The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-21
THE POSTAL, BILL DEBATE
A Warm Discussion Over ApprO-
priations in the Senate.
MIR. Butler Makes n Fierce AttncS on
the system of HALLWAY Mail Trans
portatiOn - The Pneumatic Tube
Question Again Rcyicwed-A New
Point of Order Raised by Mr.. Hale.


Point of Order Raised by Mr.. Haic.
The Senate yesterday devoted five hours
to the consideration of the Postoffi2e APP
preparation bill. An amendment offered
by Mr.. Butler to reduce the appropriation
for the Railway Mail Service was defeat
ed. \ new point of order was raised
against the pneumatic tube system by Mr..
Hale. while Messrs. Cullom and Mason led
the fight for an appropriation in this di
rection
When the bill came up the Railway Mail
Service was under consideration.
Mr.. Butler scored the present system as
robbery and showed that the Government
built mail cars for railroads, presented
these 10 the corporations, and then rented
them at an enormous sum per year. He
had the report of the Postal Commission
read and criticised the work of that body
He charged that Second Assistant Post
master General ". 5. Shallenberger was
in league with the railroad companies.
and always saw TO it that they were well
taken care of.
lie spoke against the appropriation for
nearly three hours.
As MIR. Butler was contrasting the cost
of carrying the mails in Great Britain
and in Continental Europe with the cost in
the United States. he was interrupted by
Mr.. Depew, who said that he had once
made an investigation o. that subject. and
Lad found that in Continental Europe the
average wages paid to railroad employees
were not one-fourth the wages paid on
American railways, while the freight
charges in the United States were not
one-fourth of what they we're in Conti-
rental Europe.
IF the American railways" he added,
instead of charging 6-iO mills per ton
per mile for freight, charged 4l-100 cents
which is the average rate on the Continent
OF Europe they ccGld not only carry the
nails free. but could pay 4 revenue TO the
Government
Mr.. Buffers speech was sandwiched with
large abstracts from printed reports on the
subject, and when he expressed his desire
that if he asserted anything which could
be controverted. the Chairman of the Post
office Committee would 30 so, Mr. Wolcott
politely declined therOntract." as he put
ii, and so MIR. BuJler had to go on and
make out his case without being ques-
toned or challenged.
One OF his points was that of the $34-
COZ. 900 paid for railroad mail transporta-
tion. only 52 per cent actually went for
the weight of the mails As per cent of it
being for heavy mail bags and heavy
locks. II seemed to him as if all the tam
neries had been searched for the heaviest
quality of leather for mail bags.
When Mr. Butler concluded his speech.
he called for vote on his amendment
reducing the appropriation for railway
mail service from $35 900, 900 to S32 gCO
coo. The amendment was defeated by a
vote of 80 to is.
Mr.. Mason then asked for a vote on
the point Of order raised 10y MIR. Hale
against the pneumatic tube amendment
The point of order was voted down
Mr.. Mason offered an amendment pro
viding for an appropriation of $3.50. 900
FOR the continuation of existing pneu-
matte tube contracts and providing for
a board TO investigate the service and
report TO Congress
slr. Hale made a new point Of order
against this amendment
Mr.. Tnurston defended the amendment.
and held that the point of order was
not well taken.
length by Messrs. Hale. GalIinger Chan
der, and Thurston. Mr. Gallinger held
that the point Of order should be sus-
ta!ned. Mr.. Stewart also held that this !
was general legislation.
The point of order was argued at some !
length, Mr.. Hale contending that the pro |
posed repeal OF the provision prohibiting |
contracts Tor the pneumatic tube system |
was general Legislation and therefore oh
noxious TO the rule as to appropriation |
bills, while Hr Thurston and others ar |
gued that, as the prohibition was con- |
tanned in the Postoffce Appropriation bill |
Of last year. it could be repealed in the !
pending bill.
Mr.. CullOm argued for the extension of |
the pneumatic tube system 10 Chicago. !
and he asked The Chairman OF the Post
office Committee whether il was the pur-
pose OF that committee to continue that
service in New York Philadelphia and
Boston.
Mr. Wolcott-Thc bill speaks for itself.
Mr.. CullOm-ls there any appropriation
In that bill for that purpose?
Mr. Nolcott-Last year this whole aues-
.lon was thrashed out. and ont of the dis
cussion grew the prohibition OF future
Il Tas found that the contracts
for New York. Philadelphia. and Boston
expired on the lst Of July. Personally | /
know OF no proposal for continuing the
service there
MIR. Cullom-Then I suppose it Is the
purpose Of the committee TO continue the
service in those cities where it exists and
10 refuse it 20 all other cities.
Mr.. Wolcott-If he Senator auDposes
hat he supposes something based entirely
1n the iigment Of his imagiGa ton There
Is nothing in the bill to justify it, The
postOfiice Committee has exhausted itself
when ii reported the bill. Why does the
senator say that r. is the purpose Of the
to do . certain act?
Mr.. Cullom-I make the enquiry now
MIR. Wolcott-The Senator has been al
'eady answered in the negative
Mr.. Culom-Then il is the expectation
IF TIE chairman of the committee that this
pneumatic tube will bc used in New York.
and Boston at the expense
II the Government
Mr. Wclcott-I have no knowledge about
(. The Senator must not say that he sup
joses it is the intention of the PoaiofIire
Committee to do something which il has
lot proposed 10 do
Mr.. Chandler member OF the PostolIice
said that the majority OF that
was in favor of extending the
rheumatic tube system. and that he should
support every effort TO extend it to Chica-
90. If they did not succeed in that eNtsn-
lion then he thought that the majority of
he committee was in favor Of continuing |
he use of the existing tubes. But there
vas no formed purpose anywhere. that ne
lnew Of. 20 exclude the pneumatic tube
rom Chicago.
Mr.. Cullom-Of course. If the point of
rider is well taken, 1t does exclude every
,ther city.
Mr.. Thurston-Tt not only does so. but
I absolutely stops pneumatic tube .sar-
ice in all the cities Of the United States
Mr.. Chaudlsr-Uuless there be some
ubsequent amendment