The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-03-01

tUVIIO1tR I BNUnIttIHK
mcnt. and taking the Of the Senate upon IT, pre-
fer for this that makes our bill conform IN a
measure 70 the House bi and The contest is soon to be
Mr.. CASS. Like the two gentlemen who have pre-
ceded me. have idea Of discussing this amendment at
all rose TO express my opinion and my wish that the
most important Of dIasing information among the
hard business any rate Wsai know that ihs gsa,
not resort 10 the country press IT, then. would sup
port those newspapers in the villages must give them
some protection. am therefore willing and anxious that
means TO diduse information. lshall vote for it, laa
Mr.. BORLAND. A single word upon this amendment
am opposed to it. and for this reason that il discrim
mates, not seems TO be supposed by other SENATOR'S
favor OF the local PRESS but against IT, What would be
the benefit, in the western and hinly settled States Of
such amendment this the local press The bulk
OF their circulation is beyond the counties where sey
published, and il would he relief to them or to their
subscribers, Il would discriminate in favor Of the papers
tons of the country. but would operate in way that
could be apprecisble 10 the benefit of the local press in
the new States the bulk of the circulation of which is
hund reds OF miles from the place OF publication and be-
yond the limits Of the county.
The question being taken the amendment, resulted
yeas 90, nays l9--as follows:
Dayton Dickinson Doagas Downs Ewing Felch' Greene,
Gwin. Hale, Mason, Miller, RanIoaI. Seward Sturgeon
RaSwn ss,sa B.and Bradbury
Spruancc,
Underwood, Wales, and Yuiee--i9.
So the amendment was agreed to-
Mr. SEWARD moved to amend by adding, as an add
tional section section 7lh Of the House bull follows
"sEc T. Asd 8. 4 further snacied That i shall be in
the power OF Postm Gsneral, all Offices
where the postmasers appointed by the President Of
the United States TO establish within the cities
establishing suitable and convenient places Of deposite,
s ana Sy a. s ss
his power he delivered by suitable
not s1oseds o. two cents shall be aSased 10 be paid
by the persons sending or receiving letters and all Sums
Provded, That the amount Of compensation allowed by
the Postmaster General 70 carriers shall in no case exceed
under the provisions Of this section"
Mr. RUSK. | have no objection to the amendment
proposed, il understand it, Upon examination of it,
see will cost the department nothing; but puts IN
in the public ces, very considerable improvement and
very considerable revenue that does not now go
into the Post Offcc Department. II will do harm,
my opinion, and it may do much good.
The amendment WAS agreed to. .#. @.4 ~ san
Mr. SMITH. After the amendment which adopted
few minutes since, the motion of the from
New York, lMr. DlcKINsos,l further amendment be.
comes necessary There is gap or chasm wholly un-
provided for therefore move to insert after the words
inserted the motion OF the senator. amendment to
read as follows:
sand that the postage the regular numbers OF
pa per published weekly any distance county
where published, exceeding hy miles, shall be Ave
cents pet quarter -
The amendment was agreed 10. . ..
Mr.. RUSK moved to amend the amendment TO the
eighth section BY striking out four, and inserting seven
Mr. GWIN. / understood The other day thai The
tor intended to 10 strike il out altogether
Mr.. RUSk. l intended 10 do so, and to move 10 in
in the appropriation bill but the senator who has
charge Of Mr. SorIrl proposes that IL should be made
here, and have no objection TO IT, 81.
Mr. GWlN. The eighth section gives extraordinary
power TO the Postmaster General, such as never has
been conferred heretofore upon any officer OF the govern
ms He T.
penses by making coatracts with numerous lines OF
steamships. am utterly opposed to such contracts be
ins made without the action OF Congress hope that
Mr. RUSK. have no objection to its being stricken
out here and inserted IN the post ohce appropriation
bill but the from California is entirely
in his opinion OF it, II does not give power 10 the
Postmaster General than he has now-in fact, not
much n he has, under the existing law, at this very
Mr. GWIN Well, we will discuss that point when
I up amendment to the appropriation bill.
move %S. 70 ;ss 9s 1He SECTION ,n.od.r,
vious to The question being taken upon striking il out
Mr. RUSK. Then renew my motion TO strike out
four" tv and 70 ,nser, : seven" :.
adopted. consider the time altogether too long 1t
will defeat entirely the object OF the amendment offered
by my colleague The object OF the amendment, as
understand that the Postmaster General shall be
abed make contracts and not TO be confined TO single
year. think the time is too long. The object OF the
amendment was-as know these routes constantly
may be the best one next year, and we may get con-
tract great deal cheaperat another meto prevent mo-
nopoly 10 prevent the government IRON being bound by
contract, when we can get cheaper one under
stand that to have been the object o the amendment OF
my colleague, who is not now in his place The original
proposition, believe, was one year II was afterwards
changed four, and certainly that time long enough
II parties would not take conuac, for four years. they
would not be likely 10 take 1T for a longer period |
cannot Why this amendment should be altered,
or why the section should be stricken ont hope II will
remain is am very sorry that should bave come
40 this ntne, because my colleague who was on the
Committee the Post Once and Post Roads, and who
confess that II to me strange proceeding that the
chairman OF the committee should be willing should
be stricken here. while at the same time he wishes
il to be inserted in another bill do not know why IL
not as well thai il should be passed here another
bill do not know why should destroy II here, and
then pass in another place, particularly at this late pc
Rod OF the session. II 1t IL right, hope we shall pass
II now, and let the sectlon stand as II Is, i #E.
MIR RUSK II senators will take the trouble OF read
ing the carefully they will see that all their fears
OF contract being fastened upon the government are
visionary Tor II authorizes the Postmaster General
at any time to nuliy any contract when he can get one
upon better route The object OF the insertion OF seven
ears instead OF four IL TO enable him 10 get better
contract II the contractor thought there better
route he would be wiling TO take the contract lowerjo
longer time. Tie amendment will not bind the gov
ernment 10 is loss; for the Postmaster General Is
required. when there is better rouie 10 make
new contract II Is ten Yeas now BY law, for which
the Postmaster General is authorized TO enter into these
conlfacts and this reduces 1t TO seven yeasbeing re-
ducl,on, instead Of an extension, Of three yeats
There isanother reason why should be willing that
the amendment should be here snken out II Is not in
me proper form he section it stands does not
bile the Postmaster General meet the object which