Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-16
House of Representatives.
POSTAGE.

The House resumed the consideration of the
bill heretofore reported by Mr.. OLps, from the
Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads,
further TO amend the act entitled AN act to re-
duce and modify the rates of postage in the United
States and fer other purposes" passed March 3,
1851, and the act amendatory thereto, passed Au
gust 80, 1852.
Mr.. OLDS had submitted an amendment in the
nature of substitute, the latter proposing abol
ish the ranking privilege, ESQ far relates the
Post Office Department, and making it a charge
on the treasury and in lieu of the present post
age rates, for the conveyance of single letter to
any part fthe United States not exceeding three
| thousand miles, three cents; and for any distance
| exceeding three thousand miles, ten cents. For
every such letter or paper when conveyed wholly
| or In part by sea, and TO or from foreign coun
try, for any distance not exceeding three thousand
| miles, the ocean postage shall be five cents; and
| for any distance exceeding three thousand miles,
such ocean postage shall be ten cents; all hostages
to be prepaid; and, from and after the first of jan
| uary next, by postage stamps. The substitute
| likewise provides for repeating the section in the
act of 1862, in The following words: sand when
| the postage upon any newspaper or periodical is
paid quarterly or yearly in advance at the Office
where the said periodical or newspaper is de-
Ilvered, or is paid yearly or quarterly in advance
| at the Office where the same is mailed, and EVIL
| dence OF such payment is furnished 10 the office
| OF delivery in such manner as the Post Office De-
| partment shall by general regulations prescribe
/ one-half of said rates only shall be charged"
i Mr.. GERRIT SMITH offered an amendment,
that this act shall continue in force two years. at
| the expiration of which time the Post Office De-
partment shall be abolished, and associations and
individuals shall be the sole carriers of the mails
He said, in the course of his argument, that he
would have the Post Office Department broken
down, so that the people may be as free TO carry
their own letters any other description Of pro-
| perty. He asked why the government should
carry letters any more than passengers He re-
loiced that the day was not distant when the de-
partment will be abolished
Mr.. CHANDLER replied, speaking in favor q
the present postal arrangements.
MIR. HAVEN argued 10 show that the rates Of
postage ought not 10 be increased.
Pending the consideration Of the question,
The House resolved itself into Committee OF
the Whole on the state of the Union, and resumed
the consideration of the
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
Mr.. HOUSTON said there was no appropria-
ton in the bill which was not provided for by law,
and therefore he would not occupy the time of the
committee in explaining its various sections.
Mr.. McDOUGAL offered an amendment, appro-
priating $4,000 for the completion of the surveys
for route for railroad between the Pacific and
the Atlantic oceans. The Pacific railroad bill, he
said, has been postponed until the next session
and one of the most important routes (by the South
Pass has not been surveyed. The amount he had
proposed was necessary for this purpose.
The amendment was rejeeted-yeas as, noes
not counted.
Mr.. PHELPS moved an amendment making
appropriations for the salaries of the officers and
the legislative assemblies Of Nebraska and Kansas
audit was agreed.
On motion of Mr.. TAYLOR, of Ohio, five hun
dred dollars appropriated for each of the ter
ritories of New Mexico, Utah, Minnesota, Oregon,
Washington, Nebraska and Kansas, for The pur-
chase Of libraries
Mr.. PRESTON offered an amendment, making
appropriations for the completion of certain Gus
tom houses.
After debate, in which Messrs PRESTON,
HOUSTON, DISNEY, and CASKIE participated,
and without taking vote oh the amendment
The committee rose,
And the House adjourned.