Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-04
LEADING BILL OF SESSION
Measure to Classify Rural Free Delivery
Service Thus Designated.
ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF MONEY INVOLVED
Loud of California DecIares SALARY
system VIII Ultimately Cost
Twenty Minion Dollars
Year.

WASHINGTON, March 3.-The house to-
day began consideration of the bill to
classify the rural free delivery service and
place the carriers under the contract sys-
tenn. Only two speeches were delivered.
Mr.. Loud Of California, chairman Of the
committee on postofiees and postroads,
made the opening argument in favor of
the bill, speaking for two and half hours.
Mr.. Swanson Of Virginia led the opposi-
tion.
The debate was interrupted by the pre-
sentation OF the conference report on the
Philippine tariff bill. Mr.. Payne. the ma
iority leader, declined to allow the minority
more than thirty minutes to discuss the
report and this offer was rejected. A fill
buster followed and the house adjourned
after the previous question on the adop-
tion of the report had been ordered.
Most Important Bill of Session.
Mr. Loud, in opening the debate, declared
that in his opinion the question involved
was Of more Importance than any which
would come before the present congress
Upon the outcome would depend whether
the rural free delivery service would cost
ultimately $50 900 or $40, 900 900 per annum.
The rural free delivery service up 20 this
time, he said, had been a political one and
Il had given many members of congress
their first taste OF the sweets OF public
patronage. He traced the history and
rapid growth of the service and its cost,
declaring that 1t was the most extrava-
CANT in the public service; at the inception
the carriers received $500 per annum.
They now received $500. II the salary sys-
tenn was continued there would eventually
receive $500 or 5000. At the present time
heafp tha wv
force.
Mr.. Loud charged that promise had
gone forth that II the salary system was
continued the members of congress would
control the appointment Of carriers in the
future. as in the past.
Present System Best for RuraIists.
Mr.. Swanson of Virginia argued that the
present system would be more advantag-
eous to the rural communities than the
contract system. s..
He contended that II the service were
made effective 1t would eventually become
self-supporting. Mr.. Swanson contended
that the contract system would allow the
building up OF a political machine by per-
mitting the department to pass on the
trustworthiness Of the bidders. He said
that the present system by which demo-
cratic congressman were allowed to name
half the carriers In their district, should
be continued.
Mr.. ]. p, Williams OF Illinois took issue
with ,Mr. Swanson as 20 the latter state-
ment. declaring that northern democrats
were allowed no voice in the selection OF
carriers. He believed the contract sys-
tenn would take the service out OF pol
itics.
Payne Calls Up Report.
When Mr.. Swanson concluded the COM
mittee rose, and Mr.. Payne. the majority
leader, called up the conference report
on the Philippine tariff bill. He explained
the compromise effected by the eonferees.
Mr.. Richardson OF Tenpessee. the minor
ity leader, demanded to be allowed to take
the floor in his own right to discuss the
conference report, but Mr.. Payne declined
to yield the floor for that purpose He
refused to grant more than thirty minutes
to the minority. This profter Mr.. Rich
ardson declined, whereupon Mr.. Payne de-
manded the previous question.
On division the vote stood, ayes, 70;
nays, So. Mr.. Richardson made the point
Of no quorum. The speaker was able to
count only 147 members, not a quorum,
and Mr.. Richardson moved an adjourn
ment.
| The motion was lost, 81 to 81, and there
being no quorum present the speaker d.
rected the clerk to- call the roll. The
previous question was ordered. 1O5 to So
and at 4:55 the house adjourned.