Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-18

asserted tTit tIie Ildl
imously voted for such legislation.
Throughout the day the post office
appropriation bill was under discus
sion and little progress was made. The
minority leader declared the post Of
flee department was rotten from tur-
ret to foundation stone, and the Re-
publicans were trying to reorganiZe it
or an appropriation bill.
The House. today. set apart Sunday,
March -. as a day for memorial adj
dresses on the life and character of the
late Representative Burke OF Pennsyl-
yania.
/ On motion Of Maynard. Va. it was
.Hgreed that when the House adjourned,
tomorrow. ii be until Monday.
The House then went into committee
of the whole to further consider the
post Office appropriation bill, which
was read for amendment.
In explanation of an item of $4,000
for advertising, Overstrect. chairman
of the post office committee said the
DEPARTMENTS estimate of $1,000 had
been reduced by the committee and the
amount would be used almost eXclu
sively in the supply division in adver-
Using for bids.
After some discussion by Thayer,
MASS and others, the provisions was
agreed to.
Cromer, Ind. wanted the aDpropria-
ton of $500 for compensation ard ex-
penses of the United States delegate
TO the Universal Postal Congress at
Rome reduced to $4,000.
After lively debate participated in
by Thayer. Mass. Foster. VT. and 9TH
erS the amendment was agreed to.
To the provisions appropriating $c3,
$50, 000 for compensation for poStmaS
tiers. Williams, Miss, offered an amend
ment providing that no part of this
amount shall be expended until the
postmaster general shall have deter
mined and made public a fixed rule
whereby assistance shall be allowed
or refused to postmasters of all grades
He said he offered the amendment 80
that members of Congress may not be
! unjustly and falsely accused of at
tempting unduly to influence the post
Office department..
Upon being informed that Assistant
Attorney General Rohb. yesterday. hal
passed upon the question of unusual
DuSiIN'SS dtlultIOldi tItlkS
Williams asked that his amendment
Temporarily be passed over.
, Williams made Il point of order
, against the provision in the bill dcsig
mating certain postal employees as
cashiers might superintendent"
| "superintendents of carriers "superin-
tendents Of inquiry" etc.
After an extended debate the point
| of order was sustained.
| Williams followed this up by making
Il point of order against the PROPOSE
ticn to give stamp clerks who may b"
assigned ns chiefs $270O as against
S1700 which they now receive.
cowherd. Mo-. and Overstreet argued
in its favor.
Williams included in his objection
! cashiers whose salaries he was opposed
TO raising. and offered an amendment
to reduce the amount allotted by the
bill
Mann. H.. charged that the commit
tee when preparing the bill had not
given to the cities fair provision for
clerical help
Further Criticising the proposed in
creases in salaries. Williams. as if by
way of emphasis. said:
! Remember this is department
that is absolutely rotten from turrct
to foundation stone"
! Payne n. Y. the Republican leader.
asked:
! Where does the gentleman get his
information"
Il get it from their own office" said
Williams.
| Then you don't get it at ALL" hot,y
, retorted Payne.
! Il do" warmly replied Williams. "and
| get it from their charges against
themselves and l get it from the
charge contained in the Presidents
message: and l get it from the knowl-
edge that prevails in this House." He
said that only one division of the post
Office department had been investi-
gated. Il believe. and l believe the
gentleman from New York believes
that there are other divisions in it
equally corrupt"
! Payne said he did not believe any
thing of the kind. and he had not seen
single man who knew anything about
1t. And STILL he said, the gentleman
INDUCES in this extravagant language
that the whole department is rotten.