Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-05-18
By Telegraph to virginian-Pilot3

OBy Telegraph to Virginian- Pilot.)
Washington, May 17-During practi-
cally the entire session of the Senate
today the postonice appropriation bill
was under consideration. The measure
was read and all OF the committed
amendments were agreed to, except
that relating to the extension OF The
pneumatic tube service This created
some debate. and was being discussed
when the measure was laid aside for
the day. Mr.. Wolcott, chairman OF the
Committee on Possibilities and Post
Roads. vigorously attacked the commit
tees proposition to appropriate $4,000
for the pneumatic tube service, declar-
ing the extension Of the service was
unnecessary ana the appropriation q
waste OF public money. Mr.. Macon CID
quite as vigorously supported the prop
osition. The amendment of Mr.. Butler
On. c. 10 reduce by 10 per cent the
amount TO be paid tile railroads for the
transportation OF mail WAS rejected, ii
to Al.
4 conference was agreed on the naval
appropriation hill. and MIR. Hale GleD.
Mr.. Perkins (CaD and Mr.. Tlllman IS
CO were named as cunferces.
MIR. JONES RESOLUTION
Mr. Jones (Ark) offered ana had
adopted q resolution calling upon the
Secretary Of War to inform the Senate
how many Filiplnos have been killed
and wounded since the beginning Of
hostilities. aud also how many have
been captured ana are now in our pos
Session
MIR. wolcot. (Colo.) called up the
postofllcc appropriation bill, aud its
reading for amendment was begun
When the committee amendment. APP
propriating $3.50 600 for the mail trans
poitation by pneumatic tubes, was
reached. Mr.. WoIcott asked that it be
passed over. as il was certain to create
much discussion. lie said he differed
from the committee on the proposition.
MIR. Wolcott also said he opposed the
Southern fast mail subsidy ana the sub
Fldy Tor the carrying Of mail between
Kansas city and Newton. Kas No
Postmaster-Gen he said had ever
recommended the subsidies.
y committee amendment struck out n
part of the paragraph relating to the
railway mail service aud provided for
1.G"2 clerks at 81 200 each, 3,605 clerks at
1000 each and .9S7 clerks at $500 each.
The iina! section of the bill was n
Senate committee amendment provid-
ing FOR the continuance of the COM
missiop 10 investigate the question
to the raiiroad companies for the rr7r7.---
poftalion OF mails and as q. compcnsa-
tlon FOR postal car service and all
sources Of revenue ana all expenditures
or the Postal service.
MY. Nolcott. chairman Of the com
mittee. eXDlaincd the difficulties en-
counterpd
Mr.. Pettigrew opposed the contin-
uahce or tho commission. he said. be-
cause 1t stood in the way OF reducing
me compensation of the railroads by at
least $l5,O00,ooO n year
BUTLER'S AMENDMENT.
MI Butler, Of North Carolina offered
an amendment reducing The op,ount
appropriated by the bill for railway
transportation of the mails from ss3
S.o.vVO 10 SS0iS3'00O: and directing the
Postmaster-Gcneral 10 readiust the
compensation 10 be paid from ana = ftnr
July l. 1900. for the transrortation of
mails on railway routes by reducing tho
compensation to all railroad communities
Tor the transportation Of mails nj 1eaet
10 per cent. per annum from the nrase
ent rate. ~
Discussing his amendments Mr. Pr.
Ter said he proposed again 70 suh|,,t+
facts which he had presented to tho
senate three or four times before as IN
the excessive cost OF transporting the
mails. He believed the Postal Commits
SiOii, "b'tH tilS Diil sought To NOntiune
was scheme to delay the reduction ~
the cost OF transporting mail Mr.. Pct
tigrew spoke in support Of the Butler
amendment.
Mr. Wolcott characterized some of tn,
statements of Mr. Butler and Mr.. Pet
tigrew as wild vagaries" which would
be regarded as 'prcposterous if they
had not fallen from the lips OF so con-
sentative a Statesman as the Senator
from Month Carolina"
Mr.. Clay (Ga.) resented the attack
made by Mr.. Butler and Mr.. Pettigrew
upon the Postal Commission. He de-
clared simply to name the Senate mem
bers of the commimee-Senators VOL
colt. Allison. Chandler and Martin, not
10 mention the House members. Mcssrs.
Loud Moody Catchinss and Fleming
was a sufficient REPUTATION of any
charges against them.
The amendment Of Mr.. Butler was re-
jected, II to Al.
The committee amendment extending
the life of the Postal Commission was
then agreed to without division.
The committee amendment appro-
priating $4,000 for the transportation
of mail by pneumatic tubes was taken
up. Mr.. Butler made n point of order
against the amendment, that 1t was
new legislation and in violation of the