Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-02-13

Washington, Feb. IF the postof
nee department were credited for all
the service it renders, the govern
ment deficit in the postal receipts
would be practically eliminated, ac
cording to the report of the house
committee on postoffices and post
roads on the postoffice appropriation
bill which was submitted to the
house yesterday. The government
departments and other government Of
fees in Washington reported that for
the six months period which ended
December 81. 1906, the postage upon
the matter they sent through the
mails would have aggregated $2.2S5
AT The committee estimates that
1T is fair to assume that $4,000 600
worth of mail is carried for the gov
eminent annually from Washington
without credit to the postoffice depart
ment The deficit in the postofItce
department for the fiscal year of 1906
was $10,516996, and the committee
covered if it were possible IL compute
the amount of mail ranked by federal
officials in all parts Of the country,
in addition to the amount of free mail
going out of Washington.
Salary Increase Nearly 100000.
Increases in the compensation to
employees of the service, including
clerks, carriers in city delivery offices,
railway mail clerks and rural free de-
liyey carriers are practically as rec
commended by First Assistant Post
master General Hitchcock in his last
annual report These increases are
urged by the committee as being of I'M
usual Importance The proposed in
ecreases in salaries will aggregate
nearly 100000 year, and are be-
lieved by Mr.. Hitchcock and Postmas-
ter General Cortelyou to be necessary
for the retention of high class men
The report does not attempt to es-
innate the actual amount of the cut in
the pay to railroads for postal service
but it is generally believed by mem
bers of the committee that the reduc
ton will aggregate s10,000,000.
Recommends Investigation
Recommendation is made for a gen
aeral weighing of all mail for period
of six months beginning July l. 1907
and the committee recommends a gen
.eral investigation of all postotfice
matters by committee of three sen
ators and three representatives, with
a view to making a recommendation
for the reduction of the deficit
The total amount carried by the bill
is 5000 ,416.S02.
House Kills Channel Bill.
The advocates of 14-foot channe!
for the Mississippi river from Chicago
to st. Louis and the gulf was defeat
ed, when the house, in the committee
of the whole, having under considera-
ton the river and harbor appropria-
ton bill, voted to stand by the rec
concentration of the committee in OPP
position to the project. Although
there was much speech making on the
part of the friends of the measure,
they secured only IS votes for the
amendment against las opposed to it.
Earlier in the day Mr.. Dalzell of
pennsylvania offered an amendment
providing for the continuance of work
on dam number on the Ohio river,
but it was defeated on a test vote
which showed that the chairman 81
the river and harbors committee, Mr..
Burton, had large majority of the
house with him as to any amendment
to the budget which has not his sane
ton.
Railroad Measures Laid over.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa,
chairman of the house committee on
interstate and foreign commerce, is
confined to his home by a severe cold
and has not been to the capitol for
two days. Pending Mr.. Hepburn's re-
scovery, his committee has postponed
action on the bill limiting the employ
ment of railway men to 16 hours a day
and also on the bill for two cents a
mile interchangeable mileage books
good on all railways
Senate Discusses Indian Bill.
The Indian appropriation bill was
again the sole topic of discussion by
the senate and but little progress was
made The day was spent in dis
cussion of the proposition to repeal the
restrictions on the alienation of sur
plus Indian lands in Indian territory,
No conclusion was reached on this
matter when the senate adjourned for
the day.
Senator Hans5rough introduced a
bill recently favorably acted upon by
the house committee on ways and
means which permits small distiIler-