The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-22


was considered, and passed-yeas 90, nays 10.
House of Representatives June Is, 1854.
The bill to increase the rates of postage was
taken up.
Mr.. Haven moved to strike out 60 much of
the substitute bill as directs the increase OF
postage.
Mr.. Olds opposed the project of Mr. Gerrit
Smith, of carrying the mail by means of pri-
vate enterprise, and said that Government
monopoly was less Objectionable than private
monopoly. He also said that 100000 could
be saved to the Government by bringing the
railroad companies to reasonable terms.
| The vote on the amendment of Mr.. Gerrit
Smith, abolishing the Department at the end
of two years, was taken, and the amendment
was rejected.
The amendment proposed by Mr.. Haven,
restricting the ranking privilege, and charging
the postage on documents to the Treasury, and
| to the contingent fund of the two Houses of
| Congress, was then taken up.
| Mr.. Benson proposed 80 to amend the amend
ment as to repeal the frankiDg privilege, with
out requiring the Government to pay the post
age on documents mailed by members.
Objection was made.
| Mr.. Esheridge moved to lay the bill on the
table; which was decided, by tellers, in the
negauve-yeas 80, nays not counted.
| Mr. Ravens amendment was then adopted
| yeas 10, nays "A.
| The substitute as thus amended, was then
rejected-yeas 81, nays rot counted.
| Mr.. Washburn, Of Maine, moved to lay the
bill upon the table, upon which the yeas and
nays were ordered, and the result was-yeas
ga, nays 81.
The House then resolved itself into Commit
tee Of the Whole on the Private Calendar.
House Of Representatives., June II, 1854
Two private bills were passed.
On motion of Mr.. Lane, of Oregon, Terrific
rial business, reported from the Committee of
the Whole, va, taken up
A bill to regulate the salaries of the Execu-
tive and Judicial officers of the several Terri
tories was passed
| A bill to amend an act entitled "An act to
settle and adjust the expenses Of the People of
Oregon, by defending themselves from attacks
and hostihties of Cayuse Indians, in the years
l847 and lS4S," approved August 81, 1852,
was passed
A bill to establish the Office of Surveyor
General Of New Mexico, to grant donations to
actual settlers therein, and for other purposes,
was taken up.
Mr.. Hem, lat the request of the Committee
on Public Lands) proposed an amendment, ex-
tending the provisions of the bill to Kansas and
| Nebraska; which was adopted, and the I'LL
| was passed
| A bill to amend the act approved Sept. 81,
| 1852, to create the Office Of Surveyor General
of Public Lands in Oregon, &C., and also the
act amendatory thereof, approved Feb. 10,
| 1853, was passed
A bill TO establish the office of Surveyor
General of Utah, to grant donations to actual
settlers, and for other purposes, was taken up
| Mr. Disney moved to amend this bill so as
to make it conform in all particulars to the bill
relating to Oregon.
This bill was adversely reported upon by
the Committee of the Whole ON account Of its
objection to polygamy in Utah.
Objection being made by Mr.. Cobb, the bill
was set aside.
A bill to extend the right of presumption
over unsurveyed lands in Minnesota, and for
other purposes, was passed.
A bill authorizing the President to cause to
be surveyed the tract of land in Minnesota
belonging to the half breeds, and for other
purposes, was passed
A bill to provide for the construction of the
military road from Myrtle creek to Scottsburg
in OreGep was passed.
| A biiEto authorize the Sc getary of War to
settle the expenses Of the Rogue River Indian
war was passed.
A bill to provide for the continuation of mil
itary roads in the Territory of Utah was pass
| ed.
Mr.. Seward presented the memorial of
citizen of New York, stating that he had in
vented a battering ram, competent to infiict
terrible blows without any danger to Its ope-
rators, and that thirteen of them are fully
capable of defending the whole coast of the
United States from Maine to Texas.
On motion by Mr.. Mallory, the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the bill re-organizing the
navy of the United States; and he moved a
substitute therefor, which was adopted. The
bill was then read q third time. The question
on its passage was postponed till tomorrow.
On melton by MIR. Douglas the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the bill changing the time
of the annual meeting of Congress from the first
Monday in December to the first Monday in
October.
MIR. Hunter moved to substitute the first
Monday in November, instead of October.
Mr.. Douglas said the object of the bill was
to eoualze the sessions of Congress, making
them respectively seven and five months, in
stead of nine and three months each, as at pres
ent.
The bill was then postponed till tomorrow.