The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-24
MANY millions ASKED
The Postoffice Appropriation Bill
Before the House.
Under Considerations Committee of
the WhoIe-The Pneumatic Tube
Observation-Disclosures of CompcnSn-
ton of Railroads Advocated.

ton of Railroads Advocated
| The Postoffice Appropriation bill, which
was reported on April 2, was called up in
the House at 12:45 o'clock yesterday by
Representative Loud Of California, Chair
man of the Committee on Postofiices and
| Postroads Mr.. Loud asked that general
debate close on the bill during the day,
| and that two hours be allowed for debate
| on each of the two contested propositions,
/ the pneumatic tube system and the special
| facility feature and that ons hour under
| the fve-minute rule, should be given TO the
consideration of the section relating to the
| railway postal service. 1t was so ordered
The House resolved itself into Committee
of the Whole. with Mr.. Dalzell in the chair,
and Mr. Loud addressed the committee on
the bill
The bill recommends an appropriation of
s11S. 934, SOO.75, or s3,l57 ,O0O.75 more than
the estimate. The sum recommended by
the committee is IS ,307, 662 more than the
appropriation for the current year, which
amounted to s105 627, 1875.
The committee has continued the policy
adopted at the last session of Congress OF
segregating the clerk hire appropriation
in such manner as to appropriate specihcal-
ly for the number of clerks provided for
in each class. 1t has also further segre-
gated assistant postmasters from the item
providing for clerks.
Increase for Clerk Hire.
The apparent increase for clerk hire is
but 1855. 500 more than the appropriation
for the current year, but to such increase
must be added 81 900, the amount APP
proprated for salaries of assistant post
masters, which has been segregated as
noted above. This gives real increase In
the clerk hire account of 81, 667, 500, about
one-half of which is for increased salaries
of clerks and the balance for increased
service. All of the increase allowed for
salaries of clerks is within the present
law, excepting the allowance for one audi
tor at the city of Chicago at $4,000 per
annum which is new office.
The amount appropriated for rural free
delivery service is 81, 900, an increase
of 81 450. coo over the amount carried in the
last appropriation bill.
The committee has segregated the items
for railway mail clerks in a, similar man
ner to that made in the postoffice clerks
account. In such segregation there is APP
propriated directly for the general super
tendent. one chief clerk, Office OF general
superintendent, division superintendent,
assistant division superintendent, and as
sstant superintendent, who have hereto
fore been paid out of the railway mail
transportation fund no specific allowance
ever having been made for these officials
before. The assistant superintendent, in
fact did not seem to be provided for by
law, but had been denominated as
s.I, 10 .1I1 doc ,rrrat Ion
for postofice inspectors and were paid
the same salary and allowances that post
Office inspectors received. In 1884 the limit
of salary for railway mail clerks had been
reduced from 81, 400 to 81, 800 per annum.
The bill in a measure restores the sala-
ries paid such clerks prior to the date of
reduction. These salaries are within the
limit provided by law. The bill however.
increases the salaries OF assistant division
superintendent from 81, 600 to $500 and
chief clerks In charge of lines from 81, 400
TO 81 500 per annum.
The bill provides for ten inspectors at
salary OF s2,25O per annum, without per
diem. which is new legislation; but the
committee believed il wise for the reason
that 1t was deemed necessary by the Post
office Department to have at least ten OF
the best inspectors located at headquar-
tiers with salary equal to that received
by postoffice inspectors in the field. All
inspectors in the field receive a per diem
of 81. and these new inspectors will re-
ceive no per diem whatever. II is assumed
that the salaries of all will be about the
same.
Outside of the items referred to above,
the bill is similar to the usual appropria-
tion bill giving but the average increases
for the increase of service.
The committee has increased the item
for pneumatic tube service from S225, 600
to s725. COO. The committee has again rec
commended the sum of 1896, rs for spe-
cial fast mail facilities, in accordance with
the usual custom.
Questions for Mr.. Loud
Mr. Moody of Massas husetts and Mr..
Hepburn asked Mr.. Loud a numter Of
questions concerning the provisions of
the bill increasing the appropriations for
pneun,atic-tube service from s225, 00O to
s725, COO. Mr.. Moody asked if the Chair
man of the Committee on Postcffices ard
Postroads believed that the increased
expenditure was wise in view of the deficit
in the postal revenues. Mr.. Loud said he
had opposed the service from the very
threshold. lie believed the House should
stop short or go further ahead He hoped
that God in his infinite wisdom would give
the House strength to prevent the coun-
try from embarking in other similar en-
terprises.
Mr. Moody asked: rs 1t not true that
in those countries where the pneumatic
tube is in use the tube service is owned
by the Government and extra postage is
required for the transmission of mails .
through the tubes?'
Mr.. Loud-That is true.
Mr.. Mann wanted to know if the tubes
He thought the same system should he .
that the evidence offered by the Depart
ment did not show the dispatch of the
mails was greatly expedited by the serv-
ice In reply to Mr.. Moody he said that {
in Europe nothing sent through the
tubes except kilograms and special deliv- !
cry letters. -l
He thought the same system should be
adopted here. as he did not think the
bulky mail, transported at low rates, /
could be successfully and economically
administered through the pneumatic tubes.
He opposed the postal telegraph system.
Mr.. Hepburn asked how much OF the
increase of 81 100000 could be used for
third and fourth class postoffices. Mr.. q
Loud said there was no change in the law
which prohibited the allowance of clerk !