Evening star., 1904-03-23
THE HOUSE REFUSED
WOULD NOT TAKE ACTION VIR-
TUALLY REBUKING BRISToW.
Proposed Transfer of Functions to the
First Assistant Postmaster
General

DurlnS tne uScuSS,On or the postal Dill
in the House yesterday afternoon Mr.. But
Ter of Pennsylvania endeavored unsuccess-
fully to have passed an amendment de-
signed to transfer back to the Office of the
first assistant postmaster general juris-
diction of the free delivery and rural de-
livery services, which caused Mr.. Moon of
Tennessee, the ranking minority member
Of the committee. to administer a rebuke' to
those members who are trying to take from
the fourth assistant certain duties given
to him under the law. He said there was
a motive behind it all and that certain
members chatting under the recent report
of the department, are seeking to punish
RriStow for discovering frauds in another
bureau of the department
A point of order that the amendment was
not germane was made and sustained by
Mr.. BOutell, in the chair.
To get around this decision Mr.. Butler
offered an amendment transferring to the
first assistant postmaster general so much
or the free delivery service as was covered
by the approp: iation of $50 100000 for letter
carriers in offices already established, for
substitute carriers, temporary carriers at
summer resorts, holiday, election and
emergency service. Mr.. Owe. .street vigor-
ously objected and made point of order
against the amendment, which the chair,
however, overruled.
Twice as Many as the Army.
In vigorous speech in defense of his
amendment Mr. Butler declared that he
did not think it well to put the whole
Post Office Department under the fourth
assistant postmaster general. "It is not
right" he said, ito put 100000 men under
the charge and direction of one officer of
the government, unless he is major gen.
eraf of high rank If the amendment did
not prevail, lie declared, the fourth assist
ant postmaster general would have twice
as many people under him as were in the
regular army.
Mr.. Moon (Tenn.), the ranking democratic
member of the committee, opposed he But
Ter amendment He said if Gen. Br.stow
was incompetent then the motion might he
entertained. He said the House must look
at the motive behind it. The suggestion,
he declared, would not have been thought
of unless there had been some feeling
somewhere against Gen. Bristow. II submit
to the House. he said, that the country
will say. if you take this step, you in
terded to visit punishment upon the fourth
assistant postmaster general for the part
he took in discovering fraud and furnishing
fraud in the office of the first assistant
postmaster general.
1t was, he said, not the time to do this
why he asked. SHOULD we place the
control of these things back under a dis
credited bureau of the government? Why
take it from the bureau that has brought
about the prosecutions of these wrongs?"
In sarcastic vain he inquired: "Have you
such feeling toward Bristow because he
has discharged his duty, that you propose
to violate all precedent and take from the
Postmaster General the discretion given
him?"
He said certain members were chatting
under the recent Post Office Department re-
port and he added: 81 think you are get
ting as far from him as you can" He
said the House ought to stay by Bristew
just little while longer. His remarks were
greeted with applause.
Mr. 1l6 tn ha on ro,f,nr
sense and Judgment of the House. You
are undertaking here he said, "by an indi-
rect movement to carry through some pet
measure which is out of order, and by do
ing so cripple the service in thousands of
Offices in this country by making nugatory
the appropriation for the $4,000 letter car
rlers of the country.
The Butler amendment was lost-15 to g.
Purchase of Canceling Machines.
Mr. Charles B. Lands Gnd), called atten-
ton to what he said was the ridiculous
practice of the department in renting can
ceiling machines and offered an amend
ment for their purchase outright. During
the last year, he said. the department spent
S11G000 for this purpose. He spoke of
machine which he aid could be bought out
right by the government for $:2o each In
four years, he said, the rental of each ma
chine in the service amounted to S1,60O.
Mr.. Stafford (Wis.) opposed the amend
ment ana SalU lDe appointed 10
investigate the subject had recommended
against purchasing machines because they
are soon worn out. Mr. Stafford insisted
that there is competition among manufac-
turers of machines and that there is no
check upon invention, the department rent
ing the best ones available.
Mr.. Overstreet also opposed the amend
ment saying that the cost for this same
work done by clerks would be enormously
increased should the government be unable
to purchase the machines.
The Landis amendment was agreed to, Ga
to SO.