of Georgia, resented
the attack made by Senators Butler
and Pettigrew upon the postal COM
mission.
The amendment of Senator Butler
was rejected-11 to Al.
The committee amendment extending
the life Of the postal commission was
then agreed to without division.
The committee amendment appropri-
ating $3.50, 900 for the transmission of
mail by pneumatic tubes was taken
up. Senate Butler made q. point of
order against the amendment that it
vas new legislation and in violation
of the existing law. The point of Or
der was overruled by the chair fSen-
ator Frye)
Senator Wolcott addressed the sem
ate in opposition to the amendment.
He said the entire scheme of sending
mail by pneumatic tubes was covered
by patents except the hole in the
-o,,- n.I fhof bod 10 ho nhfoino6
from the municipal authorities. The
scheme, too was a monopoly and the
service in New York, Brooklyn, Boston
and Philadelphia was very limited.
The cost in the four cities for the
service varied greatly, n the ser
vice saved neither expense nor appre-
ciable time.
Senator Mason made an extended re-
ply to Senator Wolcott. He presented
petitions and~ memorials from trade
and commercial bodies in Chicago de-
manding the service, n declared
every postoffice department official ia
vored the extension Of the service.
At 4:40 O'Clock p. m. the senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house today passed a special
river and harbor bill, carrying $780,
600. for surveys and emergency work
and devoted the remainder of the day
to the Alaskan code bill. Very little
of the three hours debate was peril
nent to the measure General debate
was closed and four pages of the Gil
pages of the bill were disposed of be-
fore adjournment.
When Mr.. Burton, chairman Of the
river and harbor committee. asked for
unanimous consent to consider the bill
he announced a real river and harbor
bill would be brought in early in the
mex session.
Mr.. Southland, of Ohio, objected, and
thereupon on Mr.. Burton's motion,
the house went into committee of the
whole to consider it. After some un-
important debate, the committee rose
and the bill was passed.
The Alaskan code bill was hen taken
up. In the ensuing three hours gener-
al debate with leave to print Mr.. w.
E. Williams, of Illinois, discussed the
Philippine question; Mr.. Shattuc, of
Ohio, made a general resume of indus
/ trial conditions to show hat the pres
emit administration had lifted the coun-
try out of the slough Of dependency
and had brought it to the high water
marx of n~rOSneritV