Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-06
POSTOFFlCE LABOR UNIONS
Organisation Of Mail servics Employs,
Denounced in House.
RAILROAD MAIL PAY TAKEN UP At LENGTH
Appropriation for Special Fast Trains
from New York TO New Orleans
subject of spirited
Debate.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.--The house today
continued discussion OF controverted ques-
tions in connection with the postoffice ap-
preparation bill Mr.. Griggs of Georgia
spoke against organizations OF postal en-
ployes formed with a view to forcing leg
islation In their interests. MIR. Moody OF
Massachusetts, discussed the question Of
railway mail pay from the standpoint Of
member Of the joint postal commission.
Mr.. Cromwell of Ohio and Mr.. Gaines Of
Tennessee assailed the appropriations for
special mail facilities from New York to
New Orleans and Mr.. Catchings Of Missis-
sippi and Mr.. Meyer OF Iowa defended these
appropriations as necessary for the exc
cution Of the southern mail.
The debate was interrupted to permit
the house to act upon the senate amend
mcnt to the Joint resolution for the appoint
mcnt Of Joint committee to arrange the
program for the Inauguration OF the presi-
dent and vice president. The senate struck
out "and vice president" and the house
agreed to the amendment. The speaker an
nounced the appointment OF Representatives
Cannon OF Illinois. Dalzell OF Pennsylvania
and McRne OF Arkansas as members OF the
committee on behalf Of the house.
Mr.. Griggs Of Georgia. a member OF the
postoffce committee, then took the floor
with set speech against the organization
OF various classes of government employees
with the object of increasing their salaries
and in some cases creating a civil pension
list. lie argued that government employees
were better paid than similar employees in
private life and there was no justice In
their constant and persistent demands for
higher salaries.
Mr.. Moody of Massachusetts, who was
member OF the joint postal commission,
discussed the question OF railway mail pay
in the light of the facts developed by the
commission. He said that II the govern
ment could have had an ideal second as
sistnnt postmaster general, who should
serve for long period and who would be
absolutely untrammeled in his negotia-
tons with the railroads. the government
would be able TO arrive al a standard oi
payment which would be perfect as near as
human imperfections would permit. He
did not mean, he said, TO reflect in any way
upon the present second assistant post
master general. lie was speaking simply
Of the difficulties which surrounded exist
ing conditions.
Ideal second Assistant.
Mr. Moody said the postal commission de-
veloped the fact that instead of paying tc
the railroads on an average of 40 cents pei
postoffice deartment had led the country
TO believe, the actual cost averaged about
12h cents per ton per mile From the In
vestigation he had made MIR. Moody said II
was difficult to tell which was the most
profitable TO the railroads, mail or express
business II he were compelled to guess
he should say that the express business
was more profitable than carrying the
mails: that passenger business was less
profitable than either, and that the most
profitable of all to the railroad wa. carry
ing freight.
Mr. Bromwell Of Ohio opposed the appro'
priation for special facilities, declaring
that tho postmaster general repeatedly hat
declared that he did not desire the appro
priations and had used them only becaus,
congress made them.
Mr.. CatcEings of Mississippi, who was
member of the postal commission, denied
the latter statement He insisted that th'
postmaster general desired congress TO taxi
the responsibility of disseminating the spe
cial service, because he did not want I,
assume that responsibility himself.
Mr.. Meyer OF Louisiana defended tn
southern fast mail appropriation. 1t wa
opposed by Mr.. Gaines of Tennessee. with
out action, at $3.50 p. m, the house ad