The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-02-21
CONSUMES TIMEOF SENATE
POStOffice Appropriation Bill
dives Senators a Chance
To Roar


scripps-AIcRae Press Assn.
Warrington. D. c., Feb. 20.-The sen.
ate spent the day on the postonice
appropriation hill. making some pro-
rrpss but not completing it.
The amendment of AIR. Butler pro-
posing reduction Of about 2 per cent
in the pay for the railway postal ser-
vice was 6efeated ls TO 81 after de-
bate IA which Mr. Depew answered Mr.,
ButIers criticisms on the large profits
made by American roads.
Late IN the day q sharp controversy
on the pneumatic tube question was
prccipitated By en- amendment offered
BY Mr. Mason, extending the service
10 Chicago and one by Vest, extend
ing II 20 St Louis Mr. Hale severely
criticised those promoting the system
referring 20 Job and lobby" When
he made a point of order that the COM
mittee had not passed on the amend
ment, the advocates Of the extension
quickly circulated a call for meet
ing Of the committee on postonices
and the session closed with Mr. Vol
colts humorous announcement of the
committee meeting in response TO the
imperative demands made on him.
MT Butler contrasted the cost of
maii pay ln Europe and in this coun-
try, 10 the disadvantage Of the United
stntes.
Mr Depew Interrupted 20 say shat
the wages paid by European conu-
mental railroads was only about one
fourth Of the rate of railway wages In
this country while the freight rates IN
thie country we're a little more than
one-fourth Of what they were in Eu-
rope.
Does the senator mean inquired
Mr.. Butler. that the American ran.
roads are losing money!
II do not mean to say they are los
ing money" responded Mr. Depew. I
mean to say that II they had anything
like the rates paid for freight In con-
tinental Eurcpe they could carry the
malls free. and in addition. pay large
revenue to the government"
mo railroads IN the world have larg-
er profits than those OF the United
States" asserted Mr.. Butler.
"The capitalization OF railroads IN
Europe Responded Mr.. Depew, us
much larger thap It IS here. Ia Great
Britain IL IS about s85O,000 mile II
that capitalization be reduced 20 the
average capitalization IN the United
States, you viii find shat the profits
OF the English railroads are enor-
NOUS"
Mr. Wolcott said. as TO European
railroads carrying the mails free. that
IN Great Britain the cost of railroad
mail transportation was little less, IL
any than it was here, In continental
Earope he added. the government
either owned the railroads or guaran-
teed the payment OF the principal and
interest OF their bonds and Of five or
six percent dividend on their stock
whether they earned II on not.
The amendment offered by Mr.. But
Ter making an aggregate reduction of
about percent IN the railroad mail
pay was rejected rs TO 81.
The amendment approprating $4,000
Tor the transportation OF mail by pneu-
matte tubes and repeating the law that
prohibits future contracts for pneu-
matte tube service, together with the
pending point Of order against IT, was
called up.
The president pro tern (Mr Frye
submitted the point OF order 70 the
senate and it was sustained without
division the amendment being thus
being stricken out.
Mr.. Mason then offered an amend
ment appropriating S5O0000,0oo for the
maintenance OF Che pneumat tube SER
vice in cities where II now is In oper-
alton and Tor MS establishment inChi-
oago, provided that am future con-
racts Tor the establishment of the SER
vice be advertised publicly.
Against the amendment MIR. Hale
raised a point o. order saying 1t was
clearly general Legislation" which on
appropriation bills was obnoxious 20
the senate rules.
Mr. Thurston Mr. Chandler. Mr..
Mason and others contended that as
the probition against future contracts
Ter pneumatic tube service was COM
tained in an appropriation bill of last
lear Il could be repealed In the bill un-
der consideration.
MIR. Cullom appealed 10 Mr. Hale 20
withdraw his point of order.
He inquired OF Mr. Wolcott whether
Il was true that II the pending amend
ment be ruled out on the point OF or
der the pneumatic service In New York
Boston and Philadelphia could be CON
tlnued
Mr.. Wolcott replied that the bill
spoke for itself II did not contain
any appropriations Tor the continuance
OF the service anywhere. The contract
for the service would expire on July
/. next and congress had directed
that they should be renewed.
ftttIIn,. anft l.. att,sttoa...I ,.ll.a
tue rurposf OF the committee 70 continue
che sersico In cities whore It was al