The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-21
An Increase in Paw of
Rural Carriers.
AS TO MAIL SUBSIDY
Serious Division in the House Commit
tee. Minority Report Probable.
Congress May Adjourn by
the First of May, it is
Believed
Especial to News and Observer

u
Washington, d. c., Feb. 2O.-The Post
office Appropriation Bill as completed by
the House Committee today increased the
salary of free rural delivery carriers from
$500 to $72O year, but adds Droviso
that they are to have no further paw or
allowance and after July /, 1904, the date
ion which the increase in salary goes into
effect they shall not be allowed to solicit
business or receive orders or carry any
kind of merchandise for hire.
This provision will prevent their lon
ger acting as agents for newspapers and
was stubbornly opposed in committee on
that ground by MIR. Cowherd, of Missouri.
but the majority of the committee
thought the rural carriers ought to be on
the same basis in this respect as city car
riers, are and the proviso was adopted.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Bristow re-
commended salary of $3.50 year for car
riers, but the committee thought $3.50 suf-
ficient as this. makes an aggregate in
crease of more than five million dollars
for the year in salaries.
In view of the great demand for new
rural routes all over the country, provis-
ion was made for increase, in the number
of special and route agents from 139 to 149.
They are to be known hereafter as rural
agents.
On the question Of the Southern mail
subsidy there was serious division in the
COMMITTEES, and 1t is unlikely that a mi
nority report on it will be brought in!
The fight against it was led by Mr.. Moon
Of Tennessee, the ranking Democratic
member or the committee. He was Sc
conded by Mr.. Sperry (Rep.), of Connec-
ticut; Gobel (Rep), of Ohio, and Stat
ford tRepN, of Wisconsin. The bill car
ries an appropriation for this purpose of
SAP, 100 and its opponents contended that
it amounted radically to a gift of that
much money to the Southern Railway.
To prevent the possibility of further
grating" such as the recent postal in
vetsigation disclosed, the bill provides for
the appointment by the President of a
purchasing agent for the Postoffice De-
partment for a term of four years unless
soone removed, at alary of $4,000 a
year.
Senator Simmons today presented a
number of petitions from North Carolina,
asking the enactment of the Hepburn
Deliver bill preventing the shipment of
wzliskey into prohibition States under the
interstate commerce act.
The concensus of opinion among Con-
gressmen and Senators just now seems to
be that Congress can complete its work
not later than the middle or last Of April,
ana some Of them Ak an earlier date.
Senator Lodge says there will be nothing
TO keep Congress heer after April 18th.
Senator Dryden says April 1st and Sena-
tor Kuarles fixes May list as the time Tor
being at his home. No Senator places
the date beyond May 1st, and few earlier
than April 18th.
On the House side most Of the Dredic-
tions are from April 1st to the 18th, So
rapidly are the regular appropriation bills
being disosed OF, and so little important
legislation is there ahead that members
Of the House are inclined to expect an
early adjournment. But on the Senate
side there are bitches in combinations
and prospects of possible complications in
the Far Eastern question that make Sen
ators more conservative in their forecasts
now are that Congress will be able to I'M
ish it work not later than May LIST.
FRED L. MERRITT.