The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-07-10
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
POSTAGE LAW .


The SPEAKER announced the pending business
10 be the bill amendatory of the act of March
8, 1851, reducing and modifying the rates OF
postage.
The question was stated on agreeing to the
amendments reported from the Committee on the
Post Office and Post Roads.
The first was read to the effect that printed
matter of no greater weight than two ounces
ehall be charged with one cent postage, &c.
Mr. BROOKS opposed the amendment, and
spoke in favor Of retaining the "welght' origI-
nally proposed. namely: two ounces and half.
He thought that if the mendment should be agreed
to the effect would be that come OF the larger
newspapers would be printed lighter paper and
with smaller type.
Mr.. OLDS replied, saying that there were but
three or four newspapers which weigh over two
ounces; and therefore il not thought proper
to frame the section with a view especially to suit
them.
Mr.. SHELTON moved that the weight be three
ounces; but this was rejected.
The question was then tnken on the amendment
OF the committee, and it was agreed to.
The entire fret section was then amended, IN
accordance with the report of the Committee on
the Post Office and Post Roads, as follows:
Be ii enactsd. &c That from and after the thir.
tie,h day Of September, eighteen hundred and
fifty 1.-TWO, the pustage upon all printed matter pass
ing through the mail OF the United States, instead
Of the rates now charged, shall be as follows, TO
wit: Each newspaper, pamphlet, periodical, maya
zine, book, bound or unbound, circular, catalogue,
and every other description of printed matter I'M
connected with any or WTltlng, anu
greater weight than two ounces, shall be charg-
ed with one cent postage, and one cent for each
additional ounce or fraction of nm ounce, for any
distance under three thousand miles; and for any
distance over three thousand miles double those
rates All newspapers and periodicals not weighing
one ounce published regularly, often as once III
three months, and sent from the office Of pubica-
ton to actua! subscribers shall be hnrgeabe with
one-hall tho foregoing rates. The postage upon
all printed mailable matter shall be prepaid at the
office where it lie mailed, or paid quarterly in ad-
vance at the office of delivery, otherwise double
the foregoing rates shall be charged thereon.
Mr.. BROOKS moved TO strike out this section,
and renewed his argument in relation to the weight
of newspapers and pamphlets, and other printed
matter. The reduction OF the present standard
three-to two ounces would SO operate as to induce
publishers of certain large papers to print with
lighter material and thinner paper. While there
was great cry OF cheap postage, this bill would
gence, az it increased the postage on printed mat
ter On distances under a thousand miles. This, be
commended, was unworthy of the age.
nr. OLDS said that there are now seventy dis
Gnct rates of postage; hence the committee would
how difficult it to make the subject clear
ly Understood. The great desideratum Of the
committee was to simplify those rates. When the
committee reported this identical bill, he forward
ed a copy of it to each Of tie publishers of New
York, well as to publishers elsewhere, together
with his report; and within the last two weeks
there had been placed in his hands petition from
publishers Of New York, no say that the old rates
affect seriously their business and therefore ask
that the rates be smpfed and reduced. These
publishers signed this petition after the bill had
been before them for more than three months; and
they pied C themselves TO sustain any measure
which shall be adopted having these objects in
view. He did not find among the number the
names of the proprietors OF the New York Express
but saw the names OF James Watson Webb, Gree
ley and McElrath, James Gordon Bennett. and
the whole host of publishers in New York. He had
received private letter from the publishers OF the
Journal Of Commerce, Directing to the reduction OF
the standard weight to Two ounces. He was pro
cceding with hio argument, when the morning
hour expired
DEFICIENCY BILL-ThB CoLLiNs LINE
The House resolved tself into a Committee o! the
Whole on the state of the Union-Mr STUART in
the Chair-and resumed the consideration Of the
Senate anne ndments to the bill supplying dehcien
cies in the appropriations for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1852.
The immediate question before the committee
amendment of MIR. MEADE to the Sen
ate proposition, which increases the compensation
to the Collins line OF steamers for carrying the
mails between New York and Liverpool
This amendment was voted down; and, after
wards, others were offered and debated in five
minute speeches.
Pending the Collins line amendment the com
mittee rose; when, motion, several Senate bl!ls
were appropriately referred; and
The HOusr adiourned