Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-19
58TH CONGRESS.
Postoff1ce Bill Under Discussion
in the House.
Several Amendments Relating to
Appropriations Adopted.
Passes Most Of Time in Executive
Session.

Washington. March 1S.-The house
WIS in session d little over three hours
today, an early adjournment being TAX
en- to permit members TO make trip
10 the site of the proposed jamestown
exposition. Although the post Office
appropriation bill was under discussion
the entire time only one page was COM
p.eted today. making eleven pages in
III disposed OF. Several amendments
we're adopted, the principal one being
the insertion of a new paragraph in the
bill providing for an appropriation Of
500 900 for business at third and fourth:
class post offices.
The postmaster general, however. is
required to make public the regulations
under which the allotments are to Re
made before using any part of this
amount ara similar requirement was
imposed in the case of the expenI!-
turc of the 81 ,00o.o00 for separating
mail, at third and fourth class post
offices.
When the House met, today, the
army appropriation bill was sent to
conference. the Speaker appointing
Mcssrs. Hull. Iowa. Stevens, Mimi, and
Hay, v, as cOnfereeS.
Ltteuer, y. Y, asked that the House
disagree to the Senate amendments to
the Notifications bill and ask for Il con-
fronce. Separate vote of the House on
the Senate amendment providing for ii
submarine boat was demanded by
Mudd Md. The bill was sent to the APP
prppriations committee under the rules.
The House agreed to the report of the
committee on elections No. l, declaring
that Alexander d. Ddntzeler, contest
ant was not elected TO Congress from
the 1th district of South Carolina. AL
50 that Julius Kahn. contestant. was
not elected from the 4th California dis
trict, also that James II. Moody, COLI
tcstant. was not elected from the 10Th
district OF North Carolina. This con-
firms the titles of Representatives
Lover, Livernash and OUdger in their
seats.
Consideration of the post Office sap
preparation bill for amendment was
then resumed.
Ovcrstreet offered a new paragraph
appropriating 100000 for unusual bus
mess accr,ing at third and fourth class
Offices. To this Burleson, Texas. Of
fcrcd an amendment providing that no
part of the sum shall be used until the
postmaster general shall publish the
regulations governing tch department
under which the allotments are made.
The Overstreet paragraph. together
with the BurlesOn amendment, then
agreed to with an additional provso
that the postmaster general shall re-
port to Congress prior to Feb. l, 1905.
the method of application of this sum
of $,GO0CG and the circumstances under
which the appropriation has been dis
burscd.
BY am amendment offered by Burle-
son. Texas. which was agreed to. the
postmaster general is not permitted to
cypend any part of the 81 100000 APP
proprated for separating mails at third
ana fourth class post offices until he
shall publish the rules and regulations
governing the department in the allot-
ment of the same.
Williams made point of order
against the provision appropriating
$4,000 per annum for the lease of a
post office building in New York city to
he erected over the tracks of the New
York Central railroad.
Overstrect called for a ruling on the
point of order.
The chairman sustained the point of
order and the provision went out of the
bill. In passing on the question Bout
we'll. Ills. who was in the chair. held
that the law gave the postmaster gen
eral discretion as to the location OF
post offices and therefore the provision
constituted new Legislation. Using this
decision as "A Gu" Overstreet then Of
fered as substitute the identical terms
stricken out except that 1t vested dis
cretion in the postmaster general. TIC
this Stephens raised a point of order
which the Chair Ovcrruled.
At $40 the House adjourned till Mon
day.