Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-03-18
WARM TINE N HOUSE
Introduction of Amendments
by Representative Williams
Results in Hot Debate
MINORITY SCORES a POINT
Payne, of New York. Resents State
ment That the Possoffice Department
is Rotten From Turret to Founda-
ton Stone = Williams Called Down,
and Withdraws the Amendment.

and Withdraws tho Amendment.
Washington, March 1S.--When the
house went into committee OF the
whole to further consider the post
office appropriation bin which was
read for amendment, Mr.. Maddox of
Georgia requested of Mr.. Overstreet,
chairman of the postoffice committee,
an explanation of an item of $4,000 for
advertising, saying /: "Asl it has been
said there are lot of rascals in the
department. we probably will be lit
tie more particular hereafter
Mr.. Overstreet said the administra-
tion estimate of $1,000 has been re-
duced by the committee and the
amount would be used almost exclu-
sively in the supply division in adver-
t!sing for bids. After discussion by
Mr.. Thayer OF Massachusetts,, Mr..
Rider of New York, and Mr.. Stephens
of Texas, the provision was agreed to.
To the provision appropriating $685.
100000 for compensation of postmas-
ters, Mr.. Williams of Mississippi Of
fered an amendment providing that no
part CT this amount shall be expended
until the postmaster general shall have
determined and made public fixed
rule whereby clerical assistance shall
be allowed or refused to postmasters
OF all grades. He said he offered an
amendment 80 that members of con-
gress may not be unjustly and falsely
accused Of attempting unduly to infiu-
ence the postoffice department.
Upon being informed that Assistant
Attorney General Robb yesterday had
passed upon the question of unusual
business" requiring additional clerks.
Mr.. Williams asked that his amend
ment temporarily be passed over.
Minority Scores Point.
Mr.. Williams made a point of order
against the provision in the bill des-
jgnating certain postal employees as
cashiers, might superintendent"
superintendent of carriers" Super
intenients of inquiry" etc. He said
that 1t was simply means of putting
favorites into places at salaries higher
than 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 I've stamp clerks who
may be assigned as chiefs" S2.100, as
against Sl,T00 which they now receive.
He Included in his objection cashiers
whose salaries he was opposed TO rails
ing, and offered an amendment 10 re-
duce The amount allowed by the bill.
This precipitated a lengthy debate,
in the course of which. further CRITICS.
ing the proposed increases in salaries,
Mr.. Williams. as If by way of elnpha-
sis said: Remember this is a depart
ment that Is absolutely rotten from
turre, to foundation stone
Mr.. Payne of New York. the repub-
lean leader. asked. Where does the
gentleman get his information?"
~ get 1t from their own office" said
Mr.. Williams.
Then you don't get it at ALL" holly
retorted Mr.. Payne.
Il do" warmly replied Mr.. Williams,
"and get 1t from their charges
against themselves and l get ii from
the charge contained in the presidents
message, and l get from the know-
edge that prevails in this house" He
said that only one division of the post
office department had been investigat-
ed. II believe and believe the gen
tleman from New York believes that
there are other divisions in it equally
corrupt"
Williams Was Called Down.
Mr.. Payne said he did not believe
anything of the kind and he had not
seen a. single man who knew anything
about it. And still" he said, the
gentleman INDUCES III this eXtravagant
language that the whole department us
rotten"
Mr.. Williams then withdrew all the
points OF order and amendments he
had offered.
After some other amendments had
been disposed of, the charge that the
postoffiee department had diverted APP
preparations for rent, fuel, ETC., to the
payment of clerk hire, was vigorously
made by Mr.. Williams and he demands
ed to know VINO was responsible for
that abuse and for changing the law
to suit his own sweet will. Some I'M
derling in the department had been
making laws by construction, he add
ed.
Mr. Overstreet said there was be-
lief in the department that the con-
struction OF the appropriation would
peSmit the practice.
Mr.. Williams replied that there
never was a man born so great
a fool as to contend that an appropria-
ton for rent meant an appropriation
for fuel He then spoke of the indepen-
dence of the civil service commission
and their absolute contempt of the law.
The hour of adjournment was at
hand when Mr.. Southwick of New
York, referring to Mr.. Williams re-:
marks yesterday on the subject OF
trusts, had read an editorial from the
New York World, saying that the anti
trust law was framed by republican,
passed by a republican senate, and
signed by a republican president, and
that 1t had remained a dead letter on
the statute books during the second
term of President Cleveland. The re-
publicans vigorously applauded.
Mr.. Williams said that he was more
than delighted to see the republican
majority on the floor cheer the
hounds on the hunt down the COM
bines and trusts of This country" He
would, he said, be even more delighted
If he did not know that you are very
much like the month of March-yol
come in like lions and go out like
lambs" which created laughter on the
democratic side. He added. Il want
the country to watch and see how fae