Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-06-17
O. 9maressio naI.
THIRTY-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
senate.--Friday, June I6, 1854.

THlRTf-THIRD CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
Senate.--Friday, June 10, 1854.
Mr.. STEWART said that this was private bill
day, and II required unanimous consent to take
| up other business. Though the first bill on The
private calendar was under his charge vet with a
view of having the veto message disposed of To-
day, he would waive all objections TO taking up
that subject.
Mr. BRODHEAD alluded to the fact that pri-
vate bills had not been, considered for several
| weeks, and expressed the earnest desire that they
should not be again postponed
Mr.. HAMLlN called for the orders of the day
And the Senate proceeded TO The consideration
OF the bill 10 renew the patent of Hiram Moore
and John Hascal, for harvesting machine.
Mr.. WALKER addressed the Senate at length
| in opposition 10 the bill.
Mr.. STEWART briefly replied.
The question WINS then taken on ordering the
bill 70 be engrossed for third reading, and was
decided in the negative-yeas 10, nays %.
Mr.. STEWART moved TO reconsider the vote,
and the motion was postponed.
COINAGE.
On motion by Mr.. GWIN, the Senate proceeded
10 the consideration OF the bill 10 authorize the
coinage Of gold pieces Of the value, respectively.
OF ten eagles and five eagles, and for other pur-
poses. The bill was amended in several partica-
lars.
Mr.. BRoDHEAD moved to amend the bill by
providing that, from the 30th Of June 1854 the
annual salary of the director of the mint at Phla.
delphia shall be $5000 and ofthe treasurer IS, 900.
Alter some debate the amendment was with
drawn, and the bill was passed.-Yea 30, nays 49,
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
Mr.. GWIN introduced bill 10 amend the iu-
dical system of The United States by establishing
an additional circuit in California.
PRIVATE BILLS.
The following bills on the private calendar were
then disposed OF.
Resolution explanatory of the act for the relief
OF Abigail Stafford; rejected.
Bill for the relief Of The heirs Of Captain Joshua
Chamberlain, deceased; passed
House bill for the relief Of Benjamin Rowe !;
passed.
The Senate then, by vote Of yeas % nays Is,
ordered that when il adjourns it be TO meet on
And then the Senate adjourned
House of Representatives.
!, THE TARIFF.
Mr.. HOUSTON, the Committee Of Way, and
Means, asked leave TO report bill 10 reduce the
duties on imports and for other purposes Bnt
objection was made.
MODIFICATION OF THE POSTAGE LAW
The House resumed the consideration Of the
Dill reported from the Committee on the Post OF.
nee and Post Roads, TO modify the postage laws
Mr. OLDS said that this is an important mea-
:ure, demanded alike by the interests OF the Post
Once Department and the exigencies ofthe mail
service OF the country.
he was aware that the bill is not perfect /; il
would indeed be a difficult matter to frame one Of
that Kind. But he was little surprised and NOR
ined 70 hear the gentleman from Pennsylvania
lMr. CHANDLERl say that he expected that a tink..
ering with the postage OF the country would lead
20 the result desired by the gentleman from New
YORK, lGERRlT SMITH, namely: the abolition of
he Post Office Department The fixing up of the
department commenced with Benjamin Franklin,
who was the first postmaster general During
the period We had the five and ten cents postage
we accumulated surplus Of $2O0O,O0O bu, in
1871, our tInkerlng made the Department insol-
vent; and the gentleman from Pennsylvania as
Wei as himself was guilty OF the charge. "
Inc deficiency Of this year will be equal To-
s2:ooo:ooO, and the next fiscal year $a,4oO,000
his does not include the ocean mail service.
lie asked, IN view of those facts, whether il
was not the duty of Congress to save the depart
ment from insolvency.
The Committee on the Post Office and Pos,
Roads proposed, in the first place. 10 abolish the
ranking privilege, not directly, but requiring that
the government itself shall pay to the department
an amount OF money equal 10 the service perform
ca; lie read statement, to show that the mail
able matter now carried free if it were charged
with postage, would yield S., 900 900; and the re-
peal OF the section which makes reduction Of
hity per cent. on the prepayment OF postage on
newspapers and periodicals (as proposed BY the
committee) would add 100000 10 the revenue
He likewise advocated another feature of the bill
the prepayme mt of all hostages, which would az.
lord proper system Of checks and balances
which does not now exist. Pass the bill and
bring the railroads down TO reasonable rate Of
compensation, and S3,0000oO will be added 10 the
revenues OF the Post Office Department without
any increase OF postage whatever.
Under the operation of the previous question.
the House rejected the amendment OF Mr.. GERR1.r
SMITH, providing that this act shall continue IN
force for two years, when the Post Office Depart.
ment shall be abolished, and individuals and asso-
Citations shall be as free to carry letters as any,
thing else. NJ
Mr. ETHERIDGE moved that The bill be laid
on the table; but the motion did not prevail
ayes ~, noes not counted
Mr. HAVEN moved TO strike out from the sub-
stitute of Mr. OLDs the first four sections relating
TO the abolition of the ranking privilege making
i charge on The treasury, instead Of on the Post
Office Department
The motion was agreed to-yeas 10, nays a.
The substitute, as thus amended was then re- |
jected--ayes 81, noes NOT counted
On motion Of Mr.. WASHBURN, Of Maine, the
bill was laid on the table--yeas o. nays 81.
This bill proposed, among other things, to in
crease the postage, for distances not exceeding |
three thousand miles hve cents, and over that dis
lance ten cents, for single letter; and when con
veyed wholly or in part by sea, and to and from
foreign country, for any distance not exceeding
three thousand miles, the ocean postage TO be five
cents; and for any distance exceeding three
thousand miles, ten cents, excepting however, in
all cases where such hostages have been, or shall
be- adjusted at different rates by postal treaty or
already concluded or hereafter TO be |
made. All postage to be prepaid by stamps. The |
bill also proposed TO repeal the section din the act
OF 1891 which makes reduction of fifty cents
when hostages on newspapers and periodicals are /
paid in advanced
PRIVATE CALENDAR.
The House spent some time in committee ON
the private calendar
Adjourned.
III ADLEY & FIELDS AMERICAN
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