The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-15
AMENDING
HAIR TER ACT |.
London Landing Clause May
Continue to Stand.
HEARINGS ARE OVER
Congress Will Probably Not Act at
This Session.
FIGHT WILL 60 ON, HOWEVER
Sarding Pay of Rural Free
Delivery Carriers.
From The Journal B.crea4.t, Roon, 46, Pest
BuiIClinQ, WashihgtO1 esa 1sts

Building, Washington. So
Washington. Feb. 15.--To day the hear
ings before the congressional committees
amendment of the Harter act were closed
Neither the senate nor house, committee
has yet given the bill any attention beyond
the taking of testimony. The house com
mittee met yesterday and Mr.. Fletcher
was present, but the bill did not come up
By next week the committee will have re-
ceived the printed report Of the testimony
and probably will be in a position to be-
gin its discussion.
The bill provides for -'iping out the
London landing clause, which is so often
sive to American exporters to the London
port, and is being pushed by flour millers
and lumbermen engaged in the export
trade. While the hearings have been
protracted, practically nothing new has
been brought out. A number of weeks
ago John Crosby of the Washburn-C Crosby
Milling company prepared brief showing
the pros and cons of the case and giving
it's history. This brief was widely cir
culated in the northwest. The milling
trade understands the arguments on both
sides thoroughly.
The only general interest in the case
lies in the probable action of the con-
gressionaI committees. There are in each
committee men who represent both sides,
and it is probable that sninority asssWell
as majority reports will be made. There
is not a man in the world who can steli
anything about when these reports will
be made, what they will contain and what
congress will do with them, Speaking
broadly, it looks as il nothing could be
done at this. session; but that will not set
tie the question:. for the fight will be
renewed next year, and then each year
afterward until some satisfactory results
are obtained rs
RURAL It is generally conceded
that TIE proposition to
CARRIERS choose rural free delivery
carriers by competitive
bid, Following the system Of hiring star
route agents. will not. be approved by cosl-
gress, Notwithstanding its Incorporate ton
into the postofice APPROPRIATION bill which
IFS spon to be intryducedf -.eading mem
bers of the house, Of both parties, have
announced their intention of fighting the
proposition determinedly The excuse
given by the committee for this recon-
mendation is the difficulty that exists un-
der the present plan of fiat salary rate
in securing enough carriers to man the
rural routes some routes being much
more difficult to serve than others, by rea-
son of length, topography of the country,
climate, etc. Chairman Loud says, for in
stance, that some routes are not worth
more than $500 to $3.50 per year EACH
while others are worth up to $780, He
thinks that under the competitive bid
plan competition will insure reasonable
pay for the work in each district and to
that end equaliZe the salaries in way
that would be impossible under the ex-
listing plan.
The proposition Of Mr.. McCleary of
Minnesota would seem to meet the point
made by Mr.. Loud without departing from
that plan. He would fix maximum SAL
airy of $500 for the third year of service
and all succeeding years, the exact
amount to be given the individual carrier
to be determined by the post master gener-
al after an Investigation Of the route. If
any change from the present system is
made it is thought that that suggested
by Mr.. McCleary will be adopted.
TAWNEY Representative Tawney
saw Post master General
SEEKING Payne to-day and tried to
arrange hearing of de-
WITNESSES partment officials before
the postoftice committee
on his bill to reclassify the employees in
the railway mail service. Chairman
Loud was successful in having these off,
Gals appear before the committee two
years ago and the presidents order for
biding lobbying by employees in the gov
eminent service has prevented considera-
ton at this session. Mr.. Tawney thinks
that the order does not apply to such high
officials as the second assistant postmas
ter general and chief of the railway mail
service and asks that they be allowed to go
before the committee and give their views.
He intends to force a report from the
committee if possible.
FOR NORTH The river and harbor
committee to-day began
STAR RIVERS. the consideration of Min
nesota items in the an
preparation bill. Judge Morris appeared
to be satisfied that Minnesota poriects are
we'll taken care of. The agreement was
reached some time ago that the limit on
cost of the locks and dams at Meeker
island was to be increased. There is some
doubt whether provision will be made for
completing the reservoirs at the head
waters of the Mississippi.
w w Jermana