Evening star., 1904-03-25
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

When the House convened today Mr.
DalzeE PaD of the committee on rules
brought in a resolution reinstating in the
post Office appropriation bill the sections
stricken out yesterday relating to the pay
or rural carriers and the prohibition with
reference to their activity as soliciting
agents for persons. firms or corporations.
In commenting on the rule. Mr.. Williams
CMiss) said that the rule was an ilustra-
ton of the fact that the party in the ma
jority in the House could do things when
ever it wanted to.
Mr.. Fitzgerald N.Y.), in objecting to the
rule, made plea for the letter carriers of
the large cities, saying that he protested
against system of legislation which per-
mitted rural carriers to be taken care OF
while the city carriers were not But he
said, he had had some experience with
machines and understood the futility of
attempting to stop the progress of a ma
chine that was we'll gauged
MesSrs. Livingston (Ga.), Thayer MASS }
and Baker On. " criticised the rules of the
House.
MIR. Williams. a member of the rules
committee, said he voted for the resoIu-
tion because it enabled the House to fully
consider the question of rural carriers
He elected republican applause when he
said the worst thing the advocates of
increased pay for city carriers could do
would be to secure measures tending to
equalize them with the rural carriers
In Heated Controversy.
Mr.. Mann Qll) became involved in a
heated controversy with Mr. Overstreet
But for Mr.. Overstreet's point of order
yesterday, Mr.. Mann said, there would
have been free debate on not only the
subject under discussion, but also on a
resolution or inquiry of the Post Office
Department.
Mr.. Overstreet insisted that he asked
Tor the rule for the very purpose of Sc
curing free debate.
Why, Mr.. Mann asked, lis it more i'm,
portant that the gentleman shall object
when resolution of inquiry is proposed
than when any other subject Is being
discuSSed?'
Mr.. Overstreet desired to put a oues
ton, but Mr.. Mann hotly remarked that
Mr. Overstreet was not in position To
ask or answer questions Mr. Mann
thought the rule should be recommitted
sho new one brought in separating the
question of the pay of rural carriers from
that or their right to act as agents i'm a
private capacity. He invited a vote on
such proposition. but said Mr.. Over
against it.
Messrs. Grosvenor (Ohio) and DalzeIl
(Pa) defended the rule.
The chair sustained a point of order nv
commit the rule.
BY viva voce vote the resolution was
agreed to.
Proposed Purchasing Agent.
similar rule regarding the paragraph
appropriating $4,000 for the salary of a mr..
chasing agent for the Post Office Depart-
ment. which went out yesterday. was re-
ported by Mr.. Grosvenor from the rules
committee. He referred to the proposed
legislation as wise and in the interests of
a reformation in the matter of purcha ain !,
supplies for the Post Office Department.
BY way Of information to the democratic
side Of the House, Mr.. Williams said the
| Office Of purchasing agent centraAizes re-
| sponsibility and makes one purchasing
| agent under bond responsible to the Depart
ment and the country for the purchase Of
| supplies and for the honesty and propriety
| agreed to unanimously.
| The provision was agreed to after dis