The Savannah morning news., 1904-04-09
IS BADLY STUCK
ON THE MACHINES
posToFFIcE DEPARTMENT
MAS A POOR CONTRACT THAT 1T
WILL STICK BY.

senator CuIbersOn Wanted to Re
auce the Rental for CancelIing
Nt.chines aS Contracted for by
panxers-senatOr Clay spoke i'm
SunDort of the Amendment, But
the Republicans Defeated It-Vin-
stcation of Beavers.
washington, April S.-The contracts
$or cancelling machines used by the
postofflce Department constituted the
r-,nc,paI question OF debate in the Sen
ate to-day in connection with the post
Office appropriation bill.
The subject was sprung by Mr.. Gull
barson. who introduced an amendment
rsducine the rental Of the machines. In
the course of the debate that followed
the Democratic senators charged that
the rental now paid was the same that
WAS paid under the contracts made by
George w. Beavers when he was
chief of the salary and allowance divis-
ION of the Postof1ce Department, and
that they were excessive. Mr.. Lodge
denied this charge. saying that there
was no proof or us truth
Mr.. Clary supported the amendment
quoting from Mr.. Bristows report in
which the Beavers contract for the ma
chimes was denounced, and saying that
Notwithstanding this denunciation the
contracts were continued. "Mr. Bris-
tow" said Mr.. Clay. tells us that we
pay 200 per cent. on these machines
each year and l see no rea son for con-
tinuing the Beavers arrangement.
Unless they want to Vindicate him"
said Mr. Culberson.
Mr.. Scott expressed the opinion that
il was not right to attempt to deprive
patentees of their rights under the
law.
MIR. Clay said that the cost of keep
ing in repair $50 machines was about
$3.50 per year, while the rental was
$3.50 each year.
Mr.. Scott replied that the fourth as
sistant postmaster general had just
telephoned to the Senate that 5000 was
the cost of keeping in repair the ma
chine. on which a rental of $400 was
paid.
Il don't care what is 'phoned' &" re-
sponded Mr.. Clay. there is not a
word of testimony to that effect"
He suggested that the machines
should be bought.
Mr. Lodge replied that some of the
machines could not be bought, and said
that to fail to use them would very
materially increase expense for clerk
hire.
That Headline Again.
During the debate there was refer
enee to the headline Charges against
members of Congress-" and Mr.. Money
%
ascertain who its author was. He also
repeated his conviction that the
charge had been made to divert atten-
ton from "the rascalities of the Post
office Department"
Mr.. Gallinger expressed the opinion
that the headline had been inserted at
the printing office, saying that he had
known of many such instances. To
this suggestion Mr.. Money replied that
any official or employee of the print
ing Office who would make such a
change in copy should be disciplined.
He denounced the headline as men
dacious, malicious and slanderous. !"
The amendment was lost.
An amendment offered by Mr. Hoar
repeating the existing law requiring
postmasters to reside in their own de-
livery districts, aroused opposition on
the part of Messrs. Money and Culber-
son. Mr.. money SAID that the statute
should be restricted rather than ex-
tended and he said that in his state
postmasters were carpet baggers
brought from one part of the state to
the other. He added that he had no
desire to take from the Republicans
the privilege of appointing their own
men to office, because" he said, "ev-
cry time you appoint a Democrat we
lose man and you gain one. want
the Republican authorities to make
the Republican party as odious as pos
sihle in my state and l may add that
as in the case of Bill Jones epitaph,
they have done their best and angels
could do no more"
Must Re Residents.
The amendment was declared out of
order, but was afterwards accepted in
modified form, so as to require post
masters to reside in the town or cities
which they officially serve.
An amendment, suggested by Mr.,
summons, prohibiting the Postmaster
General from refusing to establish ru-
rel free delivery routes on account of
accepted.
The postoff1oe bill was still under con-
slderatlon when the Senate adjourn
Inc hrst hours of the session were
devoted to discussion by Mr.. Pat
H..