The Washington herald., 1908-03-01
FIGHT IN COMMITTEE
ARRAY Between Representa-
tiYeS Averted.
SHORT AND UGLY WORD USED
Amendments to Law Affecting Rail-
way Mall transportation Causes
ROw-Overstreet steps in and
Gains BeIIiserents-Subjec Has
Always stirred Up Controversy.

What Is commonly known in the street
as a rough house" was narrowly ayerted
at meeting of the House Committee on
Post-offices and Post Roads on Thursday.
when that committee had under consid-
GRAFTON certain amendments 20 the postal
supply BILL providing appropriations for
railway mail transportation.
Exasperating insinuations were made.
the lie was passed, and a scene Of wild
confusion followed. An cld-fashioned fist
fight was prevented only by the tact and
diplomacy OF Representative Jesse over
street and other members, who were not
directly involved in the controversy. The
story leaked out yesterday
IL Is understood that a beautiful set OF
brown whiskers, worn by Representative
Snapp. OF Illinois. came near being COM
pletely demolished in the melee. in the
room Of the House Post-office Commit
tee Representative Finley. OF South
Carolina. is said 10 be the man who had
designs on them
Has Always Caused Trouble.
Railway mail pay has been always a
subject OF controversy before committees
OF the House and Senate. Millions of
dollars are appropriated every year for
the transportation Of the mails. and this
item in the postal supply bin is always
serutinized with the greatest care by the
suspicious member who is in pursuit Of
legislative snakes"
Under laws Of Congress and regulations
promulgated by the Postmaster General.
SS,0oQcoO has been saved this year in the
amounts paid 70 railroads for the trans
portatiOn Of the mails. Some members
/ had contended that an injustice had been
done 20 the railroads and an amendment
was offered which woulG have increased
the railway pay allowance by approxi-
mately S2.5O0.e90
This proposition started the trouble
Fuel was added 20 the fame when the
committee took up FOR consideration in
this connection a proposal that
change should be made in the practice Of
weighing the mails. Under present laws
the mails are weighed quadrennialy. IL
was suggested that the weighing, upon
which railway pay is based, should be
done every year.
Everything was proceeding in an order
ly and dignif.ed manner, when a certain
member offered an amendment to the
one under consideration providing that
the mails should be weighed every year
and that the weighing should take place
in the month OF March
March is the big month I'm the postal
service. The mails are heavier in that
month than at any other time in the
course Of a year Ii was pointed out
that II the mails were weighed in March
the railway pay expenditures would be
increased by 100000 and the railways
be benefited TO that amount.
Wanted an Average Mouth.
Another member suggested that the
committee should designate am average
month. and he insinuated that the com
mitteenan who had proposed March old
so in the interests Of the railroads. Hot
words were exchanged. and finally the
lie was passed. The two disputants
,eaped from their chairs with the pur-
pose Of settling the controversy by the
Marquis of Queensberry me.h2d. IN au
instant the committee was in IA Gproar.
The commonly accepted explanation OF
what occurred is that the mill ant men,
bers never get together, and that the
storm subsided after a little oil had
been poured on the troubled waters by
Chairman Overstreet. Threats were made
later. however. and il seemed fo- a time
a IS if the controversy would ultimately be
carried 10 the floor of the House Efforts
are now being made 20 effect a recon
ciliation between the waTring committee
men.