The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-22

who shall falsely and audulenty make utter, forge any
postage stamp, shall falsely and fraudueny attach TO
letter any stamp which has been used in payment OF post
age knowing that such stamp has been used. and with
tue intent defaud the Post Office De such
conviction shall Tor every such offence be fined not ex
ceeding $500, imprisoned not exceeding six months, or
BOTH according to the circumstances and aggavaons OF
the offence
missions OF postmasies decline under the operations OF
this act shall be the duty Of the Postmaster General 10
allow them in addition 10 what they entitled 10 by
exisiag laws, a sufficient to make their whole com
pensaton equal to what II was in the ending the Both
SEC And be it further enacted, That all and parts
OF inconsistent with the provisions of this act be- and
the hereby, repealed Provided, That this act
shall not be repeal the several parts
a C relating 10 the Thanking privilege
Mr.. ATHERTON. Ihave only to say that hope the
amendment will not be adopted; but that it will be voted
upon separately from the appropriation bill | am in IA
vor of the bill, but not in this place
The Question being on the adoption OF the amend
MIR NILES called for the yeas and nays; which
ordered, and resulted as follows,
YEAS-Messrs Baldwin, Cameron, Clarke, Corgin, Da-
Wis of Massachusetts, Dix, Dodge of Iowa. Fech Finger
aid, Greene, Hale. Hamiin Jones' Miller, Niles, Rusk,
NAYs-Messrs. Aichison, Alherton. Badger Bell Ben
on Berren Borand, Bradbury, Breese Bright, Butler,
Ranef Johnson 81 Maryland Johnson Of @I John
son of Georgia, King Mason, Pearce, Sebastian Spru-
ance, and Tnrney-26
So the amendment rejected.
Mr. BORLAND. | now renew my amendment.
Withdrew it with the understanding that it was to be
proposed to another bill That bill having failed re-
new my motion to amend.
The question being taken upon the amendment, it
rejected,
Mr. NILES moved TO amend the bill by adding the fol-
lowing section:
BE ii enacted That the better enable the postal treaty
with Great Britain to go mo full effect with equal advan-
tage both countries letters shall be mailed composing
only where the letter does not exceed the weight
OF half ounce but does not exceed an ounce as com
posing where it exceeds but does
exceed two ounces; composing Tour rates. where IT
ooeds TWO ounces but does not ,ee a,
does exceed four ounces composing eight rates.
like progression for each additional ounce
portion of and that each rate shall be subject
be delivered, may be Immediately returned the
office, and that newspapers not sent from the office of pub
LEGATION shall be charged with the postage other
papers, to be prepaid
In submitting the amendment Mr.. N said: The postal
arrangement with Great Britain fixes uniform rates BY
our law half is a rate The English law is diff
fercnt BY their law, over ounce and less than two
ounces is four rates An and fraction there is
four rates. By our law an and fraction under
hall would be three rates They have differ
ent progression upon letters, beyond the first two rates
This amendment proposes to conform to the English pro-
erosion Tor letters between the two countries. There
also clause in the amendment elaive to newspapers
The law now IS that they shall be prepaid and three
cents is charged Ii is small natter but which
has caused great complaint
! Mr. BADGER inquired of the chairman of the Com
mee on Finance whether or not he desired that this
shS M Be aaPPssGT4saS to The bill 0ass,n, ,,o
ment has become necessary in consequence OF the recent
postal arrangement between this, country and Great
Britain do not know as should particularly object to
attaching It to this bill
MIR KING remarked that he believed that the postal
arrangement had nothing do with the clause relating
Mr. NILES That is very small matter, but the
cause of great complaint in the country, and thought it
ought to be remeded in way and have therefore
introduced the clause charging transient newspapers the
Mr. BRADBURY Mr. President, the chairman of
the Post Office Committee, in Offering this amendment
has proceeded upon the supposon that the of the
| indication DISPOSED
act upon the bill to reduce the of postage. 1t be-
comes proper therefore, for me to say. as one individual
that voted against attaching that bill to this, not from
opposition to the bill-for am in favor of bill estab
ishng uniform rates OF postage and abrogang the frank
| ing privege-but because | opposed 10 placing it
upon the appropriation bill.
The question beng then taken on the amendment, II
was agreed 10,
| Mr. NILES moved further to amend the BILL by add
ing provision authorizing contract for the transporta
ton Of the mails between New York and New Orleans
by railroad the peninsula OF Florida the service
Mr. ATlERTON It seems to me that there are SO
many objections these contracts. that would be very
dangerous 10 enter into contracts this little appro
pration bill This authorizes the Postmaster General to
make contract 1t amounts TO positive direction
to make contract, and hope it will not be incorporated
Ma TURNEY remarked that this was taking from the
Postmaster General by legislation upon the part OF Con-
gress the power of making contract Not content with
interfering with regard to mail routes and leaving to
his discretion to advertise for mail contracts, II here
contemplated to interfere to the number of times that
The mail should De transported ana the sum OF money
be paid He of opinion that the Postmaster General
could make better contract for the business of the de-
parment than Congress could make for him. and that the
Postmaster General could Judge OF the proprety of
king contract better than Congress could He thought
dangerous and rnous for Congress to take away these
powers from that department and attempt to exercise them
itse-not only to establish mail routes but to how
often the mail should be carried and the amount OF mo-
ney which should be paid for its transportation.
Mr. NILES. Mr.. President am not disposed to take
up the time of the Senate in discussing this subject; but it
very important NATTER and deserves attention
The proposition itself, however, not OF much
portance, extends only TO the next Congress The
popriety of establishing this line will be readily by
any who will take the trouble Of looking at the sub
ject will only say that | asonished, tracing
this. route the map, that has not been established
that it is almost in direct line from New York New
Orleans; the whole distance being about thousand
miles, which Is only little than one half the pres
This service is to be performed in five days-a very
important consideration. Every will perceive the
Importance of such line, provided that the service
be performed Tor reasonable charge But more I'M
portan consideration is, that all the great commercial
uated directly this route. That is consideration of
the utmost Importance and, united with Others furnishes
ample for the adoption of this measure.
Mr.. YULEE hoped he might be INDUCED in saying
very few words. He aware that this amendment
not strictly appropriate TO the bill but he considered
it very important He understood that it reported
nanmousy by the committee. This route would reduce
the period to one-half the time now required This
would benefit New York. New Jersey. Delaware, part OF
Pennsylvania, end of the route, and louisiana
part Of Alabama the whole of Mississippi, part OF
Tennessee and the whole of Texas and Arkansas the
other The time would be reduced from days to five,
and thus great advantage would be given in the cores