Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-09
SENATE VOTES
S2OO,O0O,OOOFOR
ROAD BUILDING
Fifty Million Available This
Year Under Provision Of
PostOffiCe Bill Adopted
by Vote Of 81 to II.

Washington, Feb. 8.-The annual
postofice appropriation bill, carry
ing a total Of $4O0,OOO,0OO, and pro-
viding for the expenditure of $780,
100000 additional for road building
in the next three years, was passed
tonight by the senate without, a
record vote. The measure now
goes to conference.
The principal fight over the bill
was on the committees amendment
-appropriating $200000,000 for con-
struction of roads. $50,000,000 OF
which would be available this year
The opposition was led by Senator
Thomas of Colorado, democrat, who
sought to have it eliminated on the
ground that it was general legisla-
ton. The amendment finally was
adopted, however, by a vote Of ST.
to II.
criticises Judge Lands.
Senator Thomas attributed much
of the present unrest to petty per-
secution on the part of judiciary
and criticised Federal Judge Lands
for what he called contemplate"
conduct. Senator Thomas said
Judge Lands had ordered a witness
to remove a wrist watch, according
to newspaper accounts, because he
was not military man.
Senator Kenyon of Iowa, repub-
lican renewed his attack on waste
full governmental expenditures, de-
claring the defeat of the democratic
party last November was not due
so much to the presidents appeal
to the country as it was to the feel
ing against wastefulness and indie
feasible appropriations by con-
gress and the feeling held by the
people that the motto of each po-
litical party is "let the people pay"
IF the republicans continue that
sort of policy when they get con
troll, they will be driven out OF
power, too" said Senator Kenyon,
who added he hoped they would be
if they went on in that way.
Bond Plan Defeated.
An amendment by Senator Smoot.
Of Utah, providing as substitute
the creation of a federal highway
commission and giving the secretary
Of the treasury authority to issue
bonds up to $l,000,000000, which
would form the federal fund for road
construction, was defeated, 40 to l8,
as was an amendment by Senator
Moses of New Hampshire, providing
that any money spent by the federal
government for the construction OF
military roads in the vicinity of mil
itary camps and aviation fields be
deducted In apportioning to the
states funds provided in the bill.
Senator Borah of Idaho endeavor-
ed to obtain a suspension of the
rules in order to add as a rider an
amendment repeating provisions OF
the espionage act, authorizing the
postmaster general to bar from the
mails matter believed by him to be
reasonable. This motion to suspend
the rules failed by a vote of 80 TO
25.
Increase Air Mail Fund.
Committee amendments increasing
the house appropriation Of 100000
for the aerial mail service to $780,
500 and authorizing the postmaster
general in his discretion to contract
for pneumatic mail service. in New
York were adopted. After rejecting
committee amendments reducing the
house appropriation for motor truck
routes from $l,000000 to 100000
the senate tonight reconsidered its
previous action and voted to sustain
the committee.
The senate also reconsidered its
previous adverse vote and adopted !
the amendment by Senator Freiling-
huysen of New Jersey, providing
that enlisted soldiers, sailors and
marines employed in road construc-
tion not necessarily needed for mil
itary purposes be paid the same
wage as that received by civilians
The amendment which applies to all |
men heretofore employed in road |
construction, provides that no en-
listed man can be employed on such
work without his consent.