The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-23

mail give more effective service. and the keep ny
the revenue to the point assumed aware, SIR that
The calculations made by the head OF the department der
entirely from those which have made upon this
state OF the question lie thinks there will be great
deficiency. think that the experience of England and
this country proves the contrary. am willing ventute
upon the rates Of postage proposed by the House.
Mr. CLAY. | wish to say single word upon the
amendment proposed by the senator from New Jersey
[Mr. MILLER The BILL il stands. proposes
TWO rates OF poslage-hree cents upon prepayment, and
New Jersey Mr. MnLERl proposes to strike out the op-
ton Of getting the letter at five cents, and to condne
N.Y. MER n OF nss strike ou
the prepayment and make it just as the House bill
Mr. CLAY. All think that included in the
amendment think that the object was 10 require pre-
payment IN all cases That being the case will moi
make the remarks which intended to make because they
WI not be applicable TO the amendment which now un.
90 along with the committee These estimates of thai
committee have been derived from the proper department.
under l COMPARISON OF the effects Of all The provisions
made 10 The bill sent 10 VA from the House. Now sir,
we have heard greal deal about universal sxcla
nation and temanf throughout the country for free
postage. Amidst the millions who have cried out give
US free postage has there been any OF them who
has looked to The financial effect OF the reduction down
10 This or that sam People want free postage They
should have IT, when it be granted without injury
the public treasury but is our business unaffected by
general call for the reduction OF postage, to look into
consequences, and see whether the Post Office Depart
ment which hitherto has been made to rely upon its owa
resources, shall now become charge upon the treasury
and whether the people shall have to pay to the
treasury in order TO relieve themselves from slight
OF postage Sir, all this, caution and prudence
should direct us in every step that we take reducton
made in the year 1915 considerable one-one al
attended with doubt but it has turned out pretty
well and il is proposed TO 60 down from ten and
five cents to three and hvea reduction OF about
half Gentlemen are mised often. it appears to me-
about this idea OF reduction. We know very well that
in financial matters the reduction of tax sometimes in
creases the revenue devabe from that but then
there is point beyond which you cannot 60 Il the
gument is TO be pushed to lis extreme, why, take OF all
postage, and yon will have greater amount of revenue
Ihe great difficulty in this case is to strike the point
which will give you The requisite and at the
same time afford The required facility to the community
at large In arriving at that should move slowly,
securely and with caution and think, sir that it will
be great relief TO the business corresponding conmu
postage 10 those proposed by the committee OF three and
five cents. .t
Let us pause here. Let us contemplate the facs-ses
what the result will be upon the country and upon it's
and il hereafter shall find by
peience that safely and justly make other
Mr. BALDWIN | wish TO say a word in favor Of the
adoption OF the amendment proposed by the honorable
senator from New Jersey, tMr. MILLER. agree
with him in his views in relation TO this amendment ln
he first place. deem very desirable that the friends OF
he postage b il we expect 10 carry through at the
present session. should change little possible the
provisions of the act as passed the House OF Represent
,tives. But, sir, ii il were original question, and the
Senate had determned-as believe all have-not to
equire prepayment, all cases. cannot the justice
sustain b. carriage OF letters which shall not be taken
out Of the mail by those 10 whom they are directed,
upon those who do receive and pay for letters transmitted
sustained by the carriage of dead letters should be
thrown entirely upon those who receive and pay for lot
ers any upon those who deposite their letters
paying for them the time they deposile hem am un
able 10 say Those who deposi,e the letters pay Tor
service which they expect the government perform for
them Those who receive the letters pay for the service
which The government has performed, and at the same
rate Why should they be required TO pay more for
certain portion OF the correspondence OF the country, car
ned and directed TO individuals who do think proper
70 take i, from the oices The provisions OF the bill
ire Just; and if we would make any change 10 pre-
rent the possibility OF any loss being sustained by gov
srnmen should be, not by throwing this entire loss
upon those who receive and pay Tor letters Tor theft
transmission, but By requiring that all letters should be
prepaid. am not in favor OF that provision. would
not require them to be prepaid but II Congress s pre-
,ared TO adopt system which will prevent the govern
nent from sustaining any loss the TRANSMISSION OF her
etters that is the only principle that be adopted con-
'stently with justice 10 those who have paid before
hand.
The question being taken the amendment, offered by
MIR. MILLER, II was not agreed TO.
Mr. BRADBURY have an amendment, 10 propose
% the bill, to come in at the end Of it additional
section, as follows
"sEo Is And be further enacted. That from and after
he day OF December the right of ranking
possessed by members of Congress shall cease"
Mr.. President, | propose that ,ha, provision shall
take effect at future day, in order that members OF Con-
gress may dispose OF the public documents which they
have ordered. The object which have in view is hrs
prevent the mails from being encumbefed with the i'm
mense quantity OF comparatively useless matter that
pervsdes them and, second, to afford some check 10
the system OF printing documents, and thus save the
enormous expense OF the system OF book making into
W hich Congress has entered believe the matter will
be understood without any further remark. ask the
yeas and nays upon the question.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi. | shall support the
amendment of the senator from Maine think II il even
handed Justice do not perceive the least proprie,y in
wing member OF Congress the right to send TO his
friends al the expense OF the government, such public
documents he may think proper TO be.,ow upon Them
and TO leave all others not only deprived OF the mailabe
matter bat charged with the expense Of paying for It's
There be justice IN requiring
thirty thousand people TO pay for the transportation OF
these documents, which fall into the hands OF only one
thousand. They taxed for The benefit OF ohes-no
for themselves, nor for the benefit of the country at
large. think therefore, that the amendment Is souhd
in principle, and shall vote for il.
Mr.. RUSK am in favor, Mr.. President, OF abolish,
ing the franking privilege and would vote LOT H. we
had bill that had been drawn up in reference 10 IT. But
the amendment which proposed only hall abolishes IT,
Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi. How sof
Mr. RuSK Why, leaves the exercise OF the frank.
ing privilege all the heads OF departments to the Clerk
OF the Senate and the Cefk Of the House of Representa-
tives THIS is complicated subject, and one which re.
qures TO be taken up and examined with am viii
ling to for bill properly drawn up for that purpose,
but cannot 20 for tbs amendment
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Mississippi. | admit there il some
force in the objection OF the chairman Of the COMMITTEES
but carrying the Scripture Injunction by adopting this
amendment We are first taking the beam out o.
eye IN order that may clearly to take .ne
mole out OF our brothers eye. II we can abonsn 'ns
frankng privilege exercised by members oi Congress
shall very be able to abolish as exeos.a