The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-22
SENATE.
Earnings

SENATE.
Washington, February 20.-The SEN
| ate spent the day on the postoffice ap-
preparation bill making some progress
but not completing it. The amendment
| Of Senator Butler of North Carolina,
proposing a reduction of about 8 per
cent. in the pay for postal service was
| which Senator Depew answered Sena-
| tor Buffers criticisms on the large
| profits made by American roads. Late
| in the day a sharp controversy on the
| pneumatic tube question was prec pl-
| tated by an amendment offered by
| Senator Mason, extending that SER
| vice to Chicago, and one by Senator
Vest extending it to ST. Louis
| A resolution was agreed to, direct
| ing the committee on printing to as
| certain why the public printer had not
| delivered to the senate the instruct ons
| and papers sent to the Paris peace
| commission.
| The postoffice bill then was taken up.
Senator Butler contrasted the cost OF
railway mail pay in Europe and in this
| country to the disadvantage of the
| United States.
| Senator Depew interrupted him to
| say that the wages paid by European
| continental railroads was only about
one-fourth of the rate of railway wag
es in this country, while the freight
| rates in this country were only little
| more than one-fourth of which they
were in Europe.
! Does the senator mean,' inquired
| Senator Butler that the American
! railroads are losing money!"
''I do not mean to say they are los
! ing money" responded Senator De-
pew. Il mean to say that if they had
| anything like the rates charged for
| freight in continental Europe, they
| could carry the mails free and, in ad-
| d ton, pay large revenue to the gov
| ernment."
mo railroads in the world have larg-
| er profits than these of the United
| States" asserted Senator Butler.
THE capitalization of railroads in
Europe" responded Senator Depew
| lis much larger than it is here. In
| Great Brita n it is about $3.50, 900 mile.
| If that capitalization be reduced to the
| average cap talization in the United
| States you will find that the profits Of
| the Engush roads are enormous"
| Senator Buffers amendment was re-
| jected-1S to 81. The amendment ap-
| propriating 100000 for the tranSporta-
| ton of mail by pneumatic tubes and
| repeating the law which prohibits fu-
| ture contracts for pneumatic tube SER
| vice, together with the pending point
| of order against it, was called up this
| morn ng. The point of order was sus-
| tanned by the senate without division.
| the amendment thus being stricken
| out.
Senator Mason then offered en
amendment appropriating s5OO.Oo0 for
| the maintenance of the pneumatic tube
service in cities where it now is in ope-
| ration and for it's establishment in
| Chicago. provided that all future con-
| tracts for the establishment Of the
| service be advertised publicly.
Senator Hale raised the point of or
| der that the amendment was ''gener-
| al legislation which on appropriation
| bills was obnoxious to the senate rules.
| The amendment was held to be in
| order-54 to 16.
Senator Hale then made a point of
| order that a committee had not passed
| on the proposition.
| Senator Wolcott humorouSly an
| nounced that ION the imperative re-
| quest" of numerous senator's, who had
| quickly circulated the call, special
| meeting of the committee on postoffices
would be held Immediately and he ask
| ed that in the meantime the subject be
laid aside.
This sudden drift of affairs raised a
| general laugh and at 5:25 o'clock the
| senate adjourned.
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
The house finally passed the sundry
civil appropriation bill today and en-
| tered upon consideration of the gen
| eral deficiency-the last of the general
| appropriation bills.
| Mr.. LentZ, an Ohio democrat, who in
this and the previous campaigns has
| violently attacked the administration
| furnished the sensation of the day. He
used a newspaper paragraph recount
ing the death of Charles Lyland, ter
| ritorial Judge of New Mexico, who had
been a member of the legislature which
elected Senator Hanna as a text for
| charging corruption in that election.
This called forth a severe rebuke from,
Mr.. Cannon.
| General Grosvenor. of Ohio. attempt
ed to reply and the two Ohioans were
anxious for the fray. but Mr.. Cannon
would not permit it. He thought If
dirty linen" was to be washed the
gentlemen should hire a hall.
Later Mr.. Lentz made a second on
| slaught of a more sensational charac-
ter on the troops in the Philippines.
and brought down upon himself the
whole republican side of the house.
After the sundry civil bill had been
| reported to the house and passed the
e went back into committee of the
whole and took uD the general deficien-
cy appropriation bill.
Mr.. Lentz attacked corruption in high
and low places. charging that a judi
cial place had been given Mr.. Lyland
in return for his vote for a United States
senator.
Mr.. Steele, OF Indiana, made the point
Of order that Mr.. Lentz was not speak
ing to the subject under consideration,
but was jumping on a dead man.
tsI am NOT iIlmninc on q lead man