The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-22

The PRESIDENT 1t only be made by unanimous
| cred as modih
Mr. HAMLlN. ask the attention of the Senate 10
one consideration before they upon this amendment
Inc House have already provided by Their bill that pa
els sal circulate Tue same distance that IS provided IN
The amendment offered by the from Ohio iee
that they shall go free distance Of thy miles In
action here this IS consideration which should not be lost
sight OF, and IN framing amendments should have
some regard to the OF the House. II is meeting
them partially in that way opposed to the free cir
culaton Of newspapers but as this goes partially to
meet the proposition, and would reduce the postage by
two cents quarter, hope it will be adopted.
Mr. RUSk want TO say one word only This prop
ostoh n,ended TO operate lar as the reasoning have
heard upon goes favor OF the country press IL
discrimination in their favor. But, instead OF operating
favor of the country press, il will give great ad
vantage TO the city press because there are more news
papers twenty to onein the large cities. and you re-
duce them to the lowest rate within fifty miles. SO that
gentlemen who propose this as boon to the country
press really voting TO the city press.
| Mr.. CHASE asked for the yeas and nays his
amendment as modified; which were not ordered
Mr., BADGER AS the yeas and nays have not been
myself to vote for the proposition Of the House than for
that before the Senate. The from Maine says
ha, The House proposes to transmit these papers free Of
all postage within thirty miles. Now, would ask if
he proposes to receive but two aud half cents quar-
ter
Mr. CHASE Three cents a#.
Mr.. BADGER Or three cents, being a hall cent
higher per quarter. / hope the Senate will vote down
the proposition.
Inc question belng laken on the amenuneDl Oh Mr.
CHASE. ii was rejected-ayes 90, noes 81.
Mr.. DICKINSON. | dislike to interfere with the de-
tails of this bill at all, in proposing amendment
that think will be adopted for know how important
il is where the committee have perfected system, ,ha,
that system should be maintained Ii the public sent
menl in the State which have the honor in part TO rep
ha been expressed upon subject, II tina, OF
the circulation OF newspapers and letters through the
mail and do not feel at liberty to omit to offer
amendment which has been so often indicated by the
people OF that State ] an aware that much may be
said against the amendment which am about to pro-
pose, but answer II by stating that the whole sys
tem is entirely arbitrary. There is reason why
newspaper should be carried two hundred miles IN the
mail at the prlce that charged for carrying 1t
thousand miles, any than there is why
merchandise should not be charged in proportion TO the
distance which 1t Is transported But such the sys
TEN adopted and rs long as IT is maintained there will be
arbitrary Determinations There be rule OF exact
equality adopted and therefore, undertaking to dis.
cnmnate, we must do il as fully eau, and keep
IN view the same general principles nave long since
expressed the opinion that when the country should be-
fully settled in the West, that there will be no
very sparse settlements this whole matter would be given
10 private enterprise and II were not unjust TO new
settlements, would now proprose The non-executlon OF
that article in the constitution which authorizes the post
Office and post road system be carried II would be
carried out much cheaper than by private enterprise,
with much greater efficiency, and would relieve the gov
eminent OF OF the most Whaling and corrnpung
sources OF patronage. That, however, cannot now be
done. The bill OF the committee is quite liberal agree,
upon the subject OF the country press but repeat that
feel myself called upon TO make further proposition Tor
reduction. ! will consume time upon the subject.
NV proposition restore the law of 1885, and will
barely ask the vote OF the Senate upon IT, move TO
strike that portion OF the section which provides that
the postage upon the regular numbers OF newspapers
published weekly, for any distance not exceeding fifty
miles, shall be hive cents quarter, and insert as ol
lowe:
"Au newspapers published weekly only shall circulate
in the mail res OF postage within the county where they
published, and wthin distance OF thirty miles from
the place OF publication"
! Mr. SEWARD demanded the yeas and nays upon this
| n nesliO w we're
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi Is the question divsible ?
| r The PRESIDENT. tits not
| Mr.. DAVIS There are two branches of 1.-TWO dis.
The PRESIDENT motion to strike ou, and insert
is not dlyislbe, #...
Mr. SMITH wish merely to remark that this is in
effect proposition to carry one-ha the newspapers
that will 60 INTO @ The mail ior nothing.
The PRESIDENT. 1t canno, be done, now that the
yeas aud nays are ordered.
Mr. SMITH We all know that in point of numbers
the country weekly papers exceed the daily papers very
greatly indeed presume IN the proportion OF one hun
dred one-and The circle oil county, OF thirty miles
might ordinarily comprehend the whole circulation OF
country newspapers. Now, presume that the number
OF the weekly country sheets that issued 10 the course
of year greatly exceeds The number OF sheets that
comprised IN publication OF the daily, semi weekly and
tri-weekly papers IN the country, and the amendment
proposed by the senator from New York will compre
hend nine enths OF the issues OF every country press IN
the whole United States. ! know 1t is SO within the
circle OF my acquaintance. Now, desire inquire OF
the Senate whether the condition OF the department. IN
point Of resources. likely 10 be such will justify
IN undertaking the tfansporon, grautousy OF at least
twohrds of the papers issued IN the country We not
only have the burden OF Transporting them without pay,
but they are be delivered by the postmaster gratu
ously There is TO be compensation whatever In the
whole service. They to be received into the post
Offices OF the various villages where these papers
published and 10 be mailed while not only the post
master who receives and mails them rs to receive no
compensation Tor the service, but the postmaster who
delivers them ultimately is TO have no pay, and the
United States is TO transport them for nothing.
Now, Mr. President, am for liberal policy upon thus
subject, much any member OF this body; but ]
am not willing 10 blindfold TO conclusions upon this
subject, which would most certainly Involve the depart
ment in very serious financial difficulty, and that too, at
a very early day. Have not tried this experiment
and how long did that experiment lasts The honorable
chairman OF the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads has stated TO the Senate already that the enacent
on your statute book permitted 10 stand there for
single year; and venture 10 say now, ii we try the
pertinent again. it possibly remain the perma-
nent policy OF the government am more interested
in the details of this bill than any other member; bat,
looking the bill proposed by my honorable friend
from Texas, Il did that he had exceedingly
I we'll digesed system and have felt il 10 be my duty to
stand by the honorable chairman of the committee.
will stand by him the present occasion. not for
imposing upon posnasters the duty OF mailing all these
papers, and then OF delivering them to the various post
offices to which they may be directed, without any com.
pensation whatever do not believe the resources OF
the department will Justify IT, | am totally opposed to
the policy am in favor oil making liberal csnceselon
in favor OF the country press Tbs the bill does already
Ii cuts down the postage from thirteen to hive cents and
in my judgment gives them already all they entitled
| to. #..... ...g
i Mr. DICKINSON stated when offered this amenl-
Inent that did IT with great reluctance, conceving