New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
Corre.poudsrce # The Tribune.
sENATE. .WAIHiNeToN- Weaaesisy. "a y

6uce the rates Of postage has been under debate al
cay IN the senate. Ths oil, which hr. NfLEs laid be-
fore the Senate the last session proposes 20 reduce
the Of postage O. Uniform charge Of three cents
for letters and one cent for newspapers for all q s.
tsnces Il also contained provisions respecting tie
foreign postage which. motion Of Mr.. NILEs. were
struck out aud section Incorporated conforming 70
the ate Po.;s. Convection. NJ. NILES briefly ex
plsned the provisions Of the BIZ ana advocated IL
passage.
Mr Dickinson proposed a rate Of one quarter
Of cent to be charged newspapers not sent more
than 30 miles from tie place OF publication which, COW
ever was not adopted
Mr. DAYr0S made a motion 20 lay the bill on the
table for TIE present which vas lost
Mr. WOODWARD OF KY then moved a. amend
ment proposing 70 give the ranking privilege to the
judges OF the supreme Court stating that they had
css0u 70 receive many letters and packages business
connected with their Office ana the payment OF which
ought no, 70 be imposed upon them.
Mr.. DAVIS Of Miss. opposed the amendment.
he would support proposition 10 allow them 20 re-
ceivs matter free Of postage but would not give the
night % frank letters sent he was opposed 20 the
extension of the franking privilege In any msnner
whatever
Mr.. ALIEN also opposed the amendment, being
adverse 70 any extension Of the frsnsing privilege.
Mr.. Fo0TE opposed the amendment because he
would not DO anything % whei the appetite Of tie
Judges for political letter writing. He then launched
out into philippe sga'as; Judge Mclean who he sc-
cused Of having soied the ermne BY writing the letter
on the Nmoi ProyisO, and that In opposition 10 the
Mexican var and proposing 10 stop the supplies. Mr..
T. vehcmenLy attacked these letters
Mr.. Underwood Interrupted Mr.. +. % explain
that the privilege which his amendment proposed TO
give TO tie judges merely in reference 10 letters
on official business.
Mr. FooTE continued and expressed bis opinion
that verdict Of condemnation had been recorded
against Judge MCLEAN for bis conduct in writing the
two letters above referred to.
Mr. UNDERWOOD thought that the Judiciary
the weaker branch Of the Government-oug TO have
the privileges aud facilities IS other Executive
officers but there seemed % be 90 much opposition,
he would withdraw bis amendment, and offer another
b get test vote which that neither the Executive
officers Of the Government nor members OF Congress
should frank any letters sent but should only receive
letters free.
Mr. DAVIS OF Mass. wished 10 know whether the
Committee had considered the prophety OF reducing
the postage 10 cent and making prepsysble. He
would willingly resign the Thanking privilege II persons
who letters TO him had 10 pay the postage, and
would not object 10 pay postage all letters which he
mig hi send He thou ght the privilege Of ranking did
not compensate for the trouble II gave
Mr.. WEsTCOIT was also IN favor OF prepay
rent He thought Il would stop the immense number
Of trashy letters which Members OF Congress
ceiyed beside relieving the Department OF the burden
OF dead matter.
Mr. NILES thought there were inconvenience
in prepayment in reference to the difficulty of droppius
prepaid letters at all hours He thought the amend.
ment of Mr. UNDERwOoD would hazard the passage of
the bill If it should prevail and therefore he hoped
be would withdraw it until they had got through with
the bill.
Mr.. UsDERwooD did withdraw his amendment,
and then
The bill wa. passed over until Monday. and or.
dered to be printed.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. COLLINS presented the resolutions Of the
Legislature OF NewYork relative to Slavery in Caitor
MA and Mexico, which were read and ordered to
be printed.
The Committees being called for Reports
Mr.. TRUMAN SMITH from Committee on Foreign
Affairs reported with amendments the Senate bills OF
last Session providing for carrying out the Treaty With
Mexico by running the boundary and providing for
the payment of claims which read twice, refer
red 10 the Committee Of the Whole and ordered to be
printed
The House having resolved itself into Committee Of
the Whole
MIR. CALEB r. SMITH in the Chair. The con-
deration OF the Civil and Diplomatic bill was resumed
the question OF mileage being the subject under dis
cusson Vsriou. amendments OF all descriptions were
offered by Messrs. MORSE OF La brown OF MISS
scHEScx OF Onto BowLIN of Mo. LAHn OF Ohio, VxN
ABLE Of y c. VISroS Of Ohio, and MEADE OF Va. At
ter consuming hours in voting on sundry PROPOSE
lions a substitute offered by mr. ScHENcK providing
that mileage shall be- paid the rate OF ten cents per
mile by the usual msi route, and the compensation OF
members should be $1,000 per annum prevailed, and
the COMMITTEES proceeded 20 the consideration OF the
succeeding clsuses OF the bill.
Mr.. q. w JOSEs proposed an Appropriation OF
s20OO0 for additional clerks in the Second Auditors
once saying that the business OF the Office was up
ward OF - months behind hand.
Mr. HARALsOS Of Ga. supported the motion.
Mr. CROZiER Of Tenn. opposed II because, al
thou h he knew that the business Of that ONCE was be.
midland represented il arose from the incspacy OF
the second Auditor 10 perform the duties oil the ONCE
and bis appointment OF incompetent clerks
Mr. ROCKWELL of Conn. opposed the motion
there were - additional clerks appointed 10 that Office
last year and he not in favor OF appointing any
others until IL was shown that they were needed
The amendment was rejected and after some
other unmportant amendments had been offered ana
rejected
The Committee rose at 20 minutes past .
clock and the House adjourned