The Washington herald., 1907-02-20
KILLS PAY INCREASE
Classification of Postal En-
ployes Stricken from Bill.
DUE TO MACON, OF ARKANSAS
He Submits Points of Order and Is
Sustained by ChaIr-OverwheImi
tained-Mueh Time Devoted 20
Speeches Not Germane to Bill.

The House devoted practically all Of
yesterdays session TO further considera-
ton Of the post-onice appropriation bill
in Committee of the Whole The most
important changes made were through
the elimination of provisions for the
classification Of city clerks and carriers,
carrying raise OF salary. which went out
on points Of order by Representative
Macon. OF Arkansas, in spite of the obvl-
Gus desire OF an overwhelming majority
| Of the House TO have them retained. The
Committee Of the Whole did not conclude
its work on the bin and will continue it
/ to-day.
! When general debate was resumed, Mr..
Bennett, of New York, complained that
while the Committee on Post-ofHces and
! Postroads was doing what it could for
/ the larger cities In the matter of in
| creased salaries for clerks and letter car
riers. friends of the increase, in the YER
nacular of the street. had been handed
la lemon" He asserted that the pro-
visions of the bill on that subject would
| not increase the salaries Of these classes.
/ but, instead, in nine years would cause
"a loss.
/ \ number OF speeches followed, which,
IN the face of the enormous amount of
| business to be transacted in the few re-
manning days OF the session, had no
/ reference 10 the pending bill. a number
! of short speeches relating to the pro-
/ visions of the measure were also made.
after which the reading Of the bill for
amendment was begun.
Advertising Item Intact.
! Mr. Murphy, Of Missouri. moved to re-
duce the first item carried in the bill
5000 for adverusing-to $500. lie thought
the latter amount sufficient especially
/ because, although the government pos
sessed the largest printing Office in the
world, the Postmaster General contracted
with private parties for the publication
OF the Postal Guide
| Nj Overstreet. Of Indiana. in charge Of
/ the bin, pointed out that the shot went
wide Of the mark, iaasmuch as that was
not the appropriation out OF which the
Postal Guide was published. The amend
ment was rejected.
/ On point of order Mr. Murphy was
/ successful in eliminating an item OF SO
90 for printing the opinions Of the as
sistant attorney general of the depart
ment
/ When that portion Of the bill was reach
ed providing for the classification of city
clerks and carriers the only interesting
feature OF the days proceedings came up.
MIR. Macon. of Arkansas. who recently
has been active I'm preventing increases
of salaries on appropriation bills made
several points Of order. thereby bringing
/ down upon himself the wrath and oh
/ jurgations of almost the entire member
ship. Betraying some impatience. Mr.
IOverstreet conceded the validity If the
points, and said that if the gentleman
from Arkansas, for notorietys sake.
wanted TO block legislation desired by at
least 81 per cent Il the members of the
House, the responsibility must 20 with
it, The gentleman was quite within his
right, Mr.. Overstreet said
Arkansan ResentfuI.
Mr.. Macon hotly resented Mr.. over
streets remarks. Mr. Fitzgerald. OF New
York, said he did not propose to permit
gentlemen like Macon To reap the bene-
fits of the rules of the House. and then
prevent other Representatives. not situat-
ed like them. from benedting from the
operation Of those rules.
An amusing controversy followed with
Chairman Currier. who sought 10 keep
Mr.. Macon within the pale Of parliameu-
tary usage IN abiding 10 Mr. Fitzgerald.
Mr.. Macon finally subsidized.
Several amendments were added in
creasng the appropriation for clerks in
first and second class offices S300.O00 Al
Ter cisposing Of II pages Of the bill the
committee rose.
On motion Of Mr.. Sherman. Of New
York, a conference was asked on the SEN
ate amendments 10 the bin making al
lotments Of Indian trust funds in the
Treasury.
At 6:25 o'clock the House adjourned un-