The age-herald., 1902-03-15
CGunpacksf's Motion to Strike
 Out Appropriation Lost
POSTOFF|CE BILL PASSED
Secretary Explains Why British Gov ernnent Was Not Asked to Allow Mir. Thomas to Pass Through
 the Lines at His VIII.

Washington, March 14-The House to- day passed the postoffice appropriation bill The only amendment of importance adopted was one to incorporate in the bill the provisions of the bill to clas- sify the free rural service passed a few days ago.
 Quite a number of other bills were passed, including three bills for marine hospitals at Buffalo, Savannah and Pitts burg. The Burleson resolution. calling on the secretary of state for the facts rel ative to the case of Dr. Thomas and wife, who desired to go to South Africa to dis tribute relief funds was adopted after short debate, in the course of which MT. Hit, chairman of the committee on for eign affairs, introduced letter from Sec retary Hay explaining what the depart ment of state had done in the premises. A resolution was adopted to authorize the secretary ofSwar to loan tents to the Texas Confederate Veterans Reunion As sociation, which meets in Dallas April 22. The conference report on the dplo- matic and consular appropriation bill was adopted, and the House then resumed con sideration of the postoffice appropriation bill.
 Rural Delivery Section.
 When the item relative to the rural free delivery service was reached, MT. Loud, in charge of the bill, moved to strike 1t out and substitute the provisions of the bill to classify the rural free delivery ser vice as it passed the House. It was adopted.
 MT. Crumpacker, Indiana, moved to strike out the appropriation of $142. 72S for special fast mail facilities from Wash ington to New Orleans. His motion was lost, 36 to 56.
 Crumpacker declared the Southern is now a great trunk line, and the time had arrived when the subsidy should be stopped. He said the road was now re- ceiving for hauling regular mail $795,000 per annum, which is $272000 more than was paid in 1893.
 without further amendment the bill was passed.
 Bills were passed to appropriate S5000 for a lighthouse at Oyster Bayou. La and to authorize the Eldorado and Ba- strop Railroad Company to construct a bridge across the Ouachita river, Arkan- sas. The committees were then called.
 MT. Sherman, New York from the com mittee on commerce called up a bill to prevent the false branding and mark ing of food products entering the inte- state commerce. The bill was passed. Bills were passed to permit the issue of school books in Oklahoma; to ratify the act of the Arizona legislature pro- viding a fund for the University of Ari- zona; for the refunding of the debt of Navajo County. Arizona, at a lower rate of interest, and to change the boundaries between the Southern and Central dis tricts of the Indian Territory.
 Hitt's Excuse Very Lame.
 Mr Rurlason of Teyae daola rad Mr Hits defense of the refusal of the state department to accede to the request to urge Great Britain to grant Rev. and Mrs. Hiram Thomas passports to enter the Boer lines and distribute relilef funds was lame. The state department in declining the request, he said, did not plead the violation of international com ity as Mir. Hit had done. MT. Burleson denied the refusal to allow Confederate sympathizers to go through the lines during the civil war was historically cor rect He read letter from a union surgeon stationed at City Point, Va, dur ing the war who told him the union forces allowed relief to pass through the Ines If General Sherman" he asked "had concentrated Southern women and children in camps, did any one imagine that the North would not have allowed relief to be sent to them?'
 Mir Burleson called attention to a Ber- lin dispatch announcing that Great Bri- tain had granted permission for the dis tribution of charitable gifts collected in Germany for Boer prisoners.
 Mir Hit of Illinois, chairman of the committee on foreign affairs, said his observations the other day had been of an off-hand character. He then read the following letter he had received from Secretary Hay:
 Read Letter From Hay.
 Department of State.
 washington, March 12 1902
 "sir-Referring to the resolution re- gently introduced in the House beg to make the following statement of facts: "A few days ago a young gentleman called and asked whether this depart ment would issue passports to the Rev Thomas and Mrs Thomas. who were in- tending to go to South Africa for the nurpose of distributing funds which had heen collected in Illinois for the benefit o1 the sufferers by the war I said at once the department would issue the pessports desired and that l would also give Mr. Thomas a letter commenting him to every one whom could influence ! and asking their assistance in his errand Tnouiry was then made whether this gov ernment would ask of the British govern ment permission for Mr. and Mrs. Thom- as to go at will through the British mill tary lines and camps, a suggestion which thought impracticable
 "This department is ready at any time to consult with a representative of Gov ernor Yates as to the best means of get ting into the proper hands sums con tributed by charitable people of Illinois for the relief of the sufferers by the war ih South Africa I am, sir very respect fully your obedient servant
 JOHN HAY" Mir. Hit presented the resolution report cd by his committee which called on the secretary of state for the facts in the case of the application made to the state department in behalf of Dr. Thomas and wife. The resolution was adopted with out debate.
 Bills were passed to authorize the con- structfon of marine hospitals at Buffalo, savannah and Pittsburg. and placing the limit of cost in each case at S125. 900; to in- cude the Colville Indian reservation. Washington state, under the general free honest tead act, and for the relief of bona fde settlers in forest reservations. The House at 4:55 p. m. adjourned.