New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-09
WORKING FOR NEW YORK
What NesSrS. Bennett, Parsons, OF
cott and DepezC Hare Secured.
Iron Tho Tribune Bureau

,,,fsIation than their predecessors, working
.ingly were able TO 90 in three or four ses-
tons REPRESENTATIVES Bennett Parsons and |
o,oo-t. with the cordial cooperation of Senator
7,ener. we're particularly energetic in team
-o-l, and were able to form an alliance OF tell /
do worth To the delegation IS due the credit |
- nrocuring with the aid Of Postmaster Will
Gov If New York and Postmaster General Cor
,slvou. a most satisfactory deed from the Penn
e,lyania Railroad Company for property in Saith |
.traer for the new postofice The deed which |
she company first proposed gave only about one
half as much space as does the present one.
nv the hardest kind of work there was Sc
cured an initial appropriation Of SlOoVO TO
mild the supports and platform for the new
postofHce and to begin the preparation of plans
FOR The superstructure. 1t is estimated that at
least $4,000 Of this 100000 will be available
for the preparation of plans. The appropriation
IS not only important in itself, but 1t pledges
the government to proceed without further de-
lay in the next Congress to appropriate money
for the construction Of the building That fight
IS now practically won.
With every large city in the country clamor-
,ng for either q pneumatic tube mail service or
an extension Of the service already existing
tbere. the willing Quartet secured an au-
tborization. and so far as is necessary an ap-
rropriation. for twenty-one miles of pneumatic
tube in connection with the postal service IN
New York City. and also secured an extension OF
the contract time from four to ten years
Mr. Parsons drew up and had reported from
The Committee on Insular Affairs. of which ne
is a member a bill regulating the entire system
OF docks and ferries on the island Of Porto RICO
Il passed both House and Senate without SIM
Gle adverse comment. A bill dealing with
srbiect so important to Porto Rico required the
exercise of the highest degree OF intelligence
and trained legal skill, and II was tribute 10
Mr. Parsons that the result Of his efforts was
such as TO disarm all criticism. He also on the
last day Of the session, together with Judge
Crumpacker Of Indiana. made successful nigh;
on the floor Of the House for the Philippine
Agricultural Bank bill the most important
measure which has been passed by Congress IoI
the direct benefit Of the Philippines. The bill IS
now a law Mr.. Parsons introduced the Chliu
Labor bin in the House. and he has been ap-
,,o,n+a5 ~, the Sneaker member OF the joint
committee OF the House and Senate TO revise
the United States statutes for report 10 Con-
gress at the opening Of the next session
UNIFORM NATURALIZATION LAW.
NJ Rerrat was q member OF the suboomrnit-
tee Of the Committee on immigration and Nat
,7ra,izatson which drafted reported and put
through the House the Srst uniform naturaiiza-
Tim law in lO4 years Already the new IA"
has remedied many existing naturalization e'Ls'
Mr.. Bennett was the Republican member OF me
subcommittee which drafted the contract iaoor
enforcement provision in the new Immigration
law He Joined In a minority report from Ile
committee on the immigration bill in the irst
session Of the seth Congress- and led the fight on
the floor Of the House which resulted in the de-
feat Of the majority proposition. Because OF
this Mr. Bennett was appointed a conferree on
the part Of the House. and took part in the
stubborn contest in the conference committee.
which lasted from June 1906 to February. 1907.
the longest contest in the Both Congress. The
bin when finally reported from the conference,
contained what known as "the japanese
solution" perhaps the most important accom-
rlisbuent Of the Seth Congress, and the bill
a whole is by general consent the best immi-
grafton law along administrative lines which
has yet been enacted. The law contains a pro-
vision for a commission to study the subject Of
immigration st home and abroad, and the
last day OF the session Mr.. Bennett was appoint
ed by the Speaker one Of the three commission
ers on behalf OF the House. Mr.. Bennett also
on the last day OF the session presented TO the
House a petition and protest which. before the
meeting Of the Goth Congress. is 10 be actively
circulated and which has for its object tho
suppression OF the existing horrors in Russia.
Mr. Bennett was appointed by the Speaker a
member Of the committee 10 represent the House
Ct the bi-centenary OF the birth OF Benjamin
Franklin. at Philadelphia
CLASSIFICATION OF POSTAL CLERKS.
They were largely instrumental IN securing
Reconsideration of the clerks and carriers Of the
Postal Service not only in New York City. but In
the entire country. There had really never been
a classification OF the clerks. This one takes
the clerks entirely out OF politics for the first
time As 10 the carriers, the classification IN
vogue was made forty years ago. and was not
IN accordance with the increased cost OF living
and the higher standards OF government en-
ployment. They also saw to IL that the assistant
postmaster at New York City received de-
served increase Of compensation.
In other branches OF the public service they
were also active BY neat engineering the New
York members secured an appropriation of $500, :
900 10 increase the limit of cost OF the New York
City Custom House. Another appropriation,
amounting TO S35OO0O. was secured 10 remodel
the Assay Office Additional appropriations
were made for the Appraisers office. and about
half million dollars VIII be spent In the hscal
year in Improving the Ellis Island immigration
As 10 individual members, Mr.. Olcott. besides
important service on the Committee on the Dis
tTict Of Columbia was made chairman OF the
committee which investigated the government
hospital for the insane in this city, the largest
insane asylum in the United states, with the
result thai an the close of the examination most
important recommendations were made These
win unquestionably be acted upon at me Degln-
ming of the 60th Congress. The immediate
result Of the investigation has been that Tor al
practical purposes criticism Of the or1cials o.
the asylum has ceased -, 49,,
IN The Senate Mr.. Depew, who has entirel!
recovered from his long illness co-operateo VIII
the New York members Of the House az ever!
turn and by his tactful and energetlc work save
The legielstion which the Representatives ha'
Incorporated in the appropriation DIS from 81
ing out on objection. In the case % me az
Mr. Denew who had II inserted in the AppEo
pgtaton bill and who saved IL from going on