The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-07
HOUSE OF REPREsENTATIvES.

Mr.. Johnson of Tennessee, by unanimous con-
sent, introduced a bill, of which previous notice
had been given. TO provide q homestead Of 100
acres Of the public domain TO every man who Is
the head of family and q citizen Of the United
States and TO every widow who is the mother OF
a minor child or children, who may become the
permanent occupants and cultivators Of the soil
which was read twice by its title
Referred TO the Committee on Public Lands
MIR Moore said he had at an early day in
the session given notice Of bill similar in char
acter. He asked the unanimous consent of the
House to permit him to introduce il now Con-
sent was given, and he Introduced bill to dis
courage speculation in the public lands, and to
secure homes thereon TO actual settlers and cul-
tivators; which was read twice by its title and
referred to the Committee on Public Lands
Mr.. Ashmun, by unanimous consent, intro
duced a BILL of which previous notice had been
given, to reduce the rates Of postage and to abo-
ish the franking privilege as follows
SECTION |. BE Il Enacted by he Senate and House
Of Representatives, of The Unded States Of america
| IN Congress assembled, That from and after the
first day of July next, the rates Of postage upon
letters, when prepaid, shall be uniform; and all
such letters, passing through the mail shall be
charged by weight, as follows Letters weighing
not more than half an ounce, two cents; more
than half an ounce, and not more than one ounce
than an ounce and half six cents more than a
J ounce and half and not more than two ounces,
| eight cents and four cents addItiohal for every
ounce Of greater weight oil letters conveyed by
mail-steamers between Oregon or California, and
ports of other parts Of the United States five
times the above rates and on all letters which
are not prepaid, the postage shall remain as now
established by law.
SEC .. BE II further Enacted, That il shall be
A. .l,,t., 80 al H. d.
suitable letter stamps for the prepayment Of post.
age, of the several denominations, of two cents
four cents, six cents, eight cents, and Of such
other denominations as he may deem expedent
| and cause them to be furnished and kept for sale
in each Of the Post Offices in the United States
and any deputy postmaster, who shall fail, by his
own neglect TO have the same for sale TO any per-
son applying therefor, shall be liable to penalty
of five dollars for every such failure, to be recov-
cred by the person so applying And any person
| who shall counterfeit alter or forge any letter
stamp, or who shall, knowingly, have in his pos
session any false, forged or altered etter-stamp
with intent to use OF utter the same as genuine,
shall be deemed to be guilty of felony and be
punished by fine not exceeding five hundred
dollars, or by Imprisonment not more t1Sd ave
years.
- SIC g. B. Il G}g,ber enocifd. That If by reason
Of this act the compensation of any deputy post
! master shall be reduced below the present rate,
the Postmaster General is hereby authorized mt
his discretion TO increase such compensation, as
far as Justice and the interests of the Department
may require, having regard to the amount Of labor
and character Of the service performed, provided
that the whole amount Of compensation In any
year shall not exceed the amount allowed at the
same Office in the fiscal year ending the first day
of July next and whenever a new post Office
shall be established, the Postmaster General may
fix the amount Of annual compensation of the
deputy postmaster at rate not larger than is al
lowed at existing Offices requiring the same amount
of service.
SRc. A. Be Il further enacted, That the franking
privilege, except so far as it may have been con-
ferred by Congress upon individuals as mark of
respect and honor, is hereby abolished and the
postage of all documents published by either
| House of Congress, and all communications TO
| and from members of either House. mailed dur
| ing the session, including speeches delivered
| therein, and all communications to and from the
officers Of either House upon public service shall
| be paid out of the contingent funds Of the re-
spective Houses, under such regulations as each
House shall prescribe for itself and all commu-
ncations to and from the several Departments of
Government, properly chargeable to the public
service, shall be marked as such, and the postage
thereof be paid like other contingent expenses of
the Departments.
SEC 5. Be Il further enacted, That il the receipts
account Of the postage y congress and the De-
partments, shall be insufficient TO defray the
penses Of the Post Office Department with the
! present extent of mail accommodations, and such
further extension thereof as may be made by
Congress or the Department, the deficiency shall
be paid out Of any money in the Treasury not
otherwise appropriated; Provided, That the en-
tire aggregate expenditure of the Post Office De-
partment, exclusive of the salaries of officers,
clerks, and messengers of the General Post Office,
and the contingent fund of the same, shall not
exceed the annual sum Of Eve millions OF dollars.
The bill was read twice by its title, and referred
to the Committee on the Post Office and Post
Roads
" The House resolved itself into Committee of
the Whole on the state of the Union.
Mr. Toombs, being entitled TO the floor, moved
to lay aside the Presidents annual Message, and
take up his Message in relation to California.
The motion was agreed to. He then yielded for
a moment to Mr. Doty Of Wisconsin, to allow him
to offer the following bill
An aa TO adsa the State Of California into he Union.
Whereas the people Of California have formed
for themselves Constitution and State Govern.
ment, and applied for admission into the Union
as State and whereas the said Constitution
has been officially communicated to Congress, and
~ 4
SECTION /. BE Il enacted, &c, That the State of
California, with the boundaries described in the
said Constitution, shall be one, and is hereby de-
clsred to be one of the United States Of America,
and admitted into the Union on an equal footing
with the original States, in all respects whatever
SIC 2. The said State Of California shall never
interfere with the primary disposal of the soil
within the same by the United States, nor with
any regulations Congress may make for securing the
AZ, Ia ;,o oh coil IN hau 40 cboao
and no tax shall be imposed on the lands, the
property Of the United States; which said pro-
visions are hereby declared to be fundamental
conditions upon which the said State il admitted
into the Union
Mr. Green (the floor being further yielded by
Mr.. r offered an amendment which was not
read, proposing the Missouri compromise line
Mr. Toombs then addressed the Committee, in
a temperate, argumentative speech, in support Of
the claims Of the shareholders. lie was followed
by Col. Baker Of Illinois in speech in support
of the Wilmot Provso and the Union. Mr. Nc
Lane Of Maryland next obtained the hoor-made
an argument in favor Of on-lDtervention, and
appealed TO the Democracy Of the North to stand
by this platform with their brethren Of the South
Mr. CoprVd secured the floor, the Committee
arose, and the House adjourned.
THURSDAY, FEBkuAKY rs, 1890.
MIR Burt offered the following resolution, which
was agreed to.
Resolred That the Committee on Military
Affairs be instructed TO inquire into the Justice
and propriety Of refunding to the State Of South
Carolina the money paid by that State to her
troops who served in the Florida war and that
they report by bill or otherwise
On motion OF Mr.. Preston King, IL was
Ordevsd That the several propositions submit.
ted to the consideration of the Committee Of the
Whole on the state Of the Union, in relation TO
the admission OF California into the Union as
State, be printed
Mr. Gerry submitted the views Of the minority
Of the Committee on Naval Affairs upon the
memorial Of George w. Billings; which was laid
on the table and ordered 10 be printed