The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-02
TWENTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
THIRD SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

TUESDAY, Jan. %, 1889.
On motion Of Mr.. FLETCHER, of Mass, the bill
for the relief of Winslow Lewis was taken up, read
a. third time and passed
On leave given, Mr.. BRIGGS offered the follow
ing resolution
Resolved, That the Postmaster General be direct
ed to communicate to this House, on the earliest
convenient day of the next session, the distance of
mail routes established by law in the whole United
States, and the distance in each State and Territory
the number of miles the mails may have been trans
ported in the United States, and in each of said
States and Territories during the current year. the
average cost per mle and the aggregate cost the
same; the amount received for postage in each State
and Territory, and the whole amount paid to post
masters for their services during the same period.
That he be also directed to report the whole num-
Der of letters carried in the mail during said period
charged with postage, designating the number under
each denomination Of postage, and the amount of
postage on each class, the amount charged on news
papers, pamphlets, and periodicals, and the number
OF free letters carried during said period
That said Postmaster General be farther directed
to state what in his opinion, would be the effect upon
the resources of the Department of establishing the
following tariff of hostages on letters, viz:
On letters carried 50 miles and under, 5 cents;
over go and not exceeding 200 miles, 10 cents; over
200, and not exceeding 400 miles, is cents; over
400 miles, 20 cents. And to state whatever other
tariff fixing the rates in federal money, having in
view the greatest reduction consistent with the
cessaIy means of the Department, if any, would in
That he also state what alteration, if any, may be
made in the present rates of postage newspapers
pamphlets, and periodicals, TO promote the cir
cuation of information without deriment to the
venue Of the Department.
That he report plan for putting up and regulat-
ing boxes in post offices in large towns.
And that he also be directed to submit plan for
regulating the transmission of letters between this
and foreign countries.
Which resolution, after some conversation be-
tween Mr.. Common and Mr.. BRIGGS, was agreed
to.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Mr. CAMBRELENG, from the Committee of
WAYS and Means, reported bill making appropria-
lions for preventing and suppressing Indian hosti-
ties for the year 1889.
Also bill TO repeal the proviso to the second
section of an act, approved March g. 1887, which
authorized the Secretary of the Treasury TO COM
promise the claims of the United States against GER
tain banks.
Also Senate bill, supplementary 10 the act entitled
An act TO establish branches of the Mint Of the
United States" approved March 3, 1885, with
Mr.. EVERETT, from the Committee on Indian
Affairs, reported bill to provide for the location
and temporary support Of the Seminole Indians re-
moved from Florida.
Mr.. CAMBRELENG, from the Committee Of
Ways and Means, moved to correct an error in the
report heretofore made from that committee on the
state Of the Treasury.
Mr.. MERCER moved to lay the motion on the
table, but, alter some desultory consultation, with
drew that motion.
Mr.. EVERETT, Of Vermont said that he did not
consider the subject OF much consequence himself
He wished, however, to stand right before the coun
try The statement, proposed TO be stricken out
incorrect in two respects: 1st II implied that he sub
mitted motion 10 the consideration Of the House
Tor an appropriation. On previous day he laid on
the table an amendment containing an appropriation
which he gave notice Of an intention to offer; but
which he did not offer in committee or in the House