The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEsEBNEO DEBATE.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10. 1851.
REJECTION or POSTAGE,

'ondefaton o the DPl To reduce and modify the rates OF
hostage and TO provide Tor the coinage OF lhree-cenl
The pending question was the motion Of Mr. UNDER
kyoop to amend the second section IN the second ne by
nseItipg alter The word 'papers the words "o and
4 half and" The section a. II now stands reads ,hat
ll newspaper exceeding three ounces ~ weight
Een from the office OF putllcauon," Nc As amended, il
hyi read ..'
nd half und exceeding htce ounces IN weight,
from the offices of publication 10 actna aud bona fds sub
scrbe rs Shall be charged WIN postage as ioiows, &c
And also to amend the 10Th line OF the same section
|by inserting after the word Tates' the following
| sand nil newspapers, when less and half
unce weight, shall be charged only halt OF the above
,aes
N, UNDERWOOD Upon some consultation since
~, evening have concluded 10 Withdraw that amend
Snrnt and to endeavor TO accomplish the object by
kmending the proviso offered by my friend from Maine,
Mr. HAMuN,l by Offering an additional provso which
will read, making remark by way OF explanation, and
kubmt TO the Senate. rs this:
.Aad provided, farther That newspapers published only
and half shall be charged only halt the charged
or paper exceeding that rate.
The eff ect OF this amendment will be to divide the
ewspaper circulation of the country into three different
asses. One class Is provided for by the provso of,
cred by the gentleman from Maine. That is class of
spes containing three hundred square inches, or about
eventeen inches square-papers OF winch will cir
ulae by paying one-fourth the rates prescribed in the
b according that proviso. Now, sir my provso pro.
oses to make another classification and that is 10 clas
Iy the weight. The bill it stands provides for pa
(ers weighing three My amendment proposes 10
yde that weight and to say lha, papers OF less than
ay only half the rates OF paper OF that weight. Thus
ou perceive that you will divide the whole wsIaper
rculation into three classes two OF the classes 10 be
stingushed by weight, one above ounce aud half,
nd The other below an ounce and a half, and the
bird class containing only three hundred square inches
This amendment will work we'll without tisarranging
all the different distances given IN the bill, from fifty
blles up II will not affect the table OF distances at all :
will only affect the price, and reduce il to onehalf
hen the weight is reduced to half OF three ounces
ready explained its beneficial operation upon the small
Rpes OF the country which have weekly circulation
nd as have modified H. it will be clear Of the objec-
on which was taken on yesterday. II was said on yes
Erday and said truly, tina, the New York Mirror, for
hsance, and other papers of that character, weigh
ss than and half, and yei have large cir
nlation. But, sir, these not weekly parers-ihese
fe tr-weekly and daily papers, and my amendment
ply operates IN behalf OF weekly paper IL will not
ect daily and ri weekly papers. such were mention
on yesterday, which contain long list of advertise
ents, OF profitable character which have vast cir.
ation, and which circulate seyond fifty miles hope
erefore that the Senate will adopt this amendment for
benefit OF country and village papers, which also
eekly papers. now offer the provso which | have
ri, in lieu of that which offered yesterday,
MIR RUSK. The printed matter which is conveyed by
. mails encumbsrs them. Il does not and never has
bid its proportonate share OF the expense compared
lib letter postage II is then, proper, and have sought
this bl--with much care and reflection myself, and
consulting Win the HOStm0AeT lyeneIaI, ana
assistants, some of whom have been engaged for
ars in the department, and who understand its opera
ns-to regulate iaIh OF postage upon printed matter,
hich shall be nearly equal possible, and come
nehing like approaching to payment for the service
dered its transmisson. This is long section and
is troublesome matter TO come near the proper
sement Il has been prepared with much care, The
bect OF making determinations In favor OF one paper
against another is bad in principle and its operation
be unequal There will be continual grumblng in
aton to ], from the weekly papers, twill be bur
and an unjust burden, on the mails. The experiment
been often tried, and il has always produced confu
a. The Congress tha, reduced The Rates of postage be-
granted Tree circulation TO newspapers within
distance The mischief showed itself Immediately
a dscontent produced among all the other print
IN the country II manifested Itself IN The careless
s with which postmasers discharged their duties IN
delivery OF those papers which were required TO be re-
we'd and delivered at their Offices ee--wlhoul remu
aton, not only IN relation to the mail transportation,
also with reference 10 the service OF the postmaster.
s fe more particularly upon the postmasiers IN the
All ofnces where their services are To great extent
boui direct remuneration The consequence was that,
e. ycars experience IN il, il repealed and then
y went TO the other extreme. They charged as much
anewspaper conveyed only ten miles as for one
I'd for much greater distance. The House provided
her bill, Tor which this is offered substitute for
Tree circulation OF newspapers. Upon consultation
The department. we propose varying rates upon all
Tspapers not exceeding three ounces IN weight This
reduction upon the present law. from hfly.two cents
VENT cents per annum and surely this resuction ~
hclent. The adoption OF the amendment proposed by
senator from Kentucky will increase this great dednc
a; 30 that, instead of hy-two cents, charged.
postage will be but ten cents II has been found
~ to require subscribers ior newspapers 10 pay the
lsge quarterly IN advance and # II is reduced TO ten
year, what will be the operation OF ii You re-
Ie payment IN advance. Here is a rate of two and a.
cents to be paid Tor quarter in advance. Yoa sub
'he subscriber TO an Inconvenience in making change
subject the postmaster 10 an inconvenience in keep
lhe accounts. That is not all There is another
which will eDsue, which to be guarded against
me reduction OF postage changing our system. You
,nisn The compensation allowed 10 poslmasers in
Nj ohces One OF the greatest difficulties in the ope
on OF The department has been found be on account
ne Inadequate conn ensation allowed postmasers al
small ohces; II sdifhcutoEe those Who are qualified
schaige the duties TO accept Them The maiis suffer
oheequence OF IT, and the revenues OF the department
INJURED II seems to me that this is large redsc-
1s ought 10 be asked Tor and that It is as nearly
al az " can be made The postage on a regular news
q lof Instance not exceeding hty miles will be five
fer quarter BY the amendment il will be two and
al oehs Ibere IA fraction. For any distance
Ssen my and three hundred miles, the postage
oe Ten cents per quarter One hall of that would
hve cents. From three hundred to one thou
mGss, tne postage will be fifteen cents per quarter.
na1 o. ,nat will be seven and half cents-snother
h non Inc accounts are compllcated and il seems TO
ma .ne oolect OF discrimination which sought is
ay accomplished without the change. II you make
discrimination, the large papers will grunble at it,
. IS III favor OF the country presses. While you
~ ue postage on the large city papers Is 90
ol, ~, you reduce the postage The country papers
hr'y-two to twenty cents glstrt
tsues, sr there already three proyisoes 10 this
~a, ", ana ms viii make a fourth. ! have taken a
ocai OF pans with tins section do not feel Quall
W. he post that occspy and sorry that the du-
eoetoived upon me, hrsi, on account OF my ma
Wuscharge them so thoroughly rs they should he
"Wo, and, secondly because | am not very fond OF
\. pnl have taken ereat pains with this bill.
(scpa al wi