The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-01-06
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


Adjourned to Monday next.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SATURDAY, January 4, 1850.
Mr.. BUEL, by unanimous consent, introduced
bill refundingsMichigan tie amount OF monies
advanced for transportation of volunteers during
the late war with Mexico. Referred to the Com
mmittee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. JAMES THOMPSON, from the Commit
tee on the Judiciary, asked that said COMMITTEES
should be discharged from the further conaldera-
ton of the petition of Tobias Myers, and that il
be referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs
Agreed to.
Mr. YOUNG, by unanimous consent, intro
duced bill granting land to Illinois for the con-
sruction of a railroad from Terra Haute to Iii
noistown. Referred to the Committee on Public
Lands. f5sE rs.,t5,-4r
Mr.. THOMAS moved to go into Committee Of
the Whole on the private calendar.
Mr.. Potter moved to go into Committee OF
the Whole upon the special order of the day,
which was the bill for reducing the rates of post
age
The SPEAKER deciding that the last motion
had precedence, the question was put and decided
in the affirmative. Ayes ITO; noes "a.
CHEAP 70 TAGE BILL.
Mr. BURT, in the Chair, stated that the gu s.
ton was upon the amendment proposed by Mr..
AsHMUN to the bill reported by the chairman OF
the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads
Mr.. FEATHERSTON proposed an amend
ment making it the duty Of the Post Master Cen
eral, when application Of post masters upon mail
routes to increase the service therein: also making
the transportation in mails Of pamphlets, periodi-
Gals, magazines and newspapers free within the
State where published Newspapers sent out Of
he STATE, one half cent, and on pamphlets, peri
odicnls, and magazines, onehalf cent, if moi
weighing over an ounce, and one-half cent addi-
tional r every additional half ounce or fraction
thereof.
Mr.. FEATHERSTON remarked that he should
reserve anv remarks needed for explanation of his
proposition, until it came up to be voted upon.
Mr.. GERRY said the petitioners did not ask a
repeal Of the ten cent rate, but the discomfort ex-
isled with reference to that cf FIVE cents. He was
utterly opposed to the establishments Of that sum
as uniform rate, stating that there was no justice
in imposing rates without respect TO distances. At
proper time, he should propose for letters car
ried under five hundred miles two cents-ali over
that distance, and under thousand miles, ten
cents Mr. c.. commented upon the course Of
those who while voting millions for local pur-
poses, such as railroads and the improvement Of
rivers and lakes, had so great apprehension lest
reduction of postage would charge the Treasury.
He EXPRESSED himsefas Indifferent to the subject
of the Thanking privilege, but denominnted much
of the matter sent under frank as trush, intended
to tickle constituencies. Mr.. G.. added that even
the Patent Office report went into few hands, and
that it was unjust that those not receiving It,,
should be taxed for its transmission to others.
Mr. WATKINS proposed an amendment maxi
ing the transmission OF newspapers under fifty
miles free, and repeating laws authorizing the
Postmaster General to diminish mail service on
routes where receipts were unequal to the ex-
penses ofcarringe.
Mr. WATKINS addressed the committee at
length in opposition to the bill, stating that the
interests Of his constituents required an extension
of mail facilities. Under the law Of Is35, the
people in his region had been deprived Of their
previous advantages in this reapect. Mr.. w
doubted the position assumed by the advocates Of
low postage, that the revenue would equal expen-
diture. II so, why propose an appropriation.
He opposed also the proposition to abolish the
franking privilege, and spoke ut length upon its
Importance for Informing the people the acts Of
their representatives. This he considered as one
Of the safeguards Of the republic.
The Thanking privilege brought members into
frequent communication with their constituents.
1t threw more labor upon the representative, but
he expressed himself as entirely willing to bear it,
MIR. w represented the injury which would arise
from taking away this privilege from pos,masters,
who have not sufficient inducements 10 hold their
Offices. Ee closed by asking tor the sparsely
populated districts Of the West, nm extension OF
mail facilities, and for liberal appropriations for
~
respect with their brethren IN the North.
Mr. SWEETSER characterized the movement
for CHEAP postage as of city origin. The whole
country was contened with present rates. He
was surprised at the course of his colleague.
Mr.. POTTER said he had probably been in
fected by petitions sent nom c'iifs. Every move
ment must have it's origin somewhere. Mr.. p.
subsequently, during the remarks Of Mr.. SwREy-
Ter. explained that his bill was no, bnsed upon
the recommendations o. the Postmaster General,
nor did it propose To charge the Treasury. 1t
only placed in the hands of the Postmaster
General what hal been paid over to the Treasury
Mr.. SWEETZER, resuming, said that close
upon the heels Of these petitions, came agents inn
portunin. members of Congress upon this sub
ject. He desired to know what authority there
was for stating the two cent rate to be the revenue
point, especially en- this declaration was nc
cnmpanied by proposition to charge the Trec-
sury. The Department should be selfsustainIng
He maintained that the West would be deprived
Of mail facilities, whereas nm increase was re-
quired, Mr., s. would not impuan motives, but
he declared his belief in ulterior design on the
part Of those coming from sections interested in an
increase Of the tariff. They were willing to vote
fifty millions as the ordinary expenses Of the Go
vernment, ms wei as to charge he Treasury for
the Post Office Department. He said the people
we're more benefited by the ranking privilege
than by ANYTHING else conferred by the Govern
ment. Executive documents constituted the H.
brary in many families in the West. Mr.. s
spoke at length upon The Importance ofthe frank
Ing priyileas to the renple, and opposed the Hro-
position for triple and quadruple rates upon let
ters to Oregon and California. He closed by ex-
pressing Willingness to go for a reduction of
rates, but would first extend the same mail fhoili-
ties to the West - were enjoyed in New York
Mr.. ROOT said the Post Office Department
should be selfsusiaining, but all deriving benefits
through II ahould pay. He wes opposed to send
ing free matter in the mail, and was in favor Of
of postage This was the only way
Of excluding favori,ism. Mr.. r. did not believe
much in the benefits said to arise from the frank
ing system No member possessed the requisite
information TO insure a fair distribution Of public