The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-18
ENDMENT BY BUTLER
Would Reduce by 10 Per Cent Cost Of
Mail Transportation.
The AMENDMENT IS REJECTED II TO 4l
Conference Over The Naval Appropriation Bill
Agreed To. Postofiice Bill Laid Aside
With the Pneumatic Tube Service
(Iluse Not Acted On.
(By the Associated Press.)

Washington, May 17.-During practi-
day the Postoffice Appropriation Bill was
under consideration. The measure was
read and all of the committee amend
ments 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.. VOL
cott Chairman Of the Committee on
PosToffces and Post Roads. vigorously
attacked the committee proposition to ap-
propriate $3.50 900 for the pneumatic tube
service declaring the extension o. the
service was unnecessary and the appro-
priation waste of public money. Nr.
Mason Ulls.). quite as vigorously sup
ported the proposition. The amendment
Of Mr. Butler On. c.. to reduce by
10 per cent the amount to be paid the
railroads for the transportation of mail
was rejected II to Al.
A conference was agreed to on the
Naval Appropriation Bill and Mr.. Hale
(Me.). Mr.. Perkins tCal), and Mr.. Till
man (S. c., were named as confereea.
Nj Jones (Ark.), offered and had
adopted a resolution calling upon the
Secretary of War 20 inform the Senate
how many Filipinos have been killed and
wounded since the beginning Of hostilities,
and also how many have been captured
and are now in our possession.
MIR. Wolcott (Colo), called up the
Postoffice Appropriation Bill and it's read
ing for amendment was begun.
When the committee amendment appro
priating $3.50 900 for mail transportation
by pneumatic tube was reached. Mr.. VOL
colt asked that it be passed over as it
was certain to create much discussion.
He said he differed from the committee
on the proposition Mr.. Wocott also said
he opposed the Southern fast mail SUBJ
sidy and the subsidy for the carrying
OF mail between Kansas City and Newton.
Kansas. No Postmaster General, he said,
had ever recommended the subsidies.
committee amendment struck out a
part of the paragraph relating to the rail-
way mail service and provided for 1852
clerks at 81 200 each; 3,605 clerks at ST.
600 each and 1887 cerl; at $500 each.
The final section OF the bill was Sem
ate committee amendment providing for
the continuance Of the commission 10
investigate the question whether or not
excessive prices are paid to the railroad
companies for the transportation of mails
and as a compensation for postal car ser
vice and all sources of revenue and all
expenditures of the postal service.
Mr. Wolcott. chairman of the commit
tee. explained the difficulties encoun-
tered.
Mr.. Pettigrew opposed the continuance
of the commission, he said, because it
stood in the way CT reducing the compen-
sation of the railroads by at least $15,-
coo, 900 a year.
Mr.. Butler On. Co. offered an amend
ment reducing the amount appropriated
by the bill for railway transportation of
the mails from $50, $40, 900 to $780, 4S3, 900
and directing the Postmaster General to
readjust the compensation to be paid from
and after July 1st, 1900 for the trans
portation of mails On railway routes by
reducing the compensation to all railroad
companies for the transportation of mails
at least ten per cent per annum from
the present rate.
Discussing his amendment Mr.. Butler
said he proposed again to submit facts
which he had presented to the Senate
three or four times before as to the ex
cessiye cost of transporting the mails. He
believed the Postal Commission which this
bill sought to continue was a scheme to
delay the reduction of the cost of trans
porting mail. Mr.. Pettigrew spoke in
support Of the Butler amendment
Mr. Wolcott characterized some of the
statements OF Mr.. Butler and Mr. Petit
grew as wild vagaries," which would be
regarded as "preposterous if they had not
fallen from the lips of so conservative a
statesman as the Senator from North Car
DINA"
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 ommittee-Senators VOL
cott, Allison, Chandler and Martin not to
mention the House members -Messrs.
Loud, Moody, Catchings and Fleming, was
q sufficient refutation 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 appropriat-
ing SI50,000 for the transportation OF
mail by pneumatic tubes was taken up.
Mr.. Butler made point of order against
the amendment that it was new legisla-
ton and in violation of the existing law.