The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-30

The 7gncipal business that engaged the atten-
non Of the House Of Representatives yesterday,
was the amendment to the deficiency appropriation
bill providing for an increase OF the tariff certain
articles. After considerable debate, the amend
nent was declared to be out Of order, and on the
decision of the Chair being appealed from was
sustained by vote of lo2 TO g. Tn looks as il
the House had NO inclination to take up the tariff
Question during the present session fits very likely
however that the subject will be brought up again,
in some other shape, before the adjournment. An
amendment was also offered, making appropriations
for certain rivers and harbors, which was likewse
sverruled An amendment was then proposed,
that if there be any deficiency the States shall be
called upon for tn surplus revenue deposited with
the m in 1886. This, also, was overruled. Several
other amendments were offered, all of which met
She came fate. A, length the bill was passed. The
subject of branch mint in New York occupied
the rema nder of the day. Mr.. Briggs, of this
city, made an able speech in support of il. The
House decided that debate on this matter should
cease on Friday, al twelve o'clock. We are in
hopes that tins measure will be passed. There is
no in stating any arguments in favor of it.
Argument has been long since exhausted, and the
necessity of having such an institution here, is
admitted by all whose opinion is worth anything.
The postage reform bill was taken up in the
Senate yesterday. The committee to whom il was
referred reported amendments 10 the effect that
three cents shall be the rate prepaid letters and
five cents on all snpaid letters. This would
never do, and W. are glad to hear that there
. some prospect Of the Senate adopting uni
form rate Of two cents and half. This
would agree with the popular desire on
the subject, much more than the three
and Ave cent rates. We made, some days
mace all the remarks which we deemed requisite
upon the new postage law, which has passed the
House OF Representatives, and is now be fore the
Senate, bat we had not seen anything more than
synopsis Of the law. The sixth section Of the act,
which Is, throughout, the most awkward piece Of
rhetorical composition we have seen for many
day, runs al annexed
And be IL further enacted That lists OF letters re-
naming ssied for In any post once for the space OF
two in any city, town Or village where news
paper shan be printed shall hereafter be published
only In vhic h. being issued ~ fire.
ou.ntly AZ any other hail have the largest
tisn within the range Of delivery Of ssid ofaoe TO be
decided by the Postmaster General under such regu-
ktsns as shall be prescribed By him, At charge not
exceeding three cents each Letter called fer And
the pos.mastsr At sueh ONCE 10 hereby directed TO
poet in a conspicuous place in his once, . copy Of
ther.of Provided, however II the publisher OF any
paper herein specified shall REUSE publish the list Of
other paper In which such list shall be
published and sucA publisher, 90 refusing shall be de-
prvsd Of all the benefits OF this set and the free
change now provided by Law
go, II we may judge by the phraseology Of this
rmsrk able piece Of legislation publishers of news
papers were IN fair way Of beng made the suffer
era by this regulation. Tom, Dick, or Harry, might
send three or four thousand letters to the nobodies
II his Imagination, merely for the sake Of punish
ng some publisher who mey have displeased
hinl-for, II the government will only pay three
cent. Tor advertising each letter called for" 1t Is
quite evident that the publisher may have TO do the
shief part Of the public advertising, without pay
ment He may obtain three dollars for publishing
Eve hundred names II is quite possible that only
one hundred ost Of the FIVE may, as the law terms
h, BE- called for. This however, is bot the chief
objection to this section of the act We are op-
posed IN Principle to any such punishment as the
ael con,smplates No man should be forced to
publish lie; 81 letters, or anything else. for the
government, upon sry such threat for a refusal,
as The last two lines Of the section hold out Il is
something quite new in legislation, and one Of the
nost remarkable things in this most re remarkably
wnt,en sct. Ga the whole, We think the only good
point n the whole bill il The reduction Of letter
postage 70 three cents, and We are pleased to had
that tie Senate have cut out this sixth section. Il
b. surprising thai such piece ~ folly could pass
the House
The Csbtornia lead tile bin vas discussed at
considerable length
The Legislature ~ Rhode Island failed 70 cleo,
United States Senator yesterday, after four bal
lottings
A IL IL