Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-26

Without preliminary business the
House resumed consideration OF the
postofftce appropriation bill. The item
approprlating s72A000 fer pneumatic
tube service, an increase OF $4,000 over
the appropriation for the current year.
was the subjec: OF over two hours de-
bate under the arrangements pre-
viously made.
MIR. Little, OF Arkansas. opposed the
pneumatic tube service which. he held.
was unnecessary and the charges for
the service in New York. he said, were
outrageously exorbitant. The govern
ment was paying $4,000 II mile rental
for siN-inch iron pipe beside the cost
of operating the machines.
MC. Moody, of Massachusetts, also
opposed the extension OF the tube SER
vice. II it was entered upon. he said
1t would add in the near future millions
TO the already swollen expenditures of
the poStofiice departments Using This
item as text MIR. Moody made an
urgent plea for retrenchmcnt in public
expenditures. Every branch OF the
public service, he said. was asking for
ITS share of the enormous revenues
which were being collected
HISTORY OF TUBE SERVICE.
Proceeding. Mr.. Moody assailed the
whole history Of the pneumatic tube
service.
1T is so malodorous from beginning
to end said he. that it should die
the death of dog"
Smoke the rascals out" cried MIR.
Little. and we on shis side of the
House will stay with you"
Mr.. Moody said 1t was not n pleasant
thing for him to exploit the scandal
''hieh had been uncovered by the pos tai
commission of which he was n member.
but he considered 1t his duty to do so
he declared that former Second AS
sistant Postmaster General Nelson
under whom the first experiments IN
the pneumatic tube service were made
when he retired accepted from the COM
pany $1,000 in cash and $4,000 in stock
for his services here during the sue
ceeding year What that service could
be, Mr.. Moody said, he could not ina
CINE. These facts, he said, had been
brought out by the commission. John l..
MIlhoiland, of New York. he said. was
the president of the tube company.
WORKING IN STOCK.
Mr.. Moody's next statement startled
the House and created Il sensation. The
tube service. ne said. had been CON
structed by contractors who took their
pay III stock and bonds. The only asset
OF the company WAS its contract with
tile Government.
Il regret to say continued Mr.. Moody
deliberately. that one OF the principa.
holders OF these stocks and bonds was
member of this House and member
oil the Committee on appropriations"
Give his name" shouted Mr. Living
ston. of Georgia.
VIII not" replied Mr.. Moody.
Then he added another sensational
statement to the effect that n large
block of the stock OF the concern had
been sent to Il near relative of n pro-
mincnt member of The House as a New
Years Gift.
But I am proud TO say" said Mr.
Moody, that the return mail carried
back that dishonorinE and dlshonor-
able gift"
When the applause that greeted this
statement had died out Mr.. Moody an
nealed to the House not TO endorse
This sort OF n transaction"
Mr. Moody disclaimed any intention
of rejecting upon the Postoffice Com
mittee, which he highly commended.
lie was especially glowing in his praise
or Mr. Loud, the chairman OF the COM
mittee. Mr. Moody said he had been
appealed to by commercial bodies OF
Boston to aid In the extension OF this
service. but he refused to close his eyes
To his duty In this matter. He charged
that companies in all the large cities
OF the country were preparing to raid
Congress in behalf of further extension
or the tube service.
Mr.. Bingham (Pennsylvanta) thought
In view of the disclosures of Mr. Moody
that the testimony which sustained
them should be printed in the record,
and with Mr.. Moodys assent 1t was
agreed TO place the testimony in the
record.
NOT A QUESTION OF MORALS.
Mr.. Bingham said that Congress was
not concerned with the question of
morals involved i'm an ex-Assistant
Postmaster General taking service with
a corporation, but with the question
whether the tube service was valuable
in expecting the mails. He earnestly
favored the extension of the service.
The Postmaster General, he said, had
said that this service could be eX-
tended to 81 cities for s2500.OO0 and for
compensation very reasonable"
Mr.. Cannon. chairman of the Appro-
priations Committee opposed the item.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Moon
(Tennessee) providing for the entire
elimination OF the paragraph, was
adopted. $3.50.
When the paragraph relating to rail-
way mail service was reached. Mr..
Tawney (Minnesota) offered as q sub
stitute for 1T his bill for the re- CLASH
fication OF railway mail clerks which
divides the clerks into ten classes. the
highest to receive 81, 500 per annum, and
provides n general system OF pro-
motion. While this subject was under
discussion the conference asked for by
the Senate on the Foraker resolution
was agreed to, and Messsrs. Cooper
CWisconsin), Cannon Ullinois) and
Jones (Vdrginia) were appointed con-
ferees.
Mr. Dalzell (Pennsylvania). who was
in the chair, finally ruled the Tawney
amendment out OF order
Without completing the bill the
House, at sos p. M, adjourned.