The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-22
THE SOUTHERN MAIL
sTRoNG EFFORT TO CUT OFF THE
APPROPRIATION.
ANTITRUST BILL DISCUSSED.
REPUBLICANS GO BACK ON THEIR
OWN MEASURE.

cradle Opposition Developed to
the Special Appropriate iOn of SILL
2SS for the Southern Fast Mail.
Northern and Western Senator's
Oppose It-A Mere Gift 10 the Rail-
roads, Said senator Lodge.
Washington, Feb. 21.-For nearly two
hours to-day the Senate had under dis
cussion resolution by Mr.. Jones of Ar
kansas, to discharge the judiciary Com
mittee from further consideration of the
antitrust bill, passed by the House at
the last session, and to bring it before
the Senate for consideration. TO some
extent the merits of the measure were
discussed. Mr.. Hoar, chairman of the
judiciary Committee; Mr.. Platt of Con-
nccticut, Mr. Spooner, Mr.. Bacon, Mr..
Pettigrew, MIR, Teller and others, taking
part in the debate. The majority main
tanned that the House measure clearly
was unconstitutional They protested,
TOO. against taking up SO great ques-
zion in the closing hours of tho session.
The resolution finally went to the calen-
dar.
The postofice appropriation bill was
under discussion. After a prolonged dis
cussion the appropriation for pneumatic
tube service was eliminated entirely so
that as the bill stands now the service
will have to be discontinued after the
trst of next July.
The old controversy over the special ap-
preparations for fast mail service engaged
attention the rest of the day.
The chair sustained the point of order
against Mr.. Mason's pneumatic tube SER
vice amendment of yesterday.
Mr.. Carter reported the amendment
agreed upon this morning by the Post
office Committee This provides for the
establishment of the system in ST. Louis
as well as Chicago, and reduces the APP
preparation to $225.O00. The annual rental
shall not in any case exceed $4,000 per
mile nor shall any contract for such
service extend for more than one year.
Mr.. Wolcott opposed it,
An amendment providing that other
companies beside that now holding the
contracts might enter into competition
for furnishing the service was agreed to,
d to II.
The original amendment offered by Mr..
dTVSI was ItJtCteu do dIil6iiuCus ayes ~
noes 81.
Mr. Pettigrew offered an amendment
TO the paragraph of the bill authorizing
the postmaster general TO pay Vii ,23S for
necessary and special facilities on trunk
lines from New York and Washington to
Atlanta and New Orleans, instructing the
Postmaster General to withhold the APP
preparation if he can do so without in
jury to the postal service.
Mr daDOnppaH
appropriation as mere gratuity-a SUBJ
sidy or bonus to the Southern fast mail.
The amendment was rejected, 10 to 40.
To Strike Appropriation.
Mr.. Rawlins of Utah, then offered an
amendment striking out the paragraphs
making appropria tons of $171 23S for the
southern fast mail facilities, and of S25.-
600 for special facilities on the trunk lines
from Kansas City, Mo, to Newton Kan.
Mr.. Turley of Tennessee, said the Leg
islature of Tennessee, had adopted "A res
olution, requesting the senators OF that
state to vote for the appropriation, but
he could not comply with the request be-
cause he regarded it as a subsidy, pure
and simple, and not in any sense com.
pensation for service rendered.
Mr.. Wolcott took the same view.
Mr.. Lodge said the appropriation was a
mere gift to the railroad companies.
quired Mr.. Bacon, $50 long as New Eng
land was interested in it?"
Il guess l did" replied Mr. Lodge.
Mr.. Bacon said the only interest he had
in the appropriation was that ii provided
fast mail for the people of his state. 1t
mad given advantages they never had en-
Joyed before
The bill was laid aside for the day with
out action upon Mr.. RawIins' amendment.
The Antitrust Bill.
Mr. Jones resolution was taken up. Mr.
Hoar, chairman of the Committee on Jul
dietary, discussed the antitrust bill He
stated that no member of the Senate on
either side would approve the House bill
after consideration. He pointed out that
the most notorious and wicked offender
under the proposed law would have only
TO get somebody to institute against him
civil suit to go absolutely free.
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut, member of
The Judiciary Committee, said that with
"hIy eight working days of the session
remaining and many of the appropriation
"lls yet undisposed of it would be i'm
PosslpIe TO discuss properly what Con-
gress should do with trusts
ne object Of the resolution, he assert
eo, was to gain some political advantage.
Mr.. T1Aman said the minority was will
ing TO Ueet at o'clock at night to dis
Mr.. Bacon said he believed the bill was
Constitutional in its general features, al
though there might be some doubt as 10
one or two minor provisions.
Nr' Bacon said the present antitrust
law was almost a nullity, because there
vas no way of enforcing it. but the House
ulu dld provide machinery which was a
smeGy Tor the great evils it was pro-
posed to correct
Nr, Bacon said the bill was a Republi-
an measure; 1t had come from a Repub-
hcan House. If it became law the Re-
publican party would be entitled to the
SIeuit for IT. Senators on his side so
BEARDED it. They recognized. he said.
euf' the passage of the bill would be OF
no political advantage to them. He was
,.aPPy' in some degree. thus TO relieve
"'.nself of any charge of partisanship.
MI Spooner asked for vote on the
Ssotnargarine bill at 8 p. m, March 2. but
MI. Pettus objected.
n was decided to begin holding night
sessions tomorrow night