The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-04-14
In CONGRESS OF THE q. STATES.
ThIrt,oth oongress--First Session.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL la, 1915.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The journal having been read


On motion of Mr. GOGGIN, the House resolved Itself
INTO Committee of the Whole the state OF the Union
Mr. BURT IN the char and proceeded to the consdera
ton OF the special order OF the dayhe bill to amend
the act provide for the transportation of the mail be-
tween the United States and foreign countries, and for
other purposes . which read
Mr. IT, moved to amend the bill by striking out all at
ter the enaciing clause and inserting substitute author
lzng the Postmaster General under direction of the Pres
Ident 10 meet the governments OF other countries upon
the subject of postal arrangements, upon the
with which said governments treat us
The amendment having been read,
/ The CHAIR suggested that the original bill was first
subject to amendment; and that the question upon the
adoption OF the substitute could not be taken until after
| the original had been perfected. rr
Mr. GOGGIN stated the object of the bill originally re-
ported by the committee TO be amendatory of the act of
1915 on this subject 1t was the object OF Congress
in few years TO have seam-packet line for mail
vice between New York and Hayre, touching at South
ampion This went into operation last July and on the
first arrival of the Washington England, the officers of
that packet met by the British government with a
demand for the amount of postage they had been
in the habit OF receiving on letters transmitted by their
own packets. For example he took the case OF letter
sent by private individual from the city of Richmond 10
Birmingham in England. The American postage to New
York would be 10 cents, to which add cent for port
charge in New York, and 10 cents for ship transportation
the whole cost would be 81 cents But the price to be
charged on the American packet-shp Washington
TO be 81 cents, to which the British government super
added her packet charge of 81 cents for the purpose OF
protecting their vessels IN the monopoly which they have
heretofore enjoyed in this letter transportation, and thus
increasing the postage American letter to from As
to 50 cents MIR G. read several documents TO show the
rejection by the British government OF our proposition for
equitable postal arrangement and avowng the object
TO be the protection OF their Cunard line in the enjoyment
Of their ancient monopoly OF this business He asserted
that the demanded the attention OF Congress. He
admitted the Postmaster General and our minister In
London had done all that could be done in this matter,
in order to effect an equitable system OF postal arrange
ments between this country and England He asked the
passage OF the amendment in order to place the hands
of the President of the United States and the Postmaster
General the necessary executive power of meeting the
spp arr q
the British government and other foreign countries with
reference to this country on the platform OF equality.
The British assumption IN this respect he showed to be
violation of the spirit OF amty and comfy with which
we entered into treaty with that power in the comner-
cal convention of 1878 1t equivalent TO duty
levied by that government the letters transported BY
our ships, manned by our own seamen-a duty
equivalent to the postal charge which we have esab
lishedmakmg the tax upon all the letters from our
families their friends there Just double (or nearly so)
what should be; and this to support and sustain Brit
ish ships in opposition to our own lie asked that au-
thory be given TO the President to place the
platform occupied by Great Britain, to countevai
their attempt thus to discriminate against The amend
ment prescribed no rates These embraced in the law
of 1915, The present proposition did not contemplate
any change of rates. only such may be though
sary countevai the proceedings against by foreign
governments
Mr. NlCOLL said After the able exposition by the
chairman of the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads it scarcely necessary for him to detan the
committee with additional considerations. The amend
ment he hoped would pass BY unanimous vote. II
men but proposition to invest the government with
power meet the British government equal terms in
this matter OF foreign postage we propose this realla
tory course in aid of negotiation, not to irusrate tia
which, trust, Will result III some equitable
rangement We say to the British government that we
have been compelled thus TO realiae. We have hereto
fore experienced the good effects OF such legislation in
aid OF negotiations and he apprehended that the action
proposed to be taken would lead to results equally
beneficial He repeated his desire that the bill should
pass by unanimous vote
Mr. TOMPKlNS would detain the committee a very
short time with his reasons for voting for the amend
ment He would not 90 into details, but content himself
with touching the range OF general subjects connected
with the rights of all We were justabe in retaatory
proceedings order to obtain what is right; and espe
ciay when the right could not be obtained without this
He commended the activity and energy of the Postmaster
General and our minister at the court of ST. James,
evinced in their efforts to carry out the equitable postal
arrangement with Great Britain which this government
had proposed 1t required the best could do
tain our rights against our willy neighbor He would not
make American skill and enterprise tributary TO Great
Britain The retaliation we propose in this amendment
affected neutral rights, and could not be Objectionable
this account The proposition was 10 exact the sane
rate of postage letters brought IN their packets that
they charge for letters conveyed IN ours He would not
he repeated submit TO unequal arrangement in
this respect which would result in filling the Golfers OF
our naughty rival This course OF retaliation was the
only one which would be likely to bring about Just
and far postal arrangement between the two countries
for which have been struggling for some time past
Mr.. EVANS, of Maryland, though he preferred the
amendment to the original bill vet as the original bill
was about to be read through he indicated and moved
the reduction of the postage rates of the bill to fifteen
cents:
Mr. JONES' of Tennessee, could not agree with the
gentleman from Maryland. That gentemans amend
ment would be exceedingly improper The object now
was to invest the President and the Postmaster General
with power adopt rates OF foreign posageposage on
letters coming TO this country in foreign vessels cores
pondng the which Great Britain or other foreign
governments choose charge letters carried into their
ports by American vessels He supposed that all would
oppose these high rates, if it not that the same
onerous rates were charged by Great Britain. Even if
the substitute should be rejected, lie insisted that the
rates of the original bill should not be lowered or
changed
Mr. DICKEY asked for the question
The amendments by the gentleman from Maryland
were then rejected.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee, then moved that the fur
Their reading OF the original bill be dispensed with which
was agreed to by unanimous consent
The CHAIRMAN then announced the consideration
of the substitute from the Committee the Post Office
and Post Roads
Mr. HUNT proposed to amend the amendment by add
ing two sections to the following effect:
Newspapers exceeding 1900 square inches shalt be
conveyed the mails distance under thirty miles
from thts place OF publication free Of postage; and all
800 square inches be subject the extra charge
any distance thirty miles, be subject to one cent
postage when paid in advance, and two cents whe no.
paid advance without regard the distance TO whch
said papers shall be transmitted
Mr.. GOGGIN rose 10 question oil order-contehalng
that the amendment not gefmane 10 lhe supJecI
Mr. HUNT thought there could be no dilculiy on ue
subject of order 1t seemed TO HIM that MS amendment
was perfectly germane the subject lie desired 70 De
INDUCED i'm a word OF explanation Inc ACT OF 1919 pro-
vded that no charge should be made tor newspaper post
age for anv distance under thirty miles from the place OF
publication There never had been any complaint ulleF-