The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-18
POS T(lIF Flee BILL
BEE ORE SENATE
Vigorous Opposition to Pneumatic
Mail Service.
SUBSIDIES FOR RAILROADS
AIr. Buffers Amendment 70 Reduce 1t
Was Lost - Special Rivers and
Harbors Bill Was Passed gy
the House.

WASHINGTON, May 17.-During almost
the entire session of the Senate to-day the
postof11ce appropriation bill was uEceI
consideration. The measure was read ana
all the committee amendments agreed TO
EXCEPT that relating to the extension OF the
pneuma tic tube service. This created some
debate. and was being discussed When TIE
measure was laid aside for the day.
Mr.. Wolcott, chairman of the Committee
on PostofIices and Post Roads, vigorously
attacked the committee proposition to ap-
propriate $4,000 for the pneumatic tube
service, declaring the extension Of the ser
vice was unnecessary and the approprla-
ton a waste of public money
Mr.. Mason, Of Illinois, quite as vigorously
supported the proposition.
The amendment of Mr.. Butler of North
Carolina, to reduce by 10 per cent. the
amount to be paid the railroads for the
transportation Of mail, was rejected-1 TO
II.
conference was agreed to on the
naval appropriation bill, and Mr. Hale,
Mr. Perkins and Mr.. Tillnan We're named
as conferees.
Mr.. Jones, of Arkansas, offered and had
adopted a resolution calling upon the
Secretary of War to inform the Senate
how many Filipinos have been killed and
wounded since the beginning of HOSTILE
ties, and also how many have been
captured and are now in our possession.
Mr.. Wolcott, of Colorado, called up
the postofIice appropriation bill. and its
reading for amendment was begun.
RAILROAD SUBSIDIES.
The final section of the bill was q SEN
ate committee amendment providing for
the continuation of the committee to
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
service and all sources of revenue and
all expenditures of the postal service
Mr.. Pettigrew opposed the continuance
Of the committee. he said. because it stood
IN the way of reducing the conversation
OF the railroads by at least S15,ooo,Goo a
year
Mr.. Butler. OF North Carolina, offered
an amendment, reducing the amount APP
propriated by the bill for railway trans
portation OF the mails from $33, $4,000 to
$50 $4,000.
The amendment of Mr.. Butter was re-
jected-11 to Il.
The committee amendment. extending
the life of the Postal Commission, was
then agreed to without division,
The committee amendment, appropriate
ing $4,000 for the transportation of the
mail by pneumatic tubes, was taken UP.
AT 3-tJ the senate auJOuFnet!.
In the House
WASHINGTON, May 1I.-Tne House to-
day passed a special river and harbor bill
carrying 100000 for surveys and emergency
work and devoted the remainder OF the
day 10 the Alaskan Code bill. Very little
of the three hours debate was pertinent
10 the measure.
General debate was closed and four pages
of the GIT pages Of the bill were disposed
of before an adjournment.
When Mr. Burton, chairman of the
Rivers and Harbors Committee, asked Tor
unanimous consent to consider the bill,
he announced en- ideal river and Aarbor
bill would be brought in early in the next
session
Mr. Sout.lard objected, and thereupon, on
Mr. Burton's motion, the House went into
Committee of the Whole to consider 1t.
After some unimportant debate the COM
mittee rose and the bill was passed.
The Alaskan Code bill was then taken
up. In the ensuing three hours general
debate, with leave to print, Mr.. Williams,
Of Illinois. discussed the Philippine ques-
ton Mr. Shattuck, of Ohio, made gen
eral resume of Industrial conditions to
Snow that the present administration had
lifted the country out Of the slough of
dependency and had brought it TO the
higA-water mark OF prosperity.
After some further remarks by Mr..
Kitchin. of North Carolina, and others, the
House, at .:55, adjourned.