Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-09
SOLDIERS RELIEVED
OF WORK ON ROADS
Amendment to Post Office Bill
Requires Their Consent and
Rate of Civilian Pay.
APPROPRIATION is PASSED

Aroused over reports that thousands
of American soldiers in this country
have for weeks been compelled to
build roads, and that they are being
retained at this work instead of being
demobilized. the Senate late yesterday
afternoon adopted an amendment to
the post Office appropriation bill pro-
viding that the men shall not be en-
ployed on road construction work
without their consent, and that, IL so
employed, they shall be paid the same
wages as those received by civilians
doing road work. The amendment was
offered by Senator Frelinghuysen of
New Jersey.
The post Office appropriation bill,
finally, was passed without a roll call.
carrying a total of $400, 900, 900, and
providing for the expenditure of $780,,
600, 900 additional for road building
during the next three years under the
provisions of the existing law relat-
ing to government aid in road con-
struction. The bill now goes to con-
ference.
Forced to Construct Roads.
The charge was repeatedly made on
the floor of the Senate that enlisted
men in the Army are being forced to
work at road building. ten and twelve
hours day. on regular Army pay,
along side Of civilians who are paid
$3.50 a day and upward, and that
these men are being held in the Army
and kept at such work so that officers
may retain their commands. The
amendment to the post Office bill was
intended as a remedy for the condi
tions alleged to exist at Gum Springs
Camp, Virginia, near Alexandria, at
Camp Humphreys and other camps in
the vicinity Of Washington.
Senator Lodge, Senator Borah and
others demanded that the soldiers be
discharged, saying there is no mill
tary emergency, now the war is over.
making it necessary to construct mill
tary roads. and that they were being
used to construct roads for the benefit
of the states in which the camps were
at practically no cost to the
states. The men, Senator Borah said,
were needed at home, and, now the
emergency is over, they
should be sent home
More Money for Roads.
The principal fight over the bill was
on the committees amendment appro-
priat1ng s20e. 100000 for construction
Of roads. 5e.09o.000 of which would
be available this year. The opposition
was led by Senator Thomas Of Colo
RADIO. democrat. who sought to have
1t eliminated on the ground that it
was general legislation. The amend
nent finally was adopted, however,
by vote of 81 to IL.
An amendment by Senator Smoot of
Utah, providing, as a substitute, the
creation of a federal highway COM
and giving the Secretary of
the Treasury authority to issue bonds
up to one billion dollars. which would
form the federal fund for road con-
was defeated, 46 to IS, as
was an amendment by Senator Moses
IF New Hampshire providing that any
money spent by the federal govern
nent for the construction of military
-oads in the vicinity of military
amps and aviation fields be deducted
n apportioning to the states funds
in the bill.
Would Curb Postmaster General.
Senator Borah of Idaho endeavored
o obtain a suspension of the rules in 1
,rder to add as rider an amendment !
epealing provisions of the espionage |
lct authorizing the Postmaster Cen |
,rai to bar from the mails matter be- (
ieved by him to be reasonable. His |
notion to suspend the rules failed by |
/ vote of 80 to 25.
Committee amendments were adopt !
ID increasing the House appropriation /
# 100000 for the aerial mail service !
o SS50.500 and authorizing the Post
MASTER General in his discretion to |
contract for pneumatic mail service in |
lew York After rejecting committee
reducing the House ap-
for motor truck routes i
rom 81 .0oo.0 900 to 100000 the Senate
onight reconsidered it's previous ac-
ion and voted to sustain the commit !