The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-13
The Postoffice Appropriation Bill
Under Consideration
THE PRESENT POLICY ATTACKED
Page, of North Carolina, Opposed Ap-
preparation for Special Railway Mail
Facilities-Sharp Controversy Be-
tween Small of North Carolina, and
Macon of Arkansa-The System
Hostile to the Rural Seryice-Post-
masters in Southern States Were Ig-
nOred.

Washington, D. c., April 11-After
nearly ten days of general debate
with the postoffice appropriation bill,
the vehicle for the discussion of
wide range of subjects, the house to-
day reached the consideration of the
bill itself an hour having been given
to the reading of the measure, There
were a number of live debates during
the day but little progress was made
with the bill under the five minute
rule
Mr.. Page, of North Carolina, op-
posed the appropriation for special
railway mail facilities on the ground
that the section which he represents
did not need the appropriation. IN
cide1t to the discussion of the special
appropriation Mr.. Page spoke about
the revelations in regard to the
weighing Of the mails
He said the very moment the repuD-
lican party became the beneficiary
of :he pilferings of these men then
the edict went forth that the writers
of articles showing up the situation
have become men with the Muck
rake" and in future you will find
that the magazines will not any more
have the privilege of the penny
postage"
An echo Of the dispute between
Mr.. Small. North Carolina, and Mr.
Macon, Arkansas. which attracted
much attention yesterday growing
out of the special appropriation for
the Southern railway, broke forth
when Mr. Macon arose to question
of personal privilege. He said that
the newspapers had given Mr. Small's
side of the controversy in which he
(Macon) had been accused of libel
ing the president Of the Southern
railway but they had made no men
tion of the libel which Mr. Small had
put upon aim Mr. Small sought to
interrupt but Mr.. Macon waved him
aside saying that as he (SmalD, had
refused to De interrupted he in turn
would not permit an interruption
now, "but with all the force l can
command, I want to resent to the
death, the charge that 1 have libeled
anyone"
Mr.. Small again sought to inter-
rupt, but the gavel fell as Mr.. Macon
uttered the sentence "You are no
gentleman"
81 guess 1 will be able to survive
your imputation,'' was all Mr. Small
said in reply.
That the present policy of the post
Office department was hostile to the
rural free delivery service was main
tanned by Mr.. Lever. of South Caro-
lima, "and yet the head of this depart
ment stands as the special champion
of the republican party he con-
cluded
Mr. Finlay, of South Carolina, made
general speech on the excellent
character of the postal service 1t
was, he said. the best in the world.
He also held that the department
seemed hostile to the rural service.
Forty-nine routes had been discon-
tinued, Is of which were in the south.
A count of the pieces Of mail deliver
ed was now going on, he said, which
might result in the further abandon
ment of routes. He believed, how
ever, that in the future there would
be less cause of complaint on this
point.
A class Of persons totally ignored
by the bill, Mr.. Rixey of Virginia,
| remarked, were the referees on post
| masters in the southern states. He
insisted that when the people of his
district wanted a certain person rs
postmaster he had right to go 20
the postofice department and make
their wishes known but he objected as
did his constituents to the sugges-
ton of the department to see the ref
cree in this particular district He
| thought this absolutely un-American
The house adjourned until tomor-