The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-17


Potter, as amended, adopted.
The fourth section amended, ON motion oil
Mr. POTTER, making il the duty OF the Postmas
ter General to provide and iurnsh 10 All oepuly
postmasters, and other persons applying ana pay
ing therefor, suitable stamps, OF the denomination
of three cents to facilitate the prepayment OF the
hostages and striking out that portion OF II winch
allowed discount OF ten per cent when stamps 10
the amount of fifty dollars are purchased
Mr. DICKEY moved TO strike out the enLfe sec
ton, and 20 substitute Tor stamps stamped ehFei
opcs He said that frauds were committee on inc
revenue Of the Department by the use OF stamps,
tyvo mr. three times over The Department had re-
Gently become satisfied that thoso irauus arc eANeh
siye and that u much greater amount OF hostages
are paid by stamps than the amount OF STAMPS 10
sncd If the paper composing envelopes is stamped
they cannot be used over again. Envelopes are now
manufactured by machinery, at very small eN-
psnse and the stamps could be raised on the paper
where the envelopes are manufactured, and thecost
would he no greater for them than the stamps now
cost The Postmaster General could direct now
they should be made. None but postmasters should
be authorized to sell them, and counterieits would
then be impossible II the public could purchase
envelopes, il would induce prepayment, and would
cause a saving of the labor of clerks.
MIR. POTTER opposed the amendment, and OBJ
jected the erection of stationery estaoilshmens
In the post offices to supply the pubic with enVe-
lopes 10 carry on their correspondence
Mr.. BROWN, of Indiana, said that he was In
the Post Office Department at the time the law au-
thorizing stamps was passed These stamps are
-
counterfeited. II private individuals should be
found in possession OF great quantity oil iheni'
suspicion would instantly attach to such persons.
No inducement was held out to counterfeit the
stamps.
to.
MIR CROMWELL offered amendment, abol-
ishing the ranking privilege, except so far as the
privilege has been granted 10 individuals as mark
OF respect He anxious 10 obtain the sense Of
the House
Mr. MEADE opposed the amendment when,
the question being taken, il was disagreed to-ayes
"A, noes SO.
Various motions were made to amend the pend
ing proposition that of MIR. AsHMuN was success
full making il felony, and punishable with fine and
imprisonment, for any person to forge, counterfeit,
alter letter stamps, for the purpose OF deiraud
ing the Department.
The fourth section being thus disposed of, the
committee proceeded TO the consideration oil the
fifth. which was follows:
THAT there is hereby appropriated, out oil any
money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated,
the sum of one million five hundred thousand dol
lars, to supply any deficiency that may arise IN
the Post Office Department"
MIR. CARTIER moved to strike out this section,
and submitted few remarks. and, alter brief
debate, in which Mesers. PHELPS and SWEET
SER participated, the motion was disagreed to-
ayes 80, noes 50,
Several amendments were offered and disagreed
to- when
Mr.. POTTER submitted one, charging four times
the usual rates letters and three times the usual
rates on newspapers transported to and from the
Pacific coast. This, after debate, was lost
Mr. MATTEsON offered an amendment, which
was agreed to-tha, lists of letters remaining un-
called for in any poet Office, for the space of two
weeks, in any city, town, or village, where news
paper shall be printed, shall hereafter be published
once only in a newspaper, which, being issued as
frequently as any other shall have the largcst cir
culation within the range of delivery of said office,
to be decided by the Postmaster General, under
such regulations shall We prescribed by him, at
a charge not exceeding two-and half cents on
on each letter called for. And the postmaster at
such office is hereby directed to post in conspicu
place in his office copy ofsuch list on the day
day after the publication thereof: Prouided, ho,c
erer, If the publisher OF any paper herein specified
shall refuse publish the list of letters provided
in this section, the postmaster shall designate some
other paper in which such list shall be published
and such publisher, 50 refusing shall be deprived
of all the benefits Ut this act, and the free exchange
now provided by Ia.
Mr.. BROOKS offered anssarncndment, which was
agreed to, with addition by MIR. HAMPTON, that
il shall be in the power of the Postmaster General,
at all post offices where postnasters appointed
by the President of the United States to establish
post routes within the cities or towns; to provide
for conveying letters to the post Offices, by estab
Itching suitable and convenient places OF deposltc,
and by employing carriers to receive and deposite
them in the post Office; and at all such offices it shall
also be his duty to cause letters to be delivered by
suitable carriers TO be appointed by him for that
purpose, for which not exceeding one or two cents
shall be charged, to be paid by the person receiy
ing or sending the letter; and all received
shall be paid into the Post Office Department; pro-
vded that the amount of compensation allowed by
the Postmaster General to carriers shall in
exceed the amount paid into the Treasury by each
town city under the provisions Of this act.
Mr.. PUTNAM offered amendment, which
was rejected--that the Postmaster General shall
be required to reduce postage ON letters to two
cents, when the revenue of the Department, at the
rates established by this act shall exceed its ex-
penses by more than five per cent for two consec-
utive years.
Mr.. CARTIER offered amendment, which,
after few remarks from himself and Mr.. KAuF
MAN, rejected, vesting the appointment of
deputy postmasters in the district courts of the
United States
Mr.. BROWN. of Indiana, made an Intellectual
effort raise the salaries of the Assistant Post
masters General from $500 to $4,000.
Other amendments we're offered and rejected.
Mr. PHELPS offered substitute for the entire
bill which question was taken before the
committee rose.
The House then adjourned.
PETirioss PRESENTED UNDER THE RULE.
By MIR. PUTNAM The petition OF Moses s Os
good and nine others, Of the county of Wyoming.
New York, praying Congress to repeal the. Fugi-
tive Slave law.
Also the petition of r. w. Hewet and twenty one
others, OF Warsaw, New York, for the like object.