The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-20
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Anu tIcE, On lUOliOI, the StUatc
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
| COMMITTEES OF PRINTING AND THE LIBRARY.
The SPEAKER has appointed Messrs. Newt.
| LIE, MoREHEAp, and FULLER, the Committee on
/ Printing, and Messrs HOLMES, DuER, and IA.
| Mann, the Library Committee on the part OF the
! House.
DELEGATE FROM MEXICO.
Mr.. BOYD asked the consent of the House to
introduce a Joint resolution from the Committee
on Territories, namely, that WIN. s. MEssERvy
be admitted to scat the floor OF the House
as a delegate from the Territory of New Mexico,
with all the rights and privileges enjoyed by the
delegates of the other Territories.
Mr.. JONES objected.
Mr.. BOYD moved that the Committee on Terri
tories be disc urged from the further consideration
of the memorial and certificate of election of Mr..
MEssERvY, and that they be referred to the Com
mittee of Elections.
The motion was agreed to.
POSTAGE REFORM.
The House resolved itself into Committee of the
| Whole on the state Of the Union-Mr BURT in the
Char-and resumed the consideration Of the bill to
reduce and modify the rates Of postage; TO which
several amendments were pending.
! Mr.. THOMPSON, of Pennsy lvania, addressed
| the Committee, and in conclusion. gave notice Of
amendment which he intended to offer, namely
that newspapers of nineteen hundred square inches
| shall circulate in the county where they pub
shed free Of postage out Of the county, elsewhere
/ >
transient newspapers, two cents; drop newspapers,
| TO be delivered only one cent.
Mr.. MORSE said that not a single argument had
been advanced which would induce him 10 vote in
favor of a reduction of postage; but, the con-
trary, the effect had been the other way. Almost
every gentleman who had spoken in advocacy Of
the measure, had demonstrated TO his own satsiac-
ton, and endeavored To demonstrate TO the satis
faction Of Others that the proposed reduction will
enlarge the revenue. II this be true, and if we
have not reached the point yet, he would test the
sincerity of these gentlemen by moving to strike
out the particular clause in the bill and the amend
ments to take from the treasury 8 500 900 TO
4 supply the deficiency which may result under a
lower tariff Of postage. He denied that the Post
Office Department self- sustaining, and spoke
/ Of the mail steamers being supported out Of
the general treasury, while the receipts from let
tiers conveyed by them accrued to the Post Office
| Department.
One would suppose, from the remarks Of gentle
men. that the Government was under obligation to
furnish reading matter gratuitously 10 the people.
| What right has any man 10 ask that the mails be
conveyed free! With reference TO newspapers, il
the cities furnish better article than the country,
let the people have them; If they choose, patro-
nize the six-by nine picayune sheets. The charsc-
ter Of newspapers however, has degenerated within
the last yesrs; and, unless a reform take place
among them, the less circulation they have the bet
ter He intended TO test the sincerity Of the advo-
cates Of the bill by Offering amendment, 20 the
effect that, whenever the receipts fall short Of the
expenses of the Department, the rates shall be
! changed TO what they now are.
| Mr.. TAYLOR believed that the public interests
| would be promoted by reducing the postage u
three cents letter, If prepaid, and five cents II
not; and at the proper time he intended 20 offer an
amendment 10 abolish postage altogether on news
papers circulating within thirty miles from their
| place Of publication. He had confidence In the
Postmaster General, who IL a talented, hard work
| ing, and trustworthy man, and who Ia supposed 10
be acquainted with all the details Of the system
| and he recommends the three and FIVE cent rates
The President Of the United States endorses the
commentator, and he, (Mr TAyLon.) wishing &c
| represent his constituents, would vote for them
| satisfied that these gentlemen would make sug
| gestion which would inJure the public service. The
| Postmaster General says that the deficiency which
will result from reduction Of postage may be made
up by abolishing the ranking privilege, or ma kin
| public letters charge on the treasury. But he
| (Mr. i. was opposed 10 abOshing the Thanking
privilege, because il enables the representative u
keep up an easy and cheap intercourse with his re
| mote constituents. II ~ the connecting link be-
tween the representative and the people. Its sbo-
lition would relieve members from much labor, but
| he willing TO incur the labor for the benefit
| which the ranking privilege confers.
| Mr.. GREEN was opposed to any reduction o.
| postage which might curtail mail facilities Tn,
last reduction TO ten and five cents, and now i
proposed still further to reduce TO five and thre'
| cents. II not that which enabled the Depart
ment 70 sustain itself, but the change in the mode
| in letting contracts, by which there was grea
i saving. file asked whether, IL there should be
1 other reduction in the rates Of postage, another
tation II cannot, because the reasons which
sted under the former reduction no longer exist
The transportation has been increased with the in
crease Of mail matter This being the case, ougb
we not to be extremely guarded in making th'
proposed reduction A uniform rate of five cents
at present, would be sufficient. II the experience
Of Sir or twelve months should justify then may
60 still lower. lie agreed with the gentleman from
Ohio, (Mr TAYLop,) that papers should circulate
within thirty miles Of their place Of publication fire.
of postage.
Mr.. BOWIE gave notice Of his intention TO offei
amendment "that all letters addressed 10 Of
fcers and sailors Of the United States navy, o.
officers and privates Of the marine corps, or officer
and privates oi the United States army, in actua
servfce, shall be carried free Of postage on al
the mail routes in the United States, by sea o
land" He was adverse to n reduction Of posta 20
because his reflections had convinced him II wou
not be beneficial 10 the rural population, part q
which he represented. He took occasion 20 max
this remark, because he presented sundry memo
rals in favor Of the reduction OF postage, believing
them TO be an expression Of the desire of the pee
pie, but he was now constrained TO believe that tn
memorials emanatcd from a common source, an