The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-23

| MIR. BUCHANAN inquired of the Senator from
maryland, what amount the revenue of the Depart
neht would be reduced by the first section of this
Mr. MERRlCK replied that he was un able 10 saw
ne section proposed 10 change the rates of postage
to correspond with the coin of the United States For
instance, letters now charged with six and quarter
cents postage would pay five cents those now charged
we've and halt would pay ten cents and those
charged eighteen and three founhs twenty cents
Although this arrangement might reduce the receipts
OF The Department there other parts of the bill
which would augment them, Of the bill should pass
substantially as repeatedly and afford TO in
crease mail facilities they should be required by the
rapid growth OF the country.
Mr.. BUCHANAN said that he would like to
know, or have some calculation TO how much the
hrsl section would abridge the OF the Post OF
nee Department He once himself Ia 1926, in connec
ION with anoti member ofthe House OF Representa-
nies undertook to establish Post Office code. The
committee on the Judiciary also worked long time and
being subject which interested every man. and there
being 80 many conflicting opinions, be did know
how long 1t took the House to pass the bill hey had
reached the I'D OF July, after being in session fIom
the 3ist OF May, lS4l, with the exception of two
months and half and did his friend from Mary
and think that this bill would be passed through the
Senate and the House during the few remaining
weeks of the session If they should 90 on 10 con-
slider this BILL they would sacrifice the remainder of
tue calendar which they mig dispose Of the
lay the bill on the table but he thought that after
spending the precious time of the Senate this sub
Ject Il would finally be unavains, and no law would
pass As but short time would eapse before the
next session, he would suggest that the bill be post
poned, and that il be then taken up. If this should
meet with the appreciation of the Senator from Ma
ryla nd, 1t would have beneficial effect on the bust
ness of the session.
Mr. MERRICK remarked that his friend was mis-
taken. This was no new cod6 for the Post Office
Departmental merely proposed sundry alterations in
The laws to meet existing abuses and to remedy great
and growing evils and it in consonance with
various petitions and memorials which had been pre-
sented to the Senate upon the subject He believed
that they would have ample time TO 90 through the
private calendar and act on this bill satisfactorily
Mr. CALHOUN having inquired what were the
main features of the bill
Mr.. MERRICK said, first, the injury to the De-
partment from private expresses is guarded against
secondly remedy is posed for the great abuse of
transporting newspapers, ten times the Of the
binary newspapers for one cent Here is one of
them (hoding up the folded sheet in his hand.)
A SENATOR asked the gentleman from Maryland TO
show it,
Mr.. MERRICK said that he would if somebody
would help him.
Mr.. WRIGHT. Get one of the little boys
Accordingly, one of the pages assisted the Senator
from Maryland to unfold +" Brother Jonathan who
it was discovered, had quadrupled his first form and
infant proportions. This argument having been dis
posed Of
MT NEhItlCh continued, j ne ranking prIVr
lcge Is to be restricted, and nobody but those who
entitled by law to exercise it, will be allowed the
of the franks of members of Congress and others.
There are 40 deputy postmasers: supposing that
each one franks to the amount Of SO year. would
make SAC, 900 and the bill proposes to take the pri-
vilege from them. Foreign vessels are to be prohi
bted from conveying letters from port in the
United States to another, and from conveying an
agent with letters in his possession. The Post Office
Department is to be authorized to contract with
yer special occasion may require and the bill also
proposes certain regulations in relation to the of
letter boxes, from which considerable revenue may
be derived by the Department.
Mr.. BUCHANAN observed that if he thought
that they had time to perfect the bill he would unite
with the Senator from Maryland. But it his
opinion that If This bill was gone into, they might bid
farewell to the calendar. Ii a subject which af
eced every person, and Congress felt deep interest
in it. His friend from Maryland, not being able to
give the information for which he had asked, ought
to consent to the postponemen of the bill. He sup
posed that there would be letters transmitted
during this year than the last--then what would be
the amount of revenue by this bi2
Mr. MERRICK said that it was impossible to am
that question.
Mr. BUCHANAN remarked lha, an average
might be given. In England, when law
brought forward, practical information was always
given It's effect
Mr. SEWER regarded the bill as the most aston
ishing he had ever seen and after having stated his
objections to it
Mr. TAPPAN read amendment which h"du-
tended sLo - = !, 1r wa, occurring poataas -
Me- M mE az, e.ers arr he would have objection
to that.
Mr. CALHOUN was of the opinion that some
thing should be done, and that the bill might be pass
ed single day And, for the purpose OF atiordlns
gentlemen opportunity of looking further into the
subject, he moved that the Senate do now adjourn,
but he withdrew his motion to enable
Mr. LINN to say he thought that, If the Senator
from Maryland had introduced one or two parts OF
the bill only for the purpose of correcting some press
ing evils they might come to some satisfactory con-
cuson. But it was utterly impossible to get the
whole bill through this session. They had entailed
on the country the curses of hasy legislation and ne
hoped that this measure, delicate as 1T was would not
now be taken up.
Mr. CALHOUN renewed his motion to ADJOURN
and said they could proceed to consider the bill to-
morrow.
Mr. LINN remarked that they might thereby lose
the calendar.
Mr. MERRICK said that the Senate could, If II
thought proper strike out certain parts OF the BILL
and pass the remainder
And the Senate then ad iOurned.