Evening star., 1904-03-18
Consideration of Measure Re-
sumed in the House.
PAY OF POSTMASTERS
APPROPRIATION OF $500, 900 FOR
UNUSUAL BUSINESS.
Restriction Regarding Appropriation
for Separating Mails at Third and
Fourth-Class Offices.

When the House met today the army ap-
preparation bill was sent to conference, the
Speaker appointing Mcssrs. Hull Qowa),
Stevens (Minn.). and Hay Va.) conferees.
Mr.. Littauer IN. W asked that the House
disagree to the Senate amendments to the
Notifications bill and ask for conference.
separate vote of the House on the Senate
amendment providing for submarine boat
was demanded by Mr.. Mudd (Md.). The bill
was sent to the appropriations committee
under the rule.
A bill was passed ratifying act of the
legislative assembly of the territory of Ok
lahoma legalizing the water works bond
election held by the city of Geary, in said
territory.
The House agreed to the report of the
committee on elections No. 1. declaring
that Alexander d. Dantzler, contestant,
was not elected to Congress from the sew
enth district of South Carolina. Also that
Julius Kahn, contestant. was not elected
from the fourth California district: also
that James NJ. Moody. contestant, was not
elected from the tenth district of North
Carolina. This confirms the titles of Rep
resentatives Lever, Livernash and Gudger
in their seats.
Postal Bill Resumed.
Consideration of the post Office appro-
priation bill for amendment then was re-
sumed
Mr.. Overstreet offered a new paragraph,
appropriating $500 900 for unusual business
accruing at third and fourth-class offices.
To this Mr.. BurleSon CTeX-) offered an
amendment. providing that no part of the
sum shall be used until the Postmaster
General shall publish the regulations gov
erning the department under which the al
lotments made.
Mr.. Cowherd (Mo), a member of the
committee, characterized as a distinct evil
the too great steps from the third-class
office on a salary of 81 300 and no allow
ance to the second-class, where an assistant
and clerk hire are allowed
Mr.. Hepburn Qowa) took issue with Mr.
Cowherd regarding a statement that third
class postmasters were well paid. saying
that a great majority of them received less
than letter carriers. He declared that
members from the large cities were content
Tor the present because they have the high
priced offices. He moved that the proposed
amount be increased to 81. 500 100.
Mr.. Overstreet insisted that Mr.. Hep
burns amendment was going a little too
far, because 1t would give more than $500
clerk allowance to every third-claSs office
regardless of the merits of the case. How
can we consistently justify our position
with the country and our constituents
when we make a lump sum aDDro"~'" ton
of 81. 900 for this purpoSe?" he asked.
Answering Mr.. Mann. Mr.. Hepburn denied
that he had asSailed the larger cities, but
said IL was his Dellef that mliiiOnS or DOL
lars are every year recklessly sQuandered
in an attempt to expedite the delivery of
mails in the interest of business men.
The Hepburn amendment was voted down.
The Overstreet paragraph, together with
the Burleson amendment, then was agreed
to with an additional proviso that the Post
master General shall report to Congress
prior to February l. 1905. the method of
application of this sum of $J00000 and the
circumstances under which the appropria-
ton has been disburSed
By an amendment offered by Mr.. Burle-
son CTex.), and which was agreed to. the
Postmaster General is not permitted to
expend any part of the $1.000,C0O sppTo-
priated for separating mails 1T third and
fourth-class post offices until he shall pub
Iish the rules and regulations governing
the department in the allotment of the
same.