Evening star., 1904-03-17
The House Takes It Up for
Amendment.
EXPLAINING ITEMS
MEMBERS sCRUTINIzING ITS PRO
VISIONS.
Senate Resumes Consideration of Gen.
Woods Nomination, Mr.. Quarles
Discussing the Promotion.

In the House today a bill was passed
ceding certain land appertaining to the Gus
tom house at st. Joseph, Mo-, for use as
street.
Sunday, March q. was set apart as
day for memorial addresses on the life and
character Of the late Representative Burke
of Pennsylvania.
On motion of Mr.. Maynard (yirginia) it
was agreed that when the House adjOurns
tomorrow 1t be until Monday.
Bills were passed providing for the hold
Ing of courts in the eastern division Of the
northern judicial district of Georgia, at
Athens, Ga, and transferring the county
of Pierce, in the state Of Georgia, from the
eastern to the southwestern division of the
United States district court for the south
ern district of Georgia.
Scrutinizing the Post Office Bill.
The House then went into committee Of
the whole to further consider the post Office
appropriation bill, which was read for
amendment
Mr.. Maddox (Georgia) requested of Mr.
Overstreet, chairman of the post Office
committee, an explanation of an item of
$o.OOO for advertising, saying: "As it has
been said there are a lot Of rascals in the
department.. we probably will be a little
MIR. OverStreet said the departments esti-
mate of $1,000 had been reduced by the
committee, and the amount would be used
almost exclusively in the supply division
In advertising for bids.
After some discussion by Mr.. Thayer
CMassachusetts). MIR. Rider (New York; and
Mr.. Stephens (Texas), the provision was
agreed to.
REQUIRED an explanation of the next item
OF 1900 for miscellaneous expenses in the
ONCE OF the Postmaster General"
Mr.. Overstreet answered that the COM
mlttee had deemed It wise to grant the
Postmaster General $1,000, as each Of his
assistants was allowed $1,000. and they
thought the Postmaster General certainly
should be allowed that much for emergen-
cies.
An amendment to reduce the amount to
81 600 was lost.
Delegate to Postal Congress.
Mr.. Cromer Qnd) wanted the appropria-
ton of $500 for compensation and en-
penses of the United States delegate to the
universal postal congress at Rome reduced
to 5000. The difference in the amounts
he said, was intended to pay the expenses
to Rome Of former member of the House.
referring to Mr.. Loud, whose voice." ne
said, always had been raised In the inter-
est of economy"
In question of this kind, Mr.. Overstreet
said in reply, the United States could not
be too strict in the matter Of economy.
After a lively debate, participated in by
Messrs. Thayer (Mass.), Foster Vt.), But
Ter Pa.). Gaines CTenn.). Mann. QIl.), Sib-
ley Pa.). Maddox (Ga.), the amendment
was agreed to Dy vote by tellers of So
to rs. -f's'3Se '.'''id
Allowances for Clerks.
; To the provision appropriating 500. .25O. 900
for compensation of postmasters Mr.. Will
Jams (Miss) offered an amendment provid-
ing that no part of this amount shall be
expended until the Postmaster General
shall have determined and made public a
fixed rule whereby clerical assistance shall
be allowed Or refused to postmasters of all
grades. He said he offered the amend
ment so that members of Congress may
not be unjustly or falsely accused of at
tempting unduly to influence the Post Of
flee Department
Upon being informed that Assistant At
torney General Robb yesterday had passed
upon the question of unusual business
requiring additional clerks, Mr.. Williams
asked that his amendment temporarily be
passed over.
Mr.. Williams made a point of order
against the provision in the bill designat-
ing certain postal employees as cashiers, %
might superintendents," superintendent Is
of carriers" "superintendents of inquiry :"
etc. He said that it was simply a means
higher than they already received
After an extended debate the point of
order was sustained.
Mr.. Williams followed this up by making
point OF order against the proposition to
give stamp clerks who may be assigned as
chiefs $2.70o. as against $1,7OO, which
they now receive
Mr.. Cowherd (Mo.) and Mr. Overstreet
argued for retention of the 81, 100 salary
provided by the bill. on the ground that
the salary of men performing such duties
should not be too meager
MIR. Williams insisted that there ought not
to be an attempt to reorganize the Post
Office Department in an appropriation BILL
If 1t is to be reorganized it should be done
in definite and specific way