Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-25
58TH CONGRESS.
House Votes Against PostoMce
Department Investigation.
Disposition of Eight Pages Of Ap-
preparation Bill.
Upper Branch Passes the indian Appro-
priation Bill.

Washington, March 24.-The House
CT Representatives again put itself on
record against any Investigation OF the
Post Office Department. Eight pages
of the post office appropriation bill were
disposed of. The question of an inVes-
tigation Of the post Office department
was brought up by Williams. the mi
nority leader. W no proposed an amend
nlent providing for n select committee
Of five members of the House and three
senators to make Il complete investiga-
ton INTO the alleged frauds i'll that de-
partmcnt. He tainted the Republicans
for their frilurc 10 order an investiga
ton and said the party was opposed to
it.
The chair sustained point of order
by Ovcrstreet against the amendment
and when Williams appealed, the chair
WAS sustained, 1873 to &c.
Consideration of the post office aD-
preparation bill WAS resumed when the
House met. today. Iohinson GndD at
tackled the appropriation of $4,000 for
carrying the mails from San Francisco
to the island of Tapiti and offered an
amendment to strike il from the bill.
Overstreet, chairman of the post Of
fee committee, declared that the item
clearly came within the provisions of
the bill.
The amendment was agreed to and
the provision was stricken from the
bill. Scott UIan.) criticized the post
| Office department for its pernicious
policy of paternalism' in permitting
| contractors furnishing stamped envel-
ops and newspaper wrappers to print
| the names of individuals. firms. and
| corporations on the Return cards or
stamped envelopes. Vt present, he said,
| the government was 4 competitor of
the local printer all over the country.
i He offered an amendment to correct
what he termed the abuse.
The amendment was opposed by
Lawrence (Massl.
ovcrstreet also opposed the amend
ment because ne sand Il would not At
feet the price paid the contractor
whether the return card was printed or
not.
\ point Of order against the amend
ment was sustained.
| With the view OF securing 4 complete
investigation Of the post office depart
mcnt. Williams Miss the minority
leader. offered AL amendment to the
hill providing for the appointment OF a
joint committee of eight. five members
ana three senators to exercise all
functions necessary to a complete in
vestiEation of all frauds and irregu
lariticS alleged to exist IN said depart
ment."
NJ Ovcrstreet promptly made the point
Of order that the amendment was no.
sernaihe ana was new leglsiatloh'
which tho chair sustained.
| Williams appeaIrd from, the decision
80 ~, at,,i, ,,a.,.I;,rr ,,;,h o,.a,.et.,at
vi 'tie O,'"''' piV""i'S WIN
to Withdraw his point OF order, and
inQuiring:
| ..v-ra. 49, , ,,,i.oro,,,o ,;+,,o ,,o -
| va "''0 " '''''e '"'o vi
| IN" House amount TO "heh you consider
il is the only obstruction lying between
! you ana a Righteousness senator greater
: thnn the righteousness of n trrhnic,I de-.
| OycrStreet declined to Weld and after
some debate the Speakers decision was
sustained 133 to %
An unsuccessful attemnt WAS made bv
IIivcrnash OColD and Sulzer On. W to in
crease the augmentation for nav of LETTER
carriers from so 250oeo to go 80 600
| An amendment b. McAIurran mich }
WIS agreed TO- making il mandatory on
the postmaster general 10 enter into n
contract for II marine postaI service If
Detroit. Mich, for n period of five vears
at pot t. exceed $500 per wear
Davidson ,Wis) entered a Vigorous 10
fence If Postmaster General PAYNE and
General Eristow. lie said he hoped dis
| CuSsion of the bin would he prolonged
long enough to enable those members
lust reference to them to acknowicdg"