The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-02-23
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 20, 1851.


sdnre and modify the rates OF postage ana 10 provide
q the coinage OF three cent piece. to which Mr..
n,,Y had moved an anehiinent
NJ SOlILE MI President, IN order 10 meet the
ms NJ he honorable senator from Massachusetts, and
desire expressed on the part OF several senators, have
oS;Hsd the amendment which had the honor TO pro-
ss on Yesterday and propose to substitute for II the fol-
bwng:
:. 1.J ,yordsd further. that the Postmaster General
the transportation OF 'he hs con'ehplaed by nus sec
on shall be bound 10 ssrc me rone on which The mail
~ he Ian ported ia be shprekt time and on the most
cononica terms ard that any contract made under the
ho,tv thus conferred shall not be made for longer PEI
aJ rhan four years. w the ndeia ndins that the
nav be modified anna"d by the Postmaster General
n having the conrraeo,s suitable Indemnify Tor ter
inatny he contract mis- being satisfied that The mail
M ia ported a time ian under the existing
0n,sc bs shah give II host sky days notice by adj
.ement the usual manner OF advertising proposal, Tor
ns contracts
Mr. Risk Mr. President, the amendment itself is
\ot objectionable but feet il to be due the fosmas
n General (because stated yesterday that at his
uye estion that this secion was inserted IN the b TO
Ray word upon the subject OF the provisions OF the sec
kon as il stands As have said, | have no particular
Injection TO the limitation contained in the amendment
mi the section it is gives to the Postmaster General
ery little more power than he possessed before and has
since the year 1913. Will read the first sec
ion oil The act OF lsI5
B, II enacted &c That he Postmaster General OF the
niud States be and he !. hereby authorized, under the
.tcons and DIVISIONS o the existing Laws. 10 contract
r the sporatiuu oi III United States mail between
nv Of the porrs # til ued States and port ports of
kny foreign power @teneNer IN his opinicn tho public in
fs.r W iii reby be pfnun and 1t shall be his duty
spo 10 the Cong copy o each oil said
&onacis with the amount OF postage deri
ed under the same ts returns de psrtment
i'll enable hun do Ard ,uch contracts may be- made,
il shall appear the PJs,nsster General to be required
the public Interest, oc any greater perod and not ex-
Seedng Ten years
That is the power vested in the Postmaster Gen
nl Tnseighn section u The bill gives only this ad
ional p0er TO enter into arrangements for the coec
ion OF the postage
"sEc g. Ind be IT JtAr enacted That the Poslm
General be anthorlz u 70 contract or make oher arrange
Tor the transportation OF mails OF the United States
ough any foreign eounsy and also for the transportation
such transient oer vessels AS may be running be-
ports of the Uuet and foreign ports, be-
foreign por1s, where there arrange
the reor, and ptnyda ior the collection OF such
bosages. such letter. aud ulher maahlo matter may
under such arrangements aud contsacs as may be
tue 10 the Uned States, ser by prepayment such
bmiyn pos and for rnat purpose TO use and employ as
the several coasus OF the United States such
Iher persons a, he may thtnk lit Ropded That no ar
nj shall be made which will violate the laws pre-
alng in such foreign ports or coun'es or any treaty OF
|ho United States"
That is all the additional power that gives him above
Mat conferred by the act OF lSi5 And have no sort OF
that he would power which, far
IS our experience goes he has not abused thus far.
However. should have no objection 10 ITS being limited
b any reasonable extent have asccrtalned, by the dis
|ussion upon this section, and satisfied, that it is
PROPOSITION entirely variance with the general provs
bns OF this bill, and is likely TO embarrass them
therefore rose mainly for the purpose OF saying that,
bose to move strike out the entire section and desire
% give notice that when the post office appropriation bill
bones up shall offer the same section with some modIh-
Eation, which think will make II entirely unobecona-
Die TO any one.
Mr. SOULE. Mr. President, think the which
nave been adduced By the honorable senator from Texas
Mr. RUsKl viii rather initiate in favor OF the passage OF
his amendment than against H. II the powers which the
Existing laws have awarded to the Post Otice Department
such enable them to enter into contracts TO the
1enl OF years. it is clearly, in contemplation OF the
oads TO which alluded yesterday, oil the highest inn
orance that we should limit these powers as that it
nay not be within the scope OF his authority TO exceed
he probable time within which these improvements are
all likelihood TO be effected and 30 as not to deprive
he country of the benefits which will arise from these
mprov ovenents Ii. under the existing laws when the
resen contract shall have expired, II would be In the
OF the Postmaster General TO renew the contract Tor
en- years. what would be situaton' Why, sir, the
ontrac, in few months might be renewed and within
than months from that time II is more than prob.
be that two new roads will be opened between the two
oceans, that will not only shorten considerably the DIS
which the present mail has to rum but diminish to
feat extent the expenditures of the treasury Under
uch circumstances cannot conceive OF any serious
on why what effect in this bill should be
postponed until The time when the post office appropria
ion bill comes before The section has been inserted
n the BILL suppose, for some purpose. IL must have
considered that the matters which IL embraced per-
ained naturally to those which the bill was intended 10
Regulate. II so, | am yet 10 hear any reason why we
kbould dispense with imposing the limitation upon tho
Postmaster General which this proviso intended 10
impose. hope the proyiso will be adopted
| The question being taken the amendment OF Mr..
NouLE, Il was relected-ayes 20, noes l2.
MI RUSk moved TO correct typogr raphca error, and
o an error in the language OF the bill which were
bgreed 10
Mr.. SOULE move to amend the ninth section OF
ne OIL by inserting after the words" fifty one" the words
or whose labors may be increased" that the section
amended will read as follows
sEo g. Had Be II fasf tnaete5 That TO any postmaster
commissions may be reduced below the amount al
ID htrti,t Dt
nnr, eighteen hundred nifty whose abors may
4eea,ed the Postmaster General shall be authorized N
i' dl'oieou, TO allow additional hg
'y deem Jnst and pfopsr,'&o.
heobect Of the amendment IL to extend the facilities
PROVIDED Tor by the section to where the IN
eease created BY dminutlon OF the pos-raes shall re-
que additional service. As the amendment has met the
|sppobation OF the Committee the Post Office and Pos,
hoaas' suppose there will be difficulty in the way OF
us adoption
Inc amendment was adopted.
In W. SooLt have another amendment to propose IN
he twelfth section, by striking out one million and IN
read;
ihat there hereby Appropriated OF any money In
b"od. no' oth'tw,.r appropriated, the sum OF hve
nusa 'housan1 dollars, supply any deficiency that
E"y a'''e IN the Post O.Hce 'psiment."
ihe notifications which the bill OF the House has
'eu al ihe hands OF the committee snch that the
ahuee came to the conclusion that The appropriation
WIN all propnety, be restricted to the sum which
'e mentioned, and that II would be sufficient 10 cover
y uy ueheiency which may from the new stale OF
nngs created by the bill
me amendment adopted
WI SEWARD In the bill which passed the House,
was provision which authorized the POSTMASTER
thefal at all post offices where the posmsslers are ap
'eu oy 'he President OF the United States, 10 e.ab-
pos',toues within the cities or towns, 10 pioyrde Tor
eteis TO The post oihce, by establishing suitable
CONVENIENT place. of deposre, anjby employing car
r 10 reeeiy. and deposit. them IN the poet oce, and
'se LOT 'ht same a rate not exceeding one or two