The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-26
LA FOLLETTEIT is
Saved Vic Murdock's Postal
Weighing Measure.
Railroads May Be Paid on Basis
of Actual Service.
is PUT In THE BILL
Not a Protest on Part of the
Senate.
Kansas Congressman Greatly
Surprised at Turn of Affairs.

Washington, Feb. 26.-Without OBJ
| lection or a word of debate the Muir
| dock plan for determining the daily
weight of the mails as basis for pay
ment for railroad transportation was
| Incorporated in the postoffice bill by
the senate Monday. Senator LaFol-
| lette once more forged to the front in
| behalf of the people.
After the passage of the agriculture
appropriation bill the postoffice bill
was at once taken up by the senate.
Just as soon as the section was reach
ed making available the appropriation
for mail transportation Senator LaFol-
Iette proposed the amendment that no
part of the fund be available for carry
ing the mails unless the daily weight .s
determined by dividing the total
weight by the actual number of days
for which the mail is weighed. There
were not to exceed twelve senators on
the floor at the time. Not a senator
uttered protest of any kind.
The difference between the senate
and house proceedings in matter of
this kind is that no gag rule as to time
can be applied in the senate to shut off
discussion. There would be no way on
the senate side. to prevent a thorough
exploitation of the plan and LaFollette
is too we'll known for anybody to doubt
his intention of making the country
familiar with the contention.
Thus without any discussion what
ever plan was agreed upon in the
senate which according to the figures
prepared by the poStoffice department
will cut off million dollars a year
from the pay of the railroad companies
for carrying the mails.
There will be a fight In conference
and the end is not yet, but now the
amendment is on the bill 1t cannot De
easily sidetracked
Many representatives now admit
that the sensible way to have proceed
ed in fixing the compensation for the
to incorporate the Murdoch plan in
the bill and make no effort to change
the rate of pay. AS the bill now
stands with the Murdoch plan incor-
been Topped off the compensation of
the railroads for carrying the mails.
you're kidding Said Murdoch.
Shortly after the senate had incor-
ing the weight of the mails. a friend
called him out of the house.
do you know your scheme has
been adopted by the senator" asked
60 on. quit oyour kidding said
That's right" replied the inform
ant. ct went intsdiyisor and ALL
well, I'll be darned.' observed the
Wichita statesman. did La Toilette
do that?''
Still Murdoch couldn't believe what
he had heard. He sought La Toilette
and made inquiries of him.
Sure, Vic, it all went In replied
La Toilette. ,,7--
Murdoch wanted to know how it all
happened and La Toilette answered:
81 simply offered the amendment and
nobody kicked and there it is
In discussing the possibility of his
plan becoming part of the law, Mr..
Murdoch said:
II am inclined to believe now that
the amendment is in the bill it will
stick. 1t will depend largely upon the
conferees, but if it goes out now it is
sure to become part of the law. It is
dead right and it will be impossible to
defeat the proposition in the long
rim -