Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-04
APPROPRIATION BILLS PASSED
Increase in Magazine Postal Rate
Stricken from Measure.
WHEELS TURN MORE SMOOTHLY
Fiiibusters No Longer In Evidence
Lengthy Debate PrecIpitated by
POstoffice Appropriation
HilI.

! WASHINGTON. March 2.-On this the
last day but one of the sixty-first congress.
the legislative wheels turned more smoothly
than for several days. The result was the
passage Of three Of the great appropriation
measures. These were the sundry civil
the naval and the postoffice appropriation
bills.
The filibusters that had marked the ses
sions Of the last few days were no longer
in evidence only on the postoffice bin
was there much delay. debate being preci-
pitated by the sections providing for an in
crease in the postal rate for certain
magazines and for a combination Of the
appropriations for the star and rural free
delivery mail routes. The provision relat-
ing to the magazines was stricken out.
while that relating to the mail routes was
modified
When the senate took a recess about
O'Clock to 8, there was expectation that
the general deficiency bill, the last Of the
appropriation measures to obtain con-
sideration would be taken up
1t was agreed during the day that when
adjournment should be taken II would be
to convene at o'clock tomorrow.
The house, though considering a number
of local bills has been marking time. wait
ing for the senate to act upon the appro-
priation measures. Conferees tonight were
busy on such bills.
Recess TIL O'Clock.
The postoffice appropriation bill carry
ing total Of about S25S,OOO 900, was passed
at o'clock tonight and the body took a
recess soon thereafter until o'clock.
The sundry civil bill was passed at 1880
p. m. The senate defeated by a vote Of
43 to 20 an amendment to the sundry bill
offered by Senator Cuberson. providing
that the tariff bureau must report to con-
gress by the first Monday in December.
1911, on iron and steel, cotton and cotton
manufactures and wool and wooden manu-
features.
The consideration Of the naval bill oc-
cupied just fifty-five minutes and It was
passed at 145 o'clock.
The naval bill was passed without divis-
ion and without the loss Of a moment
the postoffice appropriation bill, which
last night was read almost to the end,
was taken up
Postmaster General Hitchcock occupied a
seat In the chamber. Among amendments
adopted was one by Senator swans>ln
granting thirty days leave Of absence an
nually to rural free delivery carriers.
When the provision increasing to cents
pound the rate of postage on the ad-
vertising sections of the large magazines
was reached Senator owen made several
points of order against IT, which were
overruled.
Cummins Makes Threat.
Senator Cummins took the floor to dis
cuss the merits of the provision. Inuuir-
ing the intentions of the committee on
postoffices with reference to the bill, he
said he was prepared to and would discuss
the measure on its merits for longer
time than would suit the convenience Of
the senate at this time"
Senator Penrose then announced that on
account Of opposition and the brief time
at the disposal OF the senate, the commit,
tee had decided not to urge the amend
ment now, but to suggest substitute
providing for a commission to consider
the subject.
Senator Carter gave a detailed history
OF the investigations regarding the weigh
ing OF the mails, which was intended to
show that second-class matter costs far
more for transportation that its postage.
II equoted elaborate statements from the
Postoffice department to which Senator
Bristow took exception.
VNNAS 5AdNNAlell Indue re-
garding the cost Of handling second-class
matter" he said. 1.-THE statements are all
greatly exaggerated"
How the Day Began.
An even score Of weary-eyed senators
faced Vice President Sherman when at
10 o'clock he called the senate together.
Adjournment had been taken at 4 O'Clock
this morning.
Among those present were Senators Hale
and Stone. They greeted each other pleas
antly. Mr. Hale was anxious to begin the
consideration Of the great sundry civn bill
and to that end sought to have the formal
reading of yesterdays journal dispensed
with.
Il object" said the leader of yesterdays
filibuster. Mr.. Hale appealed to him, but
apparently in vain.
Won't the senator let us get this for
mality out of the way SO we can go on
with the appropriations" he pleaded.
Il have no objection except that I think
we should have a quorum before We pro-
coed with the appropriations" resumed the
Missouri senator Let the journal reading
go on for the present"
Sundry Civil BIZ Taken Up.
few minutes later ne relented, with
drew his objections and the further reading
was dispensed with. Immediately the
reading OF the sundry civil bill was begun
1t proved a formidable document OF 2S6
pages and carrying Sl42 7O2,U94.
DO you think you are going to get all
the appropriations bills through" Mr.. Hale
was asked"
I'VE win IL they do not filibuster, but at
this stage OF the proceedings one senator
could easily prevent such success. There
are four bills yet to be passed by the SEN
ate. They are the sundry civil, the post
office. the naval and the general defi-
cheney. They are the largest and most
important OF the supply measures and to