Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-01
Senate Acts on Post Office
and Pension Measures.
TARIFF IN PHILIPPINES
GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL IN
THE HOUSE.
Its Reading for Amendment Begun
Agreement on Reports
Of Conferees.

The Senate met at II o'clock today and
Immediately took up the bill regulating the
tariff on imports into the Philippine
Islands
Mr.. Hansbrough sought to have the
measure amended 50 to revoke the ruling
of the Secretary of the Treasury. providing
for rebate of the duty on wheat used
in the manufacture of flour for export but
Mr.. Lodge having the bill in charge, made a
plea for the passage of the measure I'M
changed and the amendment was voted
down.
The bill was then passed.
Consideration of the post office appropr1a-
ton bill was resumed.
Mr.. Clay took exception to the increase
of the appropriation for pneumatic tube
service to s150O,OOO. saying that the Post
master Generals estimate called for only
100000. He said that the plan was to
extend the service to cities of 100000. and
added that already cities of 100000 were
beginning to ask for the service. He also
asserted that expenditures on behalf of the
Post Office Department were now prac-
tically equal to the entire expenses of the
government fourteen years ago.
He predicted that If the 81 100000 was
given this year there would be a demand
next year for $4,OOO.O0O The only safe plan
was to confine the service to the larger
cities. not going below those Of less than
100000 population and naming the cities
l.
ing that If the tube service was good
thing for cities of 100000 1t ought to be
good for those of half the size.
Mr.. Lodge spoke of the value of the
pneumatic service in Boston and said that
it had been of such utility there that he
thought other cities should have the ad-
vantage of 1t.
Mr.. Dolliver advocated the postponement
Of the service for the present year. on &C
count of the depleted condition of the
treasury. He did not believe the policy OF
making a government contract the basis
of promotion for private enterprises but
was willing to- concede that the service
was good enough and cheap enough. He
contended that this was an excellent time
and place to begin the economies which the
treasury deficit and the failing revenues
require.
The Amendment Rejected
Mr.. Depew advocated the tube service as
measure of economy. The amendm emit
was rejected by the close vote of 80 to II.
The Post Office Bill Passed.
When the bill was reported to the Senate
from committee of the whole, Mr.. Foraker
renewed the amendment for an increase OF
the appropriation for pneumatic tubes, SO
as to fix the appropriation at $4,000 in
stead of 100000, as passed by the House,
and it was agreed to. The remainder OF
the amendment limiting contracts to S1,5OO,-
coo was stricken out.
The bill was then passed
AS soon as the post office bill was dis
posed of the pension appropriation bill was
taken up and passed without amendment
Mr.. Hale on the Presidents Message.
After the passage tof the pension bill the
Presidents message relating to quarantine
was read and Mr.. Warren said that bill
such as was referred to by the President
had been reported by him from the commit
tee on agriculture.
Mr.. Hale commented on the message, say
ing: II trust that the committee having
charge of these matters, and, for that mat
ter, the whole Senate, will take notice OF
the admonition that we have not been
prompt in passing needed legislation, and
hope that the committee, so far as 1t has
discretion, and SO far as the few hours OF
the session left will permit, will bring the
bills in and thus do its duty as commit
tees of this body are presumed to do"
The Maine senator's remarks caused a
slight stir in the chamber, but no reply
was made by any one except Mr.. Warren
who asked him why he did not move to
take up the bill reported.
Mr.. Hale replied that he was not a mem
Der of the committee on agriculture and
did not want to interfere.
The river and harbor appropriation bill
was then taken up and read.