The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-17
ss(EAL|NG UNDER
A CLOAK OF LAW
Southern and Ellen En-
Get the Graft.
A VIGOROUS ATTACK
Representative Robinson Declares that
Railroad Subsidies are Unjustifi.
able and lndefensihIe. To
Work Up Hearst Sem
fimenf
timent.
Especial to News and Observer

Washington, D. c.. March 16.-Con-
gresham Hearst has sent two men to
North Carolina to look after his interest
at the committee meeting in Raleigh to-
morrow night and to go over the State
creating Hearst sentiment and securing in
fuence where it will do most good. These
men are nominally employed on his paper,
and one of them is a North Carolinian.
At least two other North Carolnians in
his employ have previously been sent to
the State on like errandS. and coming
back have given reports that have greatly
encouraged Mr.. Hearst.
The most vigorous attack that has yet
been made on subsidies granted to rail
roads by the pending Postoffce Bill was
the speech of Representative Robinson,
of Arkansas. in the House of Representa-
tives today. In course of his remarks,
Mr.. Robinson said they were "unjustifa-
BILE and indefensible and that if the grant
ing of them was the issue throughout
the country not member who voted
for them could be returned to the House.
The Postoffcc Department had declared
in its reports for ten or twelve years
that the subsidy was not needed, he claim
cd, and but for congressional influence it
would not be allowed. He read some of
the reports to this effect. one in particu
lar stating that the department woui"
have withheld the appropriation had
not construed the action of Congress in
voting it over an adverse report from
the department as the expression of a
desire that it be paid. Mr. Robinson said
this had gone on from year to year until
it had become great public scandal.
"Legalized stealing" exclaimed Mr..
Gaines of Tennessee. zone of these two
subsidized railroads (Southern and L. and
NJ runs right through my town, and |
denounce it as a steal and I'm against
it,
Mr.. Kluttz of North Carolina, said he
wanted to deny that the Postmaster Cen
eral had ever said the subsidy to the
Southern was unnecessary. Mr.. Robinson
replied that the Assistant Postmaster
General in charge of the railway mail
service had often so reported, and he
read from some of these reports, adding
that in former Congresses every influence
that could be commanded from the Speak
er down. had been brought TO bear with
this end in view. He thought now that
there was a revulsion all over the coun-
try against graft ''6oodeism' and cor
ruption in the postal service it was time
to look into. and put a stop to, this par
ticular phase of it.
Mr. Crumpacker (Rep), Of Indiana, ar
gued 20 the same effect. He called at
tention to the fact that out of all the net
work of railroads throughout the eoun-
try only two were getting a subsidy for
carrying the mail. He gave statistics
touching the cost OF the railway mail
service, argued that the roads concerned
were passing through rich territory, dotted
with enterprises of all sorts ard that the
traffic Of the roads and the regular al
lowance of the government for carrying
the mails justified the running of the
trains without subsidies. Is 1T to go on
Tor cver?" he asked.
Mr.. Crumpacker favored withdrawing
the subsidy now and giving the nearly
$40, 600 now appropriated to that purpose
to the rural free delivery carriers IN the
form of increased salary.
Il come now to the tobacco" said Sem
ator Simmons, of North Carolina. in
speech in the Senate.
Whereupon Senator Pettus, of Alabama,
the oldest man in the Senate, dragged
q black plug from his eoat-tail pocket and
took a chew that was the admiration Of
all his colleagues.
"That investigation committee is going
to have hard time making the white
wash stick on some Of the cases. Repre-
Fitzgerald said TO Representa-
tive Rupert.
might add little mucilage to the mix
ture," suggested Mr.. Rupert.
"Sadam'' Bede of Minnesota. is new
member of the House. and his name did
rot appear in the list OF Representatives
printed in tho special Postofice report.
THE chaplain of the Senate was invited
10 come over and open the House, said
Mr. Bede, at dinner Saturday night
He did so, and prayed for the Lord to
look down OH US"
And I think He is doing So" added
Mr. Bede, "for everybody else is looking
Town on US lust now"
"All my friends who were in the Post
office Department are in the penitcn-
-iary," Mr. Bcde said "They are men.
90, who arc not lacking in patriotism,
md while they won't be able to see many
IF the stars, they'll at least have an op-
Dortunity of seeing plenty Of stripes
FRED l.. MERRITT.
No man objects to being assured that