The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-06-17

ment say that the tinkerng adopted by Post Office Com
nttee would lead to that result The fixing up Of the post
office was commenced under Benjamin Franklin, who
the first tinker in the Post Office Department
Mr. O. proceeded 70 reply TO the remarks OF the gentle
man from Pennsylvania contending that under the oper
alton OF the hye and ten postage during the two
years in which il tried had proved itself successful
and resulted in two million dollars profit 10 the depart
ent whilst the mail facilities then extended equal
the increasing demands of the country 1t the reduo
ton in postage which had led the present nsolyen
diton Of the Post Office Department Calculating accord
ing 70 past experience, there would be in the present
scal year more than two and half millions Of dollars de
heency
Referring TO the conflicting advice of the gentleman from
Pennsy Mr. CHANDLER and Horace Greeley he SAID
he could not describe his position better than by reading
from Asop the fable OF the miller and his son. who ailer
trying TO please everybody failed effect that purpose ana
lost his in the bargain and lac expected he should he
attempted to adopt the suggestions OF those reiormefs
please nobody and lose his bill in the bargain
The substitute to the bin under consideration did not
propose abolish the anking privilege but 10 relieve The
post Office of its present burden 1t proposed that the
frank be indicated in the usual way by the signature OF
each member and that such member be charged with the
of his postage be paid out of the contingent fund
of the House of the Senate This would show exactly
the amount of postage which the hankng privilege
amounted and when this SEEN would probably lead
to the ultimate abolition of that privilege From statistics
furnished by the Postmaster General based account
taken of the free maiabe matter which passed through
the post Office under frank in January last was estimated
that it would amount altogether to about two million dol
annually Charge this the treasury proposed in
his substitute; abolish the 50psr-cen discount
paper prepaid postage and make economical arrange
mens with railroads for the transmission of the mails and
ree million dollars would be added to the post office
revenue
Mr.. ETHERIDGE moved to lay the bill on the table
ayes &c., counted the House refused to lay the
bill on the table
The amendment Of the gentleman from New York, Mr.
SMrH aboshing the Post Office Department at the end Of
two years, was rejected.
The question then taken the motion of the gen.
teman from New York, Mr. HAVEN the effect of which
would be to retain the ankng privilege in its present
ormyeas 70, nays IA; the amendment agreed to
The substitute OF the gentleman from Ohio Mr.. OIDs
was then rejected-ayes 81, noes not counted.
Mr.. WASHBURN, of Maine, moved to lay the bill on til,
table, which was agreed oyeas 81 nays 81 SO the bill
1.-THE bill which is thus rejected proposed to increase thu
rates of postage inland from three TO five cents for any dis
lance under 5000 miles and to ten cents for any greater
distance; to adopt the rates for foreign postage,
cept where interered in by treaty. and to abolish the so
percent discount on prepaid newspaper postage]
PRIVATE BUSINESS.
On motion Of Mr.. HOUSTON the debate on the Mead,
claim ordered to close five minutes after the Hous,
shall next resolve itself into committee the private
calendar.
Mr.. HENDRICKS moved to go into committee on til,
private caendarayes TO- 81 the House resolved
itself into committee, and proceeded r SKKLTos in tn,
char the consideration of bills the private calendar
0nmoion Of Mr. CHANDLER, the Meade-claim bill wal
laid aside informally.
COLTS PATENT.
The bill for extending the patent of Samuel Colt fol-
certain improvements in firearms read.
Mr.. THURSTON asked that the bill be laid aside h,
had not expected that this business would be brought
ward to-day and had not prepared to speak upon
Mr. JONES asked that the report of the Commissioner
of Patents this subject be read he believed it would
show that Colts patent should not be extended.
The report read by the Clerk and the bill after
wards informally laid aside.
On the motion for the committee rise and report to
the House the bill for the relief of Henry Lewis of Gin
ton county Illinois, the committee found itself without
quorum
The committee rose, and ll5 gentlemen reported
being present This not being quorum,
Mr.. FLAGLER moved that the House adjourn-yeas 80
nays 90 This being quorum the House again into
Committee the private calendar.
The bill for the relief Of Henry Lewis laid aside
be reported.
The bill for the relief of Capt George Lump,on Of Gal
weston, also laid aside to be reported.
The committee then rose, and
Mr. SHELTON reported to the House the two last-named
bills.
At half-past o'clock the House adj ourned