The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-18
THE DEBATE IS LIVELY
cAMpArcN AMMUNITION MADE
 IN THE HOUSE.
Assertion That Democrats in 51st Congress Opposed Antitrust Legislation Is Denied by
 Williams and Gaines.

| WAEnlnWVDn. | jcurnnent today MT. Southwick of New York precipitated a brief but lively de- bate by having read an editorial from The New York World giving Republicans | credit for antitrust legislation and the merger prosecution. It was offered by | way of reply to MT. Williams. who ask ed yesterday if the merger decision was to be used by the Republicans as a the-
 atricaI political trick.
 Mir. Williams after the editorial had been read declared that the securities prosecution was instigated by Governor
 Van Sant whom he styled "a blanket
 Indian Republican" who refused to con suit ''headquarters," and that, for very shame, after he had the case dock eted, the administration prior to an eiec-
 tion could not hold itself still.
 Mr. Tawney of Minnesota, asserted that the Democrats in the Fifty-first Con- gress voted against antitrust legislation
 but vigorous protest came from Nil Gaines of Tennessee and Mir. Williams each of whom asserted that the Demo- crats had unanimously voted for such legislation.
 Throughout the day the postoffice ap- | propriation bill was under discussion | and little progress was made. The House met today and set apart | Sunday. March a. as day for memorial | addresses on the life and character of the late Representative Burke of Penn l sylvania.
 ! On motion of Mir. Maynard (va.), 1t | was agreed that when the House ad- journed tomorrow 1t be until Monday. Bills were also passed providing for | the holding of courts in the eastern di-
 vision of the Northern Judicial District of Georgia at Athens, Ga, and transfer ring the county of Pierce in Georgia, from the eastern to the southwestern di- vision of the United States Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The House then went into committee of the whole. further to consider the postoffice appropriation bill which was read for amendment.
 MT. Maddox CGa.), requested of Mir. Overstreet, Chairman of the Postofice Committee an explanation of an item of 5000 for advertising, saying:
 'As 1t has been said there is a lot of
 rascals in the Department, we will proo-
 ably be little more particular here- after"
 MT. overstreet said the administration
 estimate of $7,O00 had been reduced by
 the Committee and the amount would be
 used almost exclusively in the supply
 division in advertising for bids. After
 some discussion by Mir. Thayer (Mass.)
 Mfr. Rider (N. Y.), and MT. Stephens
 CTexas), the provision was agreed to.
 MT. Maddox pursuing the same tactics,
 requiring an explanation of the next item of $2,0OO flor miscellaneous expenses in the office of Postmaster General" Overstreet said that the Committee had deemed it wise to grant the Postmaster General 5000 as each of his assistants was allowed $1,0O0 and they thought the Postmaster General certainly should be allowed that much for emergencies.
 An amendment to reduce the amount to $1,000 was lost.
 The Bristow report. he said. was "a lot of slush and stun" gathered from the waste baskets and was a report the par entage of which no one would acknowi- edge.
 . MT. Crumpacker of Indiana, entertain ed the view that General Bristow did not pretend to say that any member of the House made improper requests of Beavers, but that he said Beavers had granted requests withoue any regard to the merits of the cases. He contended that members had put an undue inter pretation upon the report because there was nothing in 1t to fmpute illegality or dishonesty in the conduct of a single member of the House. He then took up the subject of appropriations for special mail facilities granted certain roads, and said they were nothing short of a mere gratuity.
 The rural free delivery service he strongly favored.
 After an extended debate the point of order was sustained. Mir. Williams made a point against the proposition to give | stamp clerks who may be assigned as | "chief" $2,7OO as against $1,70O. which l they now receive. Representative Cow 1 heard (Mo.), and MT. Overstreet argued | for the extension of the $1, TOO salary on | the ground that the salary of the men | prforming such duties should not be too | meager.
 Mir Williams insisted that this ought | not to be an attempt to reorganize the | postofiice in an appropriation bill.
 MT. Williams included in his objection cashiers whose salaries he was opposed to raising, and offered an amendment to reduce the amount allowed for them by the bill.
 Mir Mann Gll.), regarded it as a prop osition to cripple the city service, which he said ought to be given a reas- orable chance for existence. He charg- ed the committee when preparing the bill. had not given to the cities fair pro- vision for clerical help. The disposition seemed to be, he said, to increase the | pay of rural carriers at the expense of | the city service. l
 MT. Williams. still insisting on his | amendment, said there never had been | a time when the great cities of the coun- try were not very much better served | than his whole district
 Further criticizing the proposed in- | crease in salaries. MT. Williams. as if oy way of emphasis, said:
 Remember, this Is department that | oha ,faIx ttt to lation stone.'
 MT. Payne (N. Y.) the Republican lead er. asked: Where does the gentleman get his information?'
 "I get it from their own office" said Mr. Williams.
 Then you don't get 1t aIl," hotly re- orted Mir. Payne.
 'I do,' warmly replied Mir. Williams. and l get it from their charges against | themselves and I get 1t from the charge contained in the Presidents messagA and | get 1t from the knowledge that prevails n this House."
 He said only one division of the Post office Department had been invest gated.
 T believe. and believe the gentleman rom New York believes there are other divisions in it equally corrupt"
 MT. Payne said he did not believe any hing of the kind.
 Mir Williams then withdrew all the points of order and amendments he had ,ffered.
 Mir Grosvenor (Ohio). speaking in a | vein. said that great bureaus of | he Postofice Department had been | transferred to the Fourth Assistant Post | master General. and he thought it would |