The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-18
PestoHice Department AssaiIed
by Mr.. Williams.
LIVELY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
BOTH SIDES MAKING POLITICAL
CAPITAL.

CIR 0versrreet chairman OF the post
Office committee. an explanation of an
item Of $4,000 for advertising, saying:
As IT has been said there are lot
or rascals IN the department, who will
PROBABLY be little more particular
hereafter"
AR. Overstreet said the adminfstFa-
ton estimate Of $1,000 had been reduced
by the committee and the amount would
be used almost exclusively in the sup
ply division In advertising for bids
AFTER some discussion by Mr.. Thayer
tMass), Mr. Rider IN. " and Mr..
stephens CTexas) the provision was
agreed TO.
Ar. CrOmer Qndiana) wanted the apz
preparation of $500 for compensation
and expenses of United States dele
gates to the universal postal congress
az Rome reduced to 1000. The differ
ence in the amounts. he said. was in
tended TO pay the expenses 10 Rome Of
former member Of the house, refer
ring 10 Mr.. Loud. whose voice. he
said, always had been raised in the in
terest OF economy"
After a lively debate the amendment
was agreed to by a vote, by tellers. of
IS TO IS.
Places For Favorites
ATr. Williams made a point Of order
against the provision in the bill
designating certain postal employees as
cashiers" might superintendent"
'saperintendents Of carriers super
lntendents Of inquiry" etc. He said
that II was simply means Of putting
favorites into places a. salaries higher
than they already received.
After an extended debate the point of
order was sustained
Mr.. Williams followed this up by
making a point Of order against the
proposition 20 give stamp clerks who
may be assigned as chiefs" s. 700 as
against Sl,fG0. which they now receive. !
Mr. Cowherd OF Missouri and Mr.
ONerstreet argued for "A retention of the !
$500 salary provided by the bill. on
the ground the salary of men perform
Ing such duties should not be too
meager.
Mr.. Williams insisted that there
ought not TO be an attempt TO reOr- /
ganize the pOstohice department in an
appropriation bill. If il is to be reor- I
ganized il should be done in a definite
and specific way.
Postal Department Rotten.
Mr.. Williams included in his. obiec-
ton cashiers whose salaries he was op-
posed 10 raising and offered an amend
ment 10 reduce the amount allowed by
the bill Further criticising the pro-
posed increases in salaries Mr. VIII
hams. as If by way of emphasis, re-
marked this is a department that is
absolutely rotten from turret TO founda-
tiOn stone"
Mr.. Payne of New York the Repub-
hcan leader, asked: Where does the
gentleman get his information?"
get 1t from their own Office" re-
piled Mr.. Williams.
Then you don't get it at ALL holly
replied Mr.. Payne
Matter of Common knowledge.
4 DO warmly replied Mr.. Williams.
and get IL from their charges against
themselves, and I get il from the
charge contained i'm the presidents
message. and / get IL from the knewI- !
cage that prevails in this house"
He said that only one division of the
postoihce department had been fnvestf- I
gated Il believe, and believe the gen
tleman from New York believes thar
there are other divisions in il equally
corrupt
Mr. Payne said he did not believe
any thinS Of the kind. and he had not
seen a single man who knew anvtbinf-
about IT, And STILL he said. the
gentleman INDUCES in this extravaganza
rotten"
Mr. Williams then withdrew all the
had offered
Mr.. Oversreet spoke OF the difficult /
hes encountered by the committee In /
preparing The bin. They had sought
10 accom-. iish two things. he said. The
hrSI Was TO Segregate the several an
Preparations in order that the expendi-
lures may be made in accordance with
the purposes of congress. and second. |
10 segregate the enpioyments and name
them by proper language in order thar
The duties may be performed more ac-
. Curately.
Grosvenor Was Sarcastic.
Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio. speaking in
sarcastic vein. said that great bureaus
Of the postoflice department had been
transferred 10 the fourth assistant post.
master general and he thought a would
a De good idea 10 let BristOw run the
whole machine and thereby save the
salaries of the other three assistants.
AR. Mann charged that the failure OF
the committee 10 increase salaries in
certain grades was solely because il
was desired 10 give the rural carriers
the money.
ON point Of order the appropriation
for physicians for pOstOhices was
stricken out.
Mr. Mann said that. Notwithstanding
the recommendation OF the department
for an increase Of 500 clerks Of the 81
" 900 class the committee had cut the
n number down TO AS and had cut the
departments recommendation for 5000
II clerks at $500 10 100. The committee,
he declared, had not fairly treated the
clerks in the postoflices in the large
cities II that policy WAS to remain he
said there certainly would be presented
Il in the house a dill putting the clerks on
an eight-hOur basis.
New Charge Made.
The charge that the postofice depart
nent had diverted appropriations for
rent. fuel etc. 10 the payment OF clerk
g hire was vigorously made by Mr.. VIII
. liams and he demanded te know who
was responsible for that abuse and for
changing the law To suit his own viii.
Somebody" he said. has Ueen deprtV-
81 ing the legislative branch or the gov
eminent Of its constitutional right and
power 60 say where the public money
snail go" Some underling in the de-
partment had been making laws by
construction. be added.
Nr. Overstreet said there was a belief
in the department that the construction
Of the appropriation would permit the
practice.
Mr. williams warmly replied that
there never was a man born so great
"A fool as 10 contend that an appTopria-
"a ton for rent meant an appropriation
Il FOR fuel He then spoke of the inde-
pendence Of the civil service commits
sion and their absolute contempt for the
law. They do not hesitate a minute,
ne declared. ito violate the law any
time they please and tell you with
Haavity that it was because OF con-
ttuction put on the law by somebody
HaHnH~H 4