The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-15


fraction Of half ounce when prepaid, there
shall be charged three There shall be charged
upon each unpaid letter weighing not more than
one half ounce hve cents, and for each additional
half ounce fraction of hall an ounce when so I'M
paid, the sum of five cents.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the question imIne-
diately pending the motion of the gentleman
from Massachusetts,, (Nr. FowLER,) TO strike out
five" and insert 1.-TWO" cents y the amendment
of the gentleman from Ohio, (Nr CARTTER,) 10
strike the word ''three, in the first section OF
the original BILL and insert the word Give IN lieu
thereof that II will read "upon each letter not
weighing over half an ounce, when postage ID paid
where such letter is mailed, TWO cents, &c, &c.
Mr.. WILLIAMS opposed 10 two cent post
age. il desirable 10 have cheap postage he
said, bat at the same time 70 continue the Post OF
fee Department in such condition that II could
sustain itself lie thought he could convince the
committee that il they would adopt hve cents, pre-
paid letters at least million of dollars could
DC saved 70 that establishment. II reform wac the
object, a great retrenchment could be effected by
the curtailment of the number of post office clerks
Take, for example, the New York post office. How
many are there! Gentlemen differ as To the mum
Der. Some say fifty or sixty. He knew that nine
clerks were here daily employed keeping up the
returns of that city alone In the large towns and
cities, an immense number are similarly engaged
III making out the returns OF malls received
and mails sent. Adopt the i've cent rate, prepaid,
and in every instance the returns could be writ
ten ono sheet OF paper, from New York, and that
would be amply sufficient. Many oil the CLERKS
could thus be got rid of. Their number was be-
tween four and five hundred, probably The ditier-
ent post offices could be furnished with stamps, and
al the end OF the quarter there would be nothing TO
do but to make out the returns. We would, he re-
peated get rid of clerk hire, and vi dead letters
sent through the post Offices. II this amendment
of two cents should be adopted, the Post Once De-
partnent would not be able to sustain itself; and
therefore he could vote for less rate of postage
than five cents, prepaid.
The question was then taken the amendment
Of Mr.. Fowler, (to substitute two cents,) and it
disagreed to-ayes O., noes 50.
And the amendment of Nlr CARTIER was SINH
larly disposed Of
Mr.. SACKETT proposed the following amend
ment, viz:
Upon each letter not Weighing over one half
ounce carried not more than five hundred miles,
two cents; upon each such letter carried more than
i've hundred and not more than one thousand miles,
three cents; upon each such letter carried over one
thousand and not two thousand miles, five
cents; and upon each such letter carried over two
thousand miles, ten cents; upon every letter oi
greater weight than one half ounce there shall be
charged for every additional half ounce or frac-
tion thereof the same amount as tor the first hall
ounce
Mr.. POTTER was opposed to the amendment,
and asked the gentleman state the difference be-
tween the oost OF transporting letter three hun.
dred and five hundred miles 1t was not the quar-
ter Of penny-not mill. The main expense OF
the Post Office Department was the compensation
of the postmasters and the mailing and de-
livery Of letters; the nero carriage and freight
was, comparatively, almost nothing.
The amendment was rejected.
MIR. VINrON proposed one the effect of which,
be said, would he, if adopted havea uniform rate
of postage-three cents, prepaid. The system OF
prepayment was not mere speculation; II would
save vast amount OF labor i'll the Department as
well in the several post Offices. lie was against
the ranking privilege. As an individual member,
if he could not get rid Of it without, he would give
a hundred dollars for that purpose so that he might
attend 10 more useful work than the drudgery Of
tracking documents.
MIR. MCLEAN, of kentucky, was opposed to
members ranking, and would prefer that ndivid-
uas writing to them should pay postage He was
not IN favor OF requiring postage TO be prepaid he
lor giving the privilege of sending letters
without this requirement. II prepayment should
be required, many dollar which would other
wise accrue, would be cut of from the receipts of
the Department.
The amendment of Mr.. YlsroS was disagreed
to.
Mr.. DUER offered one-that. after the first of
July 1852, the postage shall be two and half cents,
(coiu of this denomination be fabricated.) He
planned that this coin would have the effect OF drv
ing from circulation the small Spanish pieces, and
would assmate to the federal currency.
Mr.. BROWN, of Indiana, said that the quarter
dimes would be good for the large cities and com
rnercia points; but, unless the people all the
country should be supplied with them, many would
find announcement TO make change for their letter.
He thought that the proposition would be utterly
i'm practicable in It's results.
Mr.. DUgR's amendment was disagreed to.
MIR. CROWELL said he began to appfehend that,
II any Ulll WAS DussGu IL "Ouu DC tull ESpOtlcu Wy
the committee, and he should therefore direct his
attention to correcting is. With this view ne of
fered the following amendment;
At the end OF section one, add:
"Prorided, That there shall be charged on all
letters transported in the mails from any Of the At
lantc ports in the United States to any Of the ports
in the United States upon the Pacific or from any
Of the ports ia the United States upon the Pacific IL
any OF the Atlantic porte in the United States twice
the aforesaid rates; and upon all newspapers, pam
phiets, periodicals., magazines, books, or other
printed matter herein provided Tor, twice the aorc-
Mr. ASHMUN wished to cay that lie vas opposcd
70 the discrimination proposed by the gentleman
, from Ohio. So long We have sister States. en-
| titled 20 the same rights in common, we ought
not TO require one 10 pay more postage than an
other
The amendment was disagreed to.
Mr.. CALDWELL, of Kentucky, offered the fol
lowing an amendment TO the ilr5t section Of the
bill, viz
/ '.Propidtd, That no post Office now in existence
shall be discontinued, nor shall the mail service Oh
any mail route in any of the States or Territories
+ be discontinued Or diminished, in consequence o.
any diIninuton OF the revenues that may result
( from this act Ind provided further, That it sha
be the duty Of the Postmaster General 70 establish
new post Offices, and place the mail service
mail routes established, that may hereafter be
established in the same manner as though this ac
4 had not been passed. And prorided further, Tha
tie compensation ot the postnastcrs 5hall not be
diminished in consequence Q. The passa &c OF thlt
] act"
! Mr.. CALDWELL explained the amendment
saying, among other things, that, without it, many
/ of the post Offices would be discontinued should
4 there be reduction of the present rates OF post
/ age.
! Alr. PHELPS replied, opposing the amendment
| The convenience of the people often required tina
! the Postmaster General should make changes W.
should legislate carefully else he might be com
| PEELED TO keep arp routes whether they were neCes
! sary not.
The amendment was agreed toayes 96, noe
not counted.
MIR. GERRY proposed an amendment-that OF
1 ell letters sealed packages not weighing Owe
one half ounce, and carried five hundred miles o.
/ lesz two cents, over i've hundred and not NOR
than one thousand nies, five cents; all lctters o
sealed packages carried over one thOusand miles
ten cents. He made few remarks in explanation
/ Mr.. 5 WEETSER said that he would vote agains
! all amendments which would make an odious dis
tinction between section Of the country am
/ another, and opposed the one under considerations
/ MIR. HALL proposed to substitute "three' instea'
of two cents in thc hDoge amendment, and lac coul'
see 40 objection adopt the vared rates containe'
! in il.
! Mr. vENABLE was pleased with the adoption o
the amendment Of the gentleman from Kentucky