The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-26
HOUSE SESSION
 IS UPROAR|OUS POStOflce BiII Passes Amid
 Great Enthusiasm AMENDMENTS VOTED DOWN
Appropriations for Special Mail FaciII- ties Over Trunk Lines South of Washington Stand as
 Originally Made.

Washington, March 25.-The house today passed the postoffice appropriation bill after prolonged debate on the paragraph affecting rural letter carriers, which yes- terday was stricken out, but which today was inserted with enthusiasm under a 1 special order of the committee on rules. ] Every amendment and substitute offered to this paragraph was voted down. Mir. Moon made an unsuccessful attempt to re- commit the oil with instructions to strike out the appropriation for special faclli- ties over trunk lines south of Washing ton and west of Kansas City.
 The bill has been under discussion since March '. At times members vigorously as- sailed the postoffice department and Gen. eral Bristow. and demands were mado for an investigation into the entire postal service. but Chairman Overstreet, who has borne the brunt of the attacks. stood as a barrier to such action.
 Resolution to Reinsert.
 When the house convened MT. Dalzell of Pennsylvania. of the committee on rules, brought in a resolution reinsertna l tions stricken out yesterday relating to the pay of rural carriers and the pro- hibtion with reference to their acting as soliciting agents for persons, firms OF l corporations.
 In commenting on the rule, Mir Williams of Mississippi said the rule was an il- lustration of the fact that the party irT the majority in the house could do things whenever 1t wanted to-
 MT. Fitzgerald of New York in objeetlng to the rule, made plea for the letter carriers of the large cities saying he protested against system of legislation which permitted rural carriers to be taken care of while the city carriers were not l But, he said, he had had some eNpefaehte l with machines" and understood the l futility of attempting to stop the pro- press of a machine that was well gauged. l After some debate Mir. Mann of llli- nois moved to reeommit the rule, but a point of order by Mir Dalzen was sus- 1 tained By a viva vooe vote the resolu- ton was agreed to.
 Salary of Purchasing Agent. A similar rule regarding the para graph approiating s5000 for the salary or a purchasing agent for the postofnce de-, partment which went out yesterday was! reported by MT. Grosvenor from the rules committee and unanimously agreed to. IL was first amended however, so as to reduce the salary of the purchasing agent' from $5oO0 to s400O. Mir Baker of New York proposed an amendment which the clerk began to read as follows:
 "To reimburse the great railroads for the cost of supplying the President of the United States with special trains cigars, vines"
 At this point MT. Mann of Illinois in-, terrupted the reading with a point of' order.
 "The chair sustans the point of order- The clerk will read the bill" declared Mr. Boutelle of Illinois. in the chair.
 Mir. Bakers appeal for the reading of his amendment was not compiled with.
 Mir Pou of North Carolina accused the, republicans of legislatng in the interesu of the automobile trust in establishing rural routes only where there were gooG roads.
 The reading of the bill was eoneluded1 at o'clock and the discussion then rel cured to the reinstated provision af-s feeting rural letter carriers.
 Messrs. Livingston of Georgia. Thayer, of Pennsylvania and Baker of New York criticized the rule of the house, MT. Wil- Hams, member of the rules committee.3l said he voted for the resolution becauses 1t enabled the house to consider fuly those of rural carriers. He elicited rel publican applause when he said the worst thing the advocates of increased pay for city carriers could do, would be to secure measures tending to equalize them with the rural carriers.
 Involved in Heated Controversy.
 Mr Mann of Illinois became involved in heated controversy with MT. over- street.
 why" MT. Mann asked. ''is it more 1 important that the gentleman shall objectl when q resolution of inquiry is proposed than when any other subject is being dis-l cussed? Why cut ot1 free debate?'
 Mir. Overstreet desired to put a ques- ton but Mr Mann hoty remarked that MT. Overstreet was not in a position to ask or answer questions. MT. Mann thought the rules should be recommitted. and a new one brought in separating the question of the pay oI the rural carriers from that of their right 10 act as agents in a public capacity. He invited vota on such a proposition, but said MT. Over- street would make point of order against 1t.
 Messrs Grosvenor of ohio and DalzelI of Pennsylvania defended the rule.
 The chalr sustained a point of order by Mir Dalzell on a motion by Mir Mann to recommit the rule.
 By viva voce vote the routine was agreed to.
 A similar rule regarding the paragraph approprating 5000 for the salary of a purchasing agent for the postofhce de- pertinent which went out yesterday. was reported by MT, Grosvenor from the rules committed He referred 10 the proposed legislation as wise and in the interest," of a reformation in the matter of pur- chasing supplies for the postofhce depart, ment. Mir Williams said the office of purchasing agent under bond should be responsible to the department and ths country for the purchase cf supplies. and for ers " with which it is aone. iife sesos--- was agreed td unanimously.
 Original Paragraph Agreed To. After a prolonged discussion the original paragraph brought in by the committed was agreed to- It provides salars ot not to exceed S720 per anrun. and prohibS its the soliciting of business or the re> ceptIon of orders hy carriers from any firm, person or corporation. but permits the carriers under certain restrictions tol Continued on Second Paoe)