The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-21

for Clerks and Carriers Reported.
The House OF Representatives. in Com
mittee of the Whole, stood nobly by the
railroads yesterday in the matter of COM
pensation for the transportation OF United
States mail The net result Of its deliber-
ations was that al attempts to save the
government the several million dollars
year which are now paid the railroads
in excess of what they would receive IL
the payments made them were computed
on q just and equitable basis, were de-
featcd- Later. however, the House proper
replaced some of the provisions elm
mated by the Committee Of the Whole,
and finally passed the bill.
Although the item for the payment of
railroads is the largest in the bill, the
paragraph relating to It Is the shortest.
being merely the following:
For inland transportation by railroad
routes, t44 $4,000"
When this paragraph was reached Mr..
Murdoch, of Kansas, who Is largely in
stTumcntal for the agitation for a reduc-
ton In the amounts paid for transport
ing the mails, submitted an amendment
providing that no part OF the approPria-
ton should be paid TO any railroad the
daily average weight of mail carried by
which Is determined by dividing the total
weight carried In given weighing period
by any other divisor than the actual
number of days in the weighing period.
The present practice is TO divide by the
total number OF days less the number
OF Sundays. Numerous points OF order
that the Amendment was new legislation
were made. and were sustained by Chair
man CUrrier, of the Committee OF the
Whole House who based his ruling on
Il decision by former Solicitor General
Phillips. who held that the term work
ing days in the existing laws excluded
Sundays.
Chairs Ruling Sustained.
An appeal from this decision was taken.
but the chair was sustained by d vote Of
= to a.
The next paragraph contained the pro-
posed reduction IN the rate Of pay TO
railroads Mr.. Hodge. Representative Of
Iowa, member Of the committee on Post
Offices and Post-roads, made a point of
order against the paragraph. aud it went
out. In the course of discussion on the
point Mr.. Finely, Democrat. OF South
Carolina, said that an opportunity had
been given representatives of the rail
roads to be heard on the subject but he
had been told they did not want to avail
themselves Of it.
Mr.. Hedge vehemently protested against
Tar F.-=r4 HI.
the secrets Of the committeeman.
Was not the statement made in the
gentlemans hearing2" asked Mr. Finley.
! viii say in view of the situation that
/ myself said that il the railroads could
not have more than two days, they would
not enter upon the hearing" replied Mr..
Hedge.
Mr. OveTstreet, chairman Of the com
mittee, expressed regret that Mr.. Finley
had pTecipitdted the exposure of the COM
mittee proceedings, in violation of the
rules Mr. Finley warmly resented the
caairman's remarks.
Hedge Prevents Another Reduction.
Later "a point of order against the pro
vision for additional pay to railroads for
post-car service, also made by Mr.. Hedge.
was likewise sustained. Both these mat
ters will come up for action in the House
after the bin is completed by the Com
mitte6 Of the Whole.
Mr.. Macon, of Arkansas. on a point Of
order, eliminated the entire provision for
the pay Of railway mail clerks for the
reason that it made increases in their
ppy.
An amendment offered by Mr. Goebel,
Of Ohio, 20 increase by % per cent the
salaries OF all clerks in post-offices Of the
first and second classes. was rejected on
point Of order made by Chairman Over
street.
The item Of $1,000 for printing the de
cisions of Attorneys General of the Post
office Department was reinserted, with a
pToviso that the work be done az the
government office.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Crum-
packer. Of Indiana, increasing the maxi
cisions Of attorneys general Of the Post
offices from 800 to $3.50, was agreed 70.
Messrs. Clayton, OF Alabama, and
Greene, of Massachusetts. collaborated
in an amendment providing that no
tourth-cass Office shall be abolished until /
after fifteen days notice has been given |
to the representative from the district in
which the office is situated, who may be /
heard II he 50 desires.
- Mr.. Mann, OF Illinois, made a
point Of order. saying It would be
dangerous thing 10 legislate that an ex-
eCutive officer should not issue an ad- /
miniStrative act unless il conform TO the 4
wishes of a Representative in Congress.
Mr. Clayton and Mr.. Clark or Missouri. /
pleaded with Mr.. Mann 10 withdraw the I
point of order. assuring him that while I
he was cOnycrsant with many things he /
didn't know anything about this particu- 1
lar matter, nor any of the difficulties with 1
..H. .N-rr
contend. Mr.. Mann was obdurate and 4
the point of order was sustained.
Pneumatic Tubes Unchanged.
on points Of order made by Mr. Mann T.
and Mr. Shirley. Of Kentucky. the 1
authorization in the bill for the Post
master General to contract 10 the extent 4
Of 81, 3SS. 7S9 for the extension OF pneu-
matic-tube service in Baltimore, Cincin-
nati. Kansas City. Pittsburg, and San /
Francisco went out, leaving 81. go. 000 for
the maintenance of the present service.
BY the insertion Of two words In the
bill. on motion of Mr.. Overstreet. the
Post-office Department is authorized 90
manufacture, as well as TO repair, mail
locks. keys, chains, tools. and machinery.
When the appropriation for rural free
delivery carriers was reached. Mr. Fitz-
gerald, of New York. made a point Of
order Mr. Overstreet promptly con-
ceded the point, and the Chair sustained
Il. This was in retaliation for Mr.. Ma
cons points OF order Tuesday against the
proposed increases for city clerks and /
carriers.
Without other substantial change. the
bin was reported To the House. In the
House the amendments were agreed 10.
and then Mr. Dalzell, of Pennsylvania,
'or the Committee on Rules. reported an