Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-17
FOR POSTAL SERVICE
Appropriation Bill Up in the
House.
Mr.. OVERSTREET EXPLAINS
Increase of Compensation for Several
Glasses of Employees.
REDUCTION TO THE RAILROADS
Believes It to Be Just and Reason
able and is Not by Any Means
Excessive.

under unanimous consent the House yes
terday resolved itself into committee of
the whole for the consideration of the postal
appropriation bill.
Mr.. Overstreet Of Indiana, chairman OF
the committee, explained that the bill car
ries the largest appropriation ever brought
into the House, namely, 5000, 416,602, and
he explained that the increase had been
made necessary by the increased compensa-
ton for clerks, carriers in city delivery
offices and rural delivery carriers.
In making provision for increase of COM
pensation to the several classes of postal
employees Mr.. Overstreet explained that the
classification of clerks and carriers was
necessary so as to put employees of both
services upon a common footing, inter-
changeable in service and eligible equally
for advancement.
The rural free delivery service, he sa1d
had been placed to a normal basis, and he
believed that 1t would be satisfactory to
the whole service.
Passing to the reduction recommended by
the committee for railway mail pay, one OF
the most intricate questions with which
Congress has to deal, Mr.. Overstreet SAID
the committee had reached the conclusion
that a reduction in the railway nail pay
was absolutely necessary.
Mr.. Overstreet said that railway mail pay
was a business question and one OF the
most complicated before the Congress. He
admitted that there was division In the
committee and called attention to the fact
that members of Congress were being
swamped with kilograms from railroads
throughout the country asking that the re-
duction carried in the bill be defeated. He
said the railroads were raising howl be-
cause they were not permitted to be heard
before the committee, and yet the commit
tee was fortified with all the evidence Cd
tainable and on which the reduction was
made.
Reduction Not Excessive.
"Now," remarked Mr.. Overstreet. 1.-The
railroads are trying to stampede the House;
vet there is not a scintilla Of evidence to
Ahow that the reduction is excessive"
The postal service ne said, would not be
impaired in the slightest degree If the re-
duction should be adopted. and not train
cut off, Notwithstanding the threats OF the
railroad companies.
There has not been telegram received
by the members of this House from bust
ness concern or commercial boay that
has not been prompted by the rallroaos'
and for one l refuse to be stampeded by
their threats or DETECTED by their en-
treaties
Mr.. Shackleford of Missouri asked If a
point of order would lie against the legis-
lation suggested in the bill.
Mr.. Overstreet admitted that the legisla-
ton was subject to a point OF order.
'Then a rule would permit vote on this
question" suggested MIR. shackleford.
Certainly
would you be willing to appeal from the
decision Of the chair should the point or
order be sustained?' asked Mr.. Shackle-
ford.
mo" replied Mr.. Overstreet. II believe
in orderly procedure. l Will not JOIN the
reyolutionists, but hope that this legisla-
ton will be adopted along orderly lines.
If 1t cannot be, then am ready to quit:
"A united press is more powerful than
Congress- said Mr.. Overstreet In DIS
cussing the report Of the postal commits
sion on second-class matter, but. he added,
it was with great regret he had observed
an absence Of fair investigation on the
part of certain newspapers IN criticislns
the findings Of the commission
I'VE will never be able, in my Judgment.
to reach any kind Of satisfactory adjust
ment of the great problem OF second-class
matter Of mail unless we can nave the CO.
operation of the great press OF the country,
daily and periodical - Is in the interest
of those great enterprises that legislation
is needed. The antiquated laws OF To-Day
are scarcely enforceable. strict enforce
ment of existing laws relative TO the Sec
ond class matter of mail might easily re-
suit in great harm and loss to publishers,
but so long as the newspapers ana PERIOD
icals of the country insist upon wholesale
criticism without fair and reasonable CO.
oneration upon their part l fear we will
always have an unfortunate ENHANCEMENT
and a contest which will bring about no
fair results. Much misinformation has
been spread abroad with respect to the
action of that commission.
Some Methods Adopted.
.If had the time 1 would be glad to in
form this House upon some methods which
have been adopted by some periodicals,
daily and otherwise, which have been slim
ulated and started upon their hellish meth
DDS for the purpose Of defeating action.
1T IL,
of these misguided and unfortunate repre-
sentatiyes Of a great and influential press
have even sought to aid the railroad cor
porations in joint movement to defeat all
leeisla ton by Congress relative to the Sec
ond-class matter OF mail and the reduction
of railway nail pay.
II think that the great volume Of the
American press should be exonerated from
any such criticisms which has just made
in reference to some. I believe in the in
tegrity the influence and high purpose Of
that press and they can subserve splen-
did motive and aid In cause which has
been urged for their benefit by giving bet
ter attention to the efforts of honorable
gentlemen of Congress in studying and seek
ing to bring about some wise laws which
will result in their benefit. But until the
press as a whole can give ear at least to
fair and reasonable efforts, We can never
hope for final action upon this great prob
lem"
Representative Murdoch of Kansas, in
average daily weight of mail recommended
in the bill. declared that broadly the rail-
way mail routes could be divided into two
classes. the large routes and the small ones.
Over 80 per cent of the weight of mails he
said Is carried over the large routes while
8 per cent is carried over the small routes,
which will not he declared, be affected by
change in the divisor in computing the
average daily weight. His contention was
that the service in the country was seven
day per week service, and not six-day per
week service. and that the change in the
law permitting change from the divisor of
six to a divisor of seven. ought not to be
longer resisted.
Mr. Sibley of Pennsylvania thought the
committee had made too great reductions in
railway mall pay. He estimated that the
cut would amount to 30 per cent which he
thought was too heavy a reduction without
a more thorough investigation. General de-
bate on 1.-THE bill was not concluded when
the House adjourned.
The Liberal immigration Monument.
Mr.. N. Behar of New York city. who has