Evening star., 1904-03-17
TRUST PROSECUTIONS
REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS ON
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
Mr. Flood Claims That Democrats Es-
tablished the Rural Free Delivery
system-Criticises Perry Heath.

With the Adjournment of the House
shortly after o'clock yesterday afternoon
general debate on the postal appropriation
bill was closed. After The Stars report
closed Mr.. Aiken of South Carolina urged
an increase in the salary of rural carriers
to $780,
Mr. Finley of South Carolina followed
with an analysis of postal appropriations
Tor the past twenty years. He believed In
a reasonable and just allowance for clerk
hire for all post offices, and said he would
not condemn any member for requesting
allowances for separating mail and for un-
usual business.
There were, he said, rumors of the abuse
of the franking privilege, and the commits
sion should look into that.
Mr.. Sibley of Pennsylvania suggested to
Mr.. Finley that if he personally knew OF
any such abuses it was his duty to call
specific attention to the individual.
Mr.. Finley declared he was not making
charges against members of Congress, but
had read the statements in the public press.
He said the public mind was saturated
with the charge that there was corruption
in the Post Office Department, and the only
thing to do was to investigate 1t. If there
wasa scandal to be uncovered "the rascals
and grafters," he said would be en-
meshed in the tolls of the law"
Establishment Of Rural Free Delivery.
In speech characterized by intense vigor
Mr.. Flood of Virginia asserted that the
credit for the establishment of the rural
free delivery service belonged to the demo-
Gratis. 1t had, he said, been claimed by Mr..
Perry s. Heath, former first assistant post
master general Il am not" he said, "as-
tonished that a gentleman should rob a
political opponent of the credit to wi :ch
hn Coid
against honorable gentlemen on this floor
following the example of Perry s. Heath"
Mr.. McCleary of Minnesota sent to the
desk and had read an amendment he pro-
posed to offer providing a scale of salaries
Tor clerk hire on the basis of 800 where
the salary OF the postmaster is 81 600. 500
where 1t is 81, 200, $500. where it is 81 400,
800 where it is 81 600 and $500 where it is
$500.
Mr.. Tirrell of Massachusetts spoke in ad-
Vocacy OF an increase in the pay of rural
carriers, and criticised the prohibition that
the bill puts upon them in the matter of
carrying newspapers and merchandise.
He was supported in his view by Mr..
Sterling of Illinois, who classed it as an
innocent practice on the part of the car
iers.
Prosecution of the Trusts.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi sent to the
desk and had read an editorial from the
New York Times under the heading LAS TO
Running Amuck," having reference to an
interview with the Attorney General on the
subject of the merger decision The Attor-
ney General had given his views Mr.. VIII
hams said. Ito quiet the apprehensions of
trusts and combinations for fear they might
think the government was going into the
business OF discovering and prosecuting
tnem mlsceilaneously, without regard to no
ntlcai affiliation or past connection with
fepuohcan policies. He said it remained to
De seen whether this3 prosecution was a
lneatrlcai campaign trick or the beginning
of general policy ;t.of, 'si,a ckIine c,nnins
now, as strength and dsbrute force have been
shackled in the pasta . 80 ~"
~ Inc debate was closed by Mr.. Gaines of
'i' neinIlessee' VINO opposed mail subsidies to
1eated. he said, the money intended for
man subsidies could go to raising the sala.
res OF rural carriers and to extending the
service into the. jungies of the country