The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-03-04
RURAL FREE DELIVERY
That Service Was What Was Dis,
cuSSed by the House.
CONTRACT vs.. THE SALARY SYSTEM
Mr. Loud Said He Believed the Pres
ent Scheme Productive OF EVi--M-.
Swanson Led the Opposition.
ONTRACT VS.. THE SALARY SYSTEM

Washington, March 3.-Thc house today
began consideration Of the bill to classify
the rural free delivery service and place
the carriers under the contract system. Mr.,
Loud CCal). chairman of the committee on
postoffces and post roads made the opening
argument in favor Of the bill, speaking for
two and a half hours. Mr.. Swanson VA
led the opposition. The debate was inter
rupted before the close of the session by
the presentation of the conference report
upon the Philippine tariff bill. Mr.. Payne,
the majority leader. declined to allow the
minority more than thirty minutes In which
to discuss the report and this offer was
rejected. a dllbuster followed aud the
house adjourned after the previous question
on the adoption Of the report had been or
dcred.
Under the order made last week, the
house today went Into committee of the
whole and entered upon the consideration
OF the bill to classify the rural free dciiv-
cry service and substitute the contract for
the salary system for rural carriers
1t was arranged that general debate
should be equally divided between the
friends and opponents of the measure and
Mr.. Loud (CalQ should control the time In
favor, aud Mr. Swanson (VaJ against the
MI. The folmer in opening tnc debate
lullon of the questions Involved would de-
pend whether the rural free delivery scry.
zee would cost ultimately S8,O00O0O or 500 o
10000 per annum. The rural free De.
livery service up to this time. he said
ma been 4 political one and 1t bad given
rHnY members of congress their first taste
Of the sweets Of public patronage He
s"id the service was the most extrav5gant
Ia the public service Al the inception the
carriers received $500 per annum. Now
they received 5000. II the salary system
was continued they would eventually re-
ceiye $500 or $500. At the present time
sorry force. The bill was carefully drawn,
Mr.. Loud said, to provide against the pos,
slblltN OF a recurrence Of the star route
scandals. only one contract could be given
10 one man, who must live in tho district
where the route was located and who must
perform the service himself
Mr. Loud charged that n promise had
gone forth that N the present system was
continued the members Of congress would
control the appointment NJ carriers In tho
future. as they had in the past Mr.. Loud
spoke FOR two and n half hours
MI. swanson Nab argued that tho pros
cut system would hc more advantageous 10
inc rural carriers than tho contract syS.
TEN. He contendcd that II the service was
porting.
Mr., swanson contcndcd that the contract
system would allow the building an of "A
political machine by permitting tho depart
lncnt 10 pass on the truStworthincSS Of tho
bidders He said that the present system
nN Whl'h democratic congressman were al.
lowed 10 namo half the carriers In their dis
trctS should he continued
MI. j, +. Williams ulll took issue with
M. swanson as TO the latter statement,
ntClaTlng that Northern democrats were M
lowed no voice - the SELECTION Of carriers
He believed the contract system would take
tho service ont ~ politics.
when Mr.. swanson concluded the com.