The daily union., 1852-05-12
Mf RUsK. Wen sir shalI vols asaInsl OAR amend.

amendment Is adopted will for the balance OF their
contact--which has something like eight years 10 run
and they viii make immense amounts OF pfohs and
above what think they ought 10 receive am willing
to vote them what they ask for but am not willing 10
glys them double that amount; and my opinion is that
ths amendmcn The form In which now stands will
more than double the compensation asked Tor Then
the reason given by tho honorable senator from Georgia
(Mr. BERRIENl is very potent one-tha BY this amend
msnt surrender our power 10 control the rates oil post
Then. there is another principle in this amendment
which do like 10 incorporated in post Office
laws and think the honorable senator from Missis-
spp (r BRooKE] had better look the OF the
receipts and expenditures OF the Post Office Department
before he offers amendment containing such prnci
plcl mean the farming out OF mail service for the
proceeds We cannot do that. II we adopt the prnci-
pie in this instance, must carry II in every
When we come TO look into this matter, will find that
in Mississippi and Texas. and other States the ex-
penses for carrying the mails much than the
ceipts and could not get mails carried there in
that manner. In OF large States, where The
poslages amount to than the paid for their
transportation, II adopt this principle here, would
be asked in all probability TO adopt il there in regard 10
MI. DAWSON. viii the chairman of the Committee
on the Post Office and Post Roads [Mr RusKl answer
me one question!
Mr.. RUSK. Certainly
MIR. DAWSON. would ask him whether, from his
knowledge OF the improvements OF this line and The IN
crease OF hostages accrung nit he does not anticipate
that IN few years the postages will be more than the
RsR 7 30 aow i from gts Ss the
Postmaster General, his returns TO us. shows that the
pOstages upon this line for the year 1851 exceeded the
pOstages for the year 1850 by the sum OF $1S3,000
Mr.. BROOKE With the consent OF the Senate.
will modify my amendment by adding at the end the fol-
lowing provso:
PROVIDED also, That the power Is hereby reserved to
Ssass'' 70 reduce the rates Of postage between said
No objection being made, the amendment was modified
Mr.. ufNDERwooD. do no, think ii would be righ,
for to interfere with the contract il now exists.
the amendment of my friend from Mississippi [Mr.
proposes to interfere with that contract and take
from this company the of $685. 900 which they
receive and instead OF that 10 give to them the posages
MT. BORLAND. 1t proposes 10 give them the post
/ Mr.. UNDERWOOD Then am afraid it would op.
crate my friend from Texas [Mr. RUsk] says il will
Icannof vote for The amendment in that form. could
notvo for in the other form. because it would inter-
fere with the contract. The only way, it seems to me,
in which my friend from Mississippi [Mr; BRooKEl
attain his object, in such manaer that could go
with him. would be to give these contractors the option
Of receiving the rosiages in lieu OF their present compen-
saon; for canno! abrogate the contract without their
consent. And then the objection would remain that has
been urged here, that the government would thereby d.
vest itself Of the power to reduce the rates Of postage
this line. That difficulty could be obviated by putting in
clause that Congress should themselves the
power reduce the rates of postage when il should be
deemed expedent to do But the difficulty with me is
to get around The contract when il is acknowledged
all hands that these posages less than the of
compensation they receive. Bot if you give them
the postages in addition TO what they receive, you
ment OF the committee now proposes to give II would
be very bad bargain IN that point OF view. Therefore,
think my friend had better Withdraw bis amendment,
unless he can modify il as have suggested 3I
Mr.. BROOKE. If it should appear at any time that
these gentlemen are receiving too muchmore than is
mshe 10 coeSess to reduce hs
rates Of postage. We can always correct that evbe-
they in receipt Of more than they
justly entitled to- reduce the amount of their
compensation by reducing the rate OF postage; and
my proposition decreases The amount they receive,
a. gentlemen seem TO suppose we can increase their
rate Of compensation by increasing the rates OF postage
MI RUSK We cannot do that. because the rates OF
postage established BY treaty spuatons between this
ME- BROOKE. do not understand il SO.
Mr.. RUSK. The sea postage is SO established, buno
The question being then taken by yeas and nays upon
Mr. BRooKEs amendment 10 the amendment OF the COM
mittee, was not sdopted-yeas 9, nays 3S-as follow
.YEAS-Mes,rs Adams Atchison Borand, Brooke, Dodge
OF Wiscon,ln Dodge OF Iowa, Jones Of Tennessee NAL
HAYs-Msssr.. Badger. Bay.rd. Benep. Bradbury.
Fish, Geyer, Gwin, Hale, Hamn. Houston, Hunler
James Jones Of Iowa, King, Mangum, Mason, Miller. Nor
Smith, stock,on Sumner, Underwood, Upham, wade
and Whicomb--8s.
Mr. BADGER. now offer the amendment which
gave notice OF yesterday. aud which read the Senate
to come in as proviso at the end OF the committees
amendment IL is as follows:
Provdsd That the contract for transporting the said mail
be, and hereby tran.eucd from the Navy the Post Office
and the Postmaster General hereby required
the said steamship company carry said
mails their present the aforesaid, pay
able monthly out OF the treasury for the unexpred term Of
their reservng nevertheless Congress the right
direct the Postmaster General TO end to said
period after the 3lst day OF December, 1884
upon giving six months previous notice thereof TO the said
company" ".glt
Mr. BERRIEN. believe that that is an amendment
The PRESIDENT. II is an amendment, to the amend.
ment reported BY the committee
Mr. BERRfEN Then cannot Offer amend
menf that which hold in my hand; but would desire
the gentleman from North Carolina Mr.. BADcERl 10 ac-
cent IL N modification TO his amendment when shall
have briefly explained its purpor The amendment pro-
posed by that senator conempaies modification OF the
original with these PARTIES The United States
bv virtue OF the contract which they entered into with
this company obligate themselves to continue that
tract for the term OF years unless in the intervening
time they should think proper TO exercise the right OF
taking these vessels at their valuation Now, when
.eek 10 modify that contract must understand that
ara moi exercising our original power OF the
tracing partes for circumscbed in our action by
the actual existing contract -
When this subject first presented TO the consdera
ton Of the Senate and engaged my own reflection and
attention was perfectly satisfied that conpe-
TENT from the want Of information in regard TO this mat
ter 10 determine upon the amount 10 be paid TO this com
pany In addition TO what they now receive, was very
willing TO rely upon the estimates OF the department and
to scquesce in whatever they recommended as the proper
advance 10 be made But not willing that that adj
vance should be insisted upon and allowed through the
whole OF the ten years OF the contract without
anv power being reserved by Congress TO withhold
that advance If circumstances subsequently occur