Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-06
ON THE POSTAL BILL
SENATE AaRxEs TO CONTRACT
FOR TAHITI OCEAN NAIL SERVICE
Weight Of Letters Sent Under Frank
Observation-Disclosures DeEv-
cry Ruled Out.

After Senator Morgans speech yesterday
afternoon the Senate proceeded with the
post Office appropriation bill, but had not
completed its consideration upon adjourn
ment.
Senate amendments were adopted without
objection until the Senate committee pro-
vision continuing the contract with the
Oceanic Steamship Company for transport
Ing the mails by its steamers sailing from
San Francisco to Tahiti was reached. At
the request of Mr.. Plat Comm Mr.. Per-
kins explained the item, which carries an
appropriation Of $4,000. He said 1t was
impossible to operate the Tahiti steamship
line without the aid OF the United States,
and there was no other way In which an
efficient mail service could be maintained
at the present time.
Objection to the renewal of the contract
was made by Mr.. Teller on the ground that
1t was plain subsidy" He objected to the
payment of $4,000 for the conveyance of
mail to islands where 1.-The interests Of the
United States are inconsequential." The
Senate amendment renewing the contract
was agreed to.
At the suggestion of Mr. Lodge the Senate
adopted an amendment increasing from
two to four ounces the weight of letters
sent under frank. In presenting the amend
ment Mr.. Lodge said that under the present
limitation 1t was difficult to transmit many
important official documents, and that fire.
quently letters were returned for want Of
sufficient postage.
Various Bills Passed.
The reading Of the post Office bill having
been completed, 1t was temporarily laid
aside and the following bills passed:
Revising the regulations for the inspection
OF steam vessels
Providing for the appointment of an ad-
ditional assistant appraiser at the port Of
Boston.
Authorizing the establishment of Dayton
Ohio, as port of delivery.
Consideration of the post Office bill being
resumed, Mr.. Long moved an amendment
increasing to the extent of twenty-five the
number of rural free delivery agents. He
said in presenting the amendment that there
were about 5000 applications for the estab-
| lishment of rural delivery routes. and that
the present force was totally inadequate to
| investigate them The amendment was
| agreed to, but when the action was fol-
| lowed by an amendment to increase the APP
preparation to the extent of SIS, 600 in order
suggested that the matter should be delayed
until next December. This amendment also
was agreed to.
An Experiment Ruled Out.
Mr. Fairbanks suggested an amendment
appropriating $40 600 for experimental tele-
phone delivery of special delivery mail in
connection with the rural free mail service.
Explaining the amendment, Mr.. Fairbanks
said that the intention was to give the peo-
pie of the country the benefit of the special
delivery service, and he added that the privi-
lege of forwarding letter by telephone as
intended would in many cases expedite de-
livery to the extent of twenty-four hours.
He also said thai the telephone was becom.
ing SO general as to render the plan feasible.
Mr.. Teller suggested that the amendment
should be so changed SIS to require the gov
eminent to supply telephones to farmers
who have not got them.
Mr. Fairbanks-''That is not required at
present"
Mr.. Teller-'It probably will be in the
course of another year =
Mr.. Teller added that the amendment
seemed to him to be .'paternalism rim mad.
! and Mr.. Fairbanks replied that it was no
more paternalistic in character than the
free mail delivery in clties--r--~-a.----
| The amendment was ruled out of order.
Mr. QuarIes offered an amendment ciassi-
| flying rural delivery routes and fixing as a
scale of salaries for agents $500, $40 and
| $500.
Without taking up the amendment the
Senate at 4:21 pm. went into executive
session and at 30 adjourned.