The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-18
PNEUMATIC TUBES OPPOSED.
WOLCoTvT MADE A VIGOROUS At
TACK UPON THEM.

the Mails Was Voted DOwn-The
Bill Not Yet Passed.
washington, May T.-During practically
the entire session of the Senate to-day the
postoffice appropriation bill was under con-
sideraton. The measure was read and
all of the committee amendments were
agreed TO except that relating to the ex-
tension of the pneumatic tube service This
created some debate and was being dis
cussesd when the measure was laid aside
for the day.
Mr.. Wolcott, chairman of the Commit
tee on Postoffice and Post Roads, vigor-
ously attacked the committee proposition
TO Appropriate $4,000 for the pneumatic
tube service, declaring the extension of
the service was unnecessary and the ap-
preparation waste of public money. Mr.
Mason of Illinois quite as vigorously sup
ported the proposition.
The amendment of Mr. Butler of North
Carolina to reduce by 10 per cent. the
amount TO be paid by the railroads for the
transportation of mail was rejected, II 10
Al.
A conference was agreed to on the naval
appropriation bill and Mr.. Hale of Maine,
Mr. Perkins of California, and Mr.. TIL
man of South Carolina, were named as
conferees.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas offered and had
adopted resolution calling upon the Sec
rotary of War to inform the Senate how
many Filiyinos had been killed and
wounded since the beginning of hostlllties;
and also how many have been captured
and are now in our possession.
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut, chairman of
the Committee on Relations with Cuba,
said he would seek an early opportunity
20 reply to the speech of Mr.. Bacon of
Georgia. delivered yesterday, not in oppo-
sition to the resolution, but to correct
some statements made by Mr.. Bacon.
Pneumatic Tube Feature.
Mr.. Wolcott of Colorado called up the
postof1lce appropria ton bill and its reading
for amendment was begun.
When the committee amendment appro-
priating $4,000 for mail transportation by
pneumatic tubes was reached Mr. Woicott
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. Wolcott also said he
opposed the Southern fast mail subsidy
and the subsidy for the carrying of mail
between Kansas City and Newton, Kan
never 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 1920 each; 9,6O5 clerks at 81, 600
each, and 1887 clerks at $500 each.
The final section of the bill was a Sen
ate committee amendment providing for
the continuance of the commission to in
vestigate the question whether or not ex-
eessive prices are paid to the railroad COM
panies for the transportation of mails and
as compensation for postal car service
and all sources of revenue and all expendi-
lures of the postal service.
Mr.. Wolcott chairman of the commits
sion, explained the difficulties encounter
ed. Mir. Pettigrew opposed the continu-
aice Of the commission, because, he said,
it stood in the way of reducing the com
pensaton of the railroads by at least S15,-
O00,0t0 a year.
Transportation of Mails.
Mr. Butler offered an amendment re-
ducing the amount appropriated by the
oil fer Ehe transportation of the mails
from $23,S7000 to $3O,4SS,0O0; and directing
the Postmaster General TO readjust the
compensation to he paid from and after
July l. 1900, for the transportation of mails
on every route by reducing the compen-
satiou 20 all railroad companies for the
utnsl ortation of mails at least 10 per
cenJ. per annum from the present rate.
Discussing his amendment, Mr.. Butler
sad he proposed again to submit facts
which he had presented to the Senate
three or four times before as to the ex-
cessire cost of transporting the mails. He
believes the Postal Commission which this
niii sought TO continue was a scheme 70
ue.ay the reduction of the cost of trans1
porting mail. Mr.. Pettigrew spoke in sup
port OF the Butler amendment.
Mr. Welcott characterized some OF the
NQtpI0nnfE M lnr1 nd NTr
grew as wild vagaries," which would be
Ieearded as ''preposterous If they had not
lalen f ON the lips of so conservative a
STAT sman as the senator from North
\ Carolina"
MIR. Clay of Georgia, resented the at
acA made by Mr.. Butler and Mr.. Petit
grew u9on the Postal Commission. He
otclared simply to name the Senate mem
.TIs or The committee, Senator Wolcott,
AIhson, Chandler and Martin, not to men
uoh the House members Messrs. Loud,
woo ~ Catehings and Fleming, was a
agaiqst them
t, me amendment of Mr.. Butler was re-
"A Jected Il to A.
me committee amendment extending
a ~ tle lie Of the Postal Commission was
'N'" agreed to without division.
Opposition From WOIcOtt.
Fl ne committee amendment appropriate
H. f'O'V" Tor the transportation of mail
n ~ pneumatic tubes was taken UP. Mi
uuer made point of order against the
m,uument that il was new legislation
nr "u IA Violation of the existing law. The
FEuln' OF order was overruled by the chair
(Nr Frye.
MI Mf, Woleott addressed the Senate in op-
'1loh TO the amendment He said the
n t, scheme of sending mail by pneunat-
yuDes was covered by patents except the
tT'e n the ground, and that had to be OBJ
ssb@9l from the municipal authorities. The
ser'e' TOO. was a monopoly, and the
srs zee zee in New York, Brooklyn, Boston
-' Th Philadelphia was very limited.
v,ad "e cost in the four cities for the SER
nslth Varied greatly and the service saved
1,y"er expense nor appreciate time.
tba lone length Mr.. Wolcott discussed
sac,rl rus OF the pneumatic tube people to
"sn-'gI avorable action and said they mad
INV 'trmed the Senate corridors all winter
NJ oees in hiving time"
NJ ''; Mason made an extended reply "a
<H r,e, Nolcott. He presented petitions and
boj itto'lals from trade and commercial