The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-04
Speeches by Messrs. Loud and Swan
son, Followed by a FiIibuster
Over the Philippine Measure.
SHIPPING BILL IN SENATE
SPEECH BY MIR. FRYE IN ADVOCACY
OF PROPOSED BOUNTIES.
Past Policy of the Country Towards
Its Merchant Marine Con-
demned as ShOrtsighted.

WASHINGTON. March s.-The House
to-day began the consideration of the bill
to classify the rural free delivery service
and place the carriers under the contract
system. Only two speeches were delivered
to-day. Mr.. Loud, of California, chairman
of the committee on postofices and post
roads, made the opening argument in favor
OF the bill. speaking for two and a half
hours. Mr.. Swanson, Of Virginia, led the
opposition. The debate was interrupted be-
fore the close Of the session by the pre-
sentation of the conference report upon
the Philippine tariff bill. Mr.. Payne, the
majority leader. declined to allow the min
GRITTY more than thirty minutes in which
10 discuss the report and this offer was
rejected A flibuster followed and the
House adjourned after the previous ques-
ton on the adoption of the report had
teen ordered
In the course of his speech on the free
rural delivery bill, Mr.. Loud declared that
in his opinion the question involved was
of more Importance than any which would
come before the present Congress. Upon
the solution would depend whether the
rural free delivery service would cost ul-
timately s60,O00,OO0 or $2O,000OO0 per annum.
The rural free delivery service up to this
time. he said. had been a political one and
it had given many members of Congress
their first taste OF the sweets Of public pat
ronage He traced the history and rapid
growth OF the service and its cost, declar-
ing that it was the most extravagant in
the public service. At the inception the
carriers received $500 per annum. They now
receive 5000 If the salary system was con-
tinued they would eventually receive $500
or $500 AT the present $S50OO0 was being
spent for the supervisory force. The bill
carefully drawn, Mr.. Loud said, to
provide against the possibility of a recur-
renee Of the star route scandals. Only one
contract could be given to one man who
must live in the district where the route
service himself. Mr.. Loud charged that a
promise had gone forth that if the present
system was continued, the members OF
Congress would control the appointT ent of
the carriers in the future as they had In
the past. Mr.. Loud spoke for two and one
half hours.
tenn would be more advantageous to the
rural communities than the contract sys-
tenn. He contended that If the service We're
made effective 1t would eventually become
tended that the contract system would al
low the building up of a political machine
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 districts should
be continued.
Mr.. j. p Williams, of Illinois, took issue
with Mr.. Swanson as to the latters state
ment declaring that Northern Democrats
were allowed no voice in the selection OF
carriers He believed the contract system
would take the service out of politics.
When Mr.. Swanson concluded the COM
mittee rose and Mr.. Payne, the majority
leader, called up the conference report OH
the Philippine tariff bill. He explained the
compromise effected by the conferees. Mr..
Richardson, of Tennessee, the minority
leader demanded TO be allowed to take the
floor in his own right to discuss the con-
ference report, but Mr.. Payne declined to
yield the floor for that purpose. He re-
fused to grant more than thirty minutes 10
the minority. This proffer Mr.. Richardson
declined, wheTeupon Mr.. Payne demanded
the previous question. On a division the
vote stood yeas 70. nays 81. Mr.. Richard
son made the point of no quorum. The
speaker was able to count only LAT members
not a quorum-and Mr.. Richardson moved
an adjournment. The motion was lost, g. to
81, and there being no quorum present, the
speaker directed the clerk to call the roll.
The previous question was ordered, 100 to
3d. and at 4:55 the House adjourned