Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-03-13

Washington, March 1.-THE bill to
classify the rural free delivery service
and place carriers under the contract
sy stem, which had been debated a
week, was passed by the house
Monday. Before it was passed
it was altered radically by
its opponents. All provisions
relating to the placing of carriers I'M
er the contract system were stricken
out and the salary system not only
was continued but the maximum sal
airy of carriers was increased from
$500 to 5000 per annum. A motion Of
ferCd by Mr.. Williams (dem., lid to
recOmmit the bill with instructions to
report an amendment providing for the
dismissal from service of carriers who
should use their influence in favor OF
any particular party or for any par
ticular candidate was voted down
SO to al.
AS passed, the bill Classics The
rural free delivery service and fixes
the compensation of employees as fol-
lows: Special agents in charge of di-
visions, not exceeding $4,000 per an
mum; special agents, four classes, ST.
300 to $1,000; route inspectors, four
classes, $1,000 to 81 1000; route inspec-
tors, four classes, 5000 to $1,000;
clerks, four classes, $500 to $1,000.
The compensation of carriers is not
to exceed $500.
There is not the slightest chance Of
the passage Of the financial bill agreed
upon by the house banking commit
tee. 1t contains the ideas suggested
by H. H. Hanna, chairman of the In
dianapolis financial conference. The
bill, as reported, provides for asset
banking, creates branches, which
would destroy every country national
bank, legislates out of existence the
office Of the comptroller of the cur
rency, and does several other things
no one Of which could command any
respectable following in the house.
The bill provides for the compulsory
exchange of gold and silver coin, and
this may be passed, but none of The
| radical sections of the bnl will be
seriously considered
Mr.. Burton (rep., o., chairman of
the river and harbor committee, re-
ported the river and harbor bill and
save notice that he would. call it I'D
after the disposal of the postoffice ap-
preparation bill.
The senate amendments to the di-
plOmatic and consular appropriation
-, I. II
was sent TO conference.
Mr.. Grosyenor rep., o. offered a
resolution rendering the thanks Of
congress 20 Secretary of State Hay
for his Mckinley memorial address
Mr.. Richardson (dem., Tenn thought
the resolution should first be consid-
cred by committee and upon his oh
lection it was referred
The Senate.
Washington, March 11-For nearly
two hours Monday Mr. Vest (dem.,
Mo- addressed the senate in opposf-
ton to the pending ship subsidy bill
No member of the body has been &C
corded a more fiatteringly close atten-
| ton than he received. Despite his
evident feebleness, he spoke with
force and fire and at times he became
brilliantly eloquent. He carefully
analysed the pending measure and
particularly attacked the present navi-
cation laws, which he declared were
relics of barbarism and responsible
for the decline of our merchant ma
rlne. Mr.. Tillman (dem., S. c. fol-
lowed with a brief speech in opposi-
ton to the bill. He denounced the
policy of giving subsidies to anybody,
particularly to individuals and corpo-
rations engaged in the formation Of
shipping trusts.
The senate passed a considerable
number of unobjected bills on the cal
endar.
A joint resolution was adopted au-
thorizing the secretary of the navy TO
donate to the Minnesota State Histor-
ical society the steering wheel of the
former United States steamship Min
nesota.
The senate confirmed the following
appointments as postmasters: c.
Hidden, Sun Prairie, Wis; w. F.
Gruetzmacher, WATERFOWL, Wis. P.
w. Mackenzie, Poynette.