The Woodstock age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1844-1845, 1845-02-20
PWENTY-ElGHTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
T,o.Iou ToA
Tuesday, Feb. A.
Post Office Bill.

o's SU'Io oWs'
The morning business being finished
the Senate took up the unfinished bushes
Of yesterday, being the Pos, Office Bill
The question was upon an amendment, o
Mr. Ashly, to provide for any dehcienc.
in the Post Office revenue gu, OF the pub
he Treasury.
This amendment was debated at som,
length, and adopted.
Bagby moved an amendment, which
was adopted, giving to all Deputy Post
masters the same compe nsa,on in in 1874;
which they had in 1874.
Severa| messages in writing were here re
ceived from the President Of the United
States.
The Post Office bill was final ny reported
to the Senate, and the various amendments
already made were concurrsd in.
Thursday, Feb. 6, 1915.
SENATE.
Mr. Choa,c presented memorial from
Mass. against the annexation of Texas.
The Pos. Office bill was taken up. when
Mr. Merrick expressed hope that il
would be voted upon and not talked about
20, tina. 1t may be finally despatched this
day.
Mr. Buchanan's amendment to the a.
mendment Of Mr. Simmons was rejected
yeas II, nays 24.-This amendment al
lowed members to send five free letters per
diem.
The question was then upon Mr. Summons
amendment, viii ch gave members an un.
Limited right to frank their letters and
speeches. The Senators could not help
talking about this, but after they had done,
the yeas and nays were called, and the
franking privilege was given up by a vote
of yeas Is, nays %.
The yeas and nays were then called up
on striking out the ninth section, which
provides that members shall have GER
tain number offree stamps; and this was
also done by yeas So, nays 2.
The next question was upon Mr. Hunt
ington's amendment, which allows news
papers, periodicals, &c. to be carried oul
Of the mail.
After a great deal Of discussion, thcvo,
was taken by yeas and nays, and Mr.
Uuntington's amendment was adopted by
yeas 81, nays2.
The bill was then ready to be reported,
when Mr. Simmons moved very iupor-
tant amendment to the first section Of the
bill, viz. to make one uniform rate ofpost-
age for all letters carried in the mail and
fixing this rate at fine cents. Mr. S. made
very plausible argument in favor Of his
proposition, and urged that in the present
measure, bold course was prudent,
course.
After lengthy discussion, the vote was
taken and Mr. Simmons bold movement
was carried oy vote of ayes SO, nays IA.
Saturday, Feb. s.
Post Office Bill Passed.
This bill was read third time, and the
question being on its passage, Mr. McDuf.
lie let off forty-two FOUNDER against it.
Mr. Simmons and Mr. Merrick defended
it, and the bill rAssED--Yeas 80, Nays
-.
Its main features, sre that
l. All single letters, without regard to
distance, shall pay the uniform rate of
five cents.
@ Every letter weighing no more than
half an ounce shall be deemed a single let
ter, no matter how many pieces it may
contain, and if weighing one ounce, shall
be deemed double, and so on.
8. Members of Congress to receive and
send letters free, all the year round.
4. No one else to frank, except Ex-
Presidents and their widows.
S. All letters and packets. &c, which
pass free through the mail, and all Gov
eminent postage to be paid for out Of the
Treasury.
6. Newspapers to go out of the mail,
without subjecting the senders or carriers
to any penalty.
7. Private posts for carrying newspapers
to be allowed.
s. All deficiencies between the revenue
Of the Department and the expenses (imi-
ted to four and half millions, TO be paid
out of the public Treasury.
The bill is on the whole good one.
The danger is, that the five cent post
age will no, break up private expresses on
the principal routes. Butt will be seen
that, though nomiuaIly five cents, the post
age is not two cents; for three letters can
be put under cover. Of half an ounce.
Monday, Feb. 10. 1916.
The Bill for distributing copies OF the
magnificent work of THE Exploring Elk.
pednion" was agreed to. Each Foreign i
Government is to have copy or two Of S
this splendid and interesting work. S
In the Senate, on Wednesday, on mo-
ton Of Mr. Walker, the reading OF the
minutes was dispensed with, when the ,
Senate proceeded in body to the House ,
of Representatives to unite with it in car ,
rying out the joint resolution for count r
ing the votes cast for President ond Vice /
President of the United States. G
When thew returned and resumed t
their seats in the Senate. a
Mr. Walker, from the joint committee, t
reported resolution, which was adopted, t
appointing Committee of one on the G
part of the Senate to act with that of the ,