Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-08

Mr. oLDS then reported the bin, when it was read
twice 1t is as follows:
BE il enacted de- That place of the compensation now
allowed deputy postmase the Postmaster General be and
he is hereby authorized allow them commissions the fol-
lowing rates. On the postage collected their respective Off
in each quarter OF the and in due proportion for
period less than quarter viz On any exceeding
one hundred dollars sixty cent? but any postmaster at
whose oce the mail IS to arrive regularly between the hours
Of nine o'clock at night and five o'clock morning y
be allowed seventy per cent the first hundred dollars
any and above hundred dollars and not
ing hundred dollars y per cent on any sum over
and above four hundred dollars but not exceeding twenty
four hundred dollars forty per cent. and all
twenty -four hundred dollars fifteen per cent On the
of postage on letters and packages at distributing
office for distribution twelve and half per commission
may 20 livery postmaster whose compensation shall
exceed hve hundred dollars in quarter shall be al
Lowed cent every free letter delivered out his
Office except such as are for the postmaster himself but the
special allowance now made by law to the New
Orleans and Washington city shall otherwise be either in
creased diminished Each postmaster who shal be re-
qured keep register the arrival and departure of the
mails shall be allowed ten cents for each msnthy return
which he makes to the Postmaster General Each posas
ter may DC allowed two mills for the delivery from his office
to subscriber OF each newspaper not chnrgeable with post
Porded That postmaster Of any distributing or
separating post office whose commissions may be reduced
below the amount allowed his Office year ending the
S0th day OF june 1851 the Postmaster General shall bo
thorized in his discretion allow such additional conpen
saon as ne may deem proper; such compensation date
and be allowed from the 30h day March, 1853 roridd
further That the eommi sions and allowances authorized by
this act shall be subject to the provisions the
section of the entitled act to reduce into one the
several acts establishing and regulating the Post
partmen and all parts inconsistent with the
provisions of this act be and the hereby repeaed
and this act TO take elect be in force
encement OF the next fiscal quarter after its passage
Mr.. 0LDS explained the BILL and stated that while the
present Law reduced the Of postage, it vastly
creased the abors Of all the Offices and reduced the
pensaton Of the deputy postmaters than thryfHe
per cent In his opinion the 23 900 posmasters had
great for complaint under the present law and the
Committee the Post Office and Post Roads, after
tare deberaon had agreed to report this bill to remedy
existing evils. The bi however, did not with the
appreciation of the Postmaster General In conclusion
he demanded the previous question. He, however, with
drew it at the request Of
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee, who promised to renew it.
and moved to recommit the bill to the Committee the
Post Office and Post Roads, with instructions report an
amendment thereto increasing the rates Of postage of the
country SO as to meet the expenditures of the Post Office
Department. -'@ ".:":.
He said that he had no idea that the House. from the
feeling which had been manifested would sustain his
ton, but he would vote against the bill as it was,
he should stand alone in doing The reduction
of postage commenced in 1845, when 1t put FIVE
and ten cents upon single letter. The first effect of this
reduction was that the receipts fell below the amount
to deay the current expenses Of the Department
After year two, however, the receipts about
up to the wants Of the Department. Then further
ducton made, aud from that time to this the mail
service had been principally quartered upon the Treasury
Of the country, and consequently upon the payers
and not upon those who were particularly benefited by
that service ....-'.
lie trusted his motion would be agreed to-, that the
rates Of postage might be increased the
penses Of the service He demanded the previous ques
ton. 1t wss withdrawn, however, at the request Of
Mr.. UPHAM, who said that this bill was designed to
relieve that class of public officers whose compensation
small. 1t not for the benefit Of those who held
valuable offices, but to relieve the humble village
postmasers Of the country and also to from ruin
Gus loss those postmasters who situated at dstr
uting points It bill founded in justice and equi-
ty and he had doubt would commend itself the sense
Of justice of the members Of the House
Mr. 0LDS then renewed the demand for the previous
question: which seconded and under it's operation
the motion of Mr., JONES disagreed to. :,
The bill was then read the third time and passed.
BILLS INTRODUCED. r."
The following bills, by consent and in pursuance Of
notice. were introduced read twice. and appropriately
ferred: @.."... --, +,
By Mr. DENT Abill to amend an act passed the 2sth
By Mr.. CHANDLER: A bill to allow parties in equity
less than the whole number Of claimants for their
share Of common fund
By Mr.. JAS. c. ALLEN: A bill for the relief of James
McCabe.
Mr.. WENTWORTH, of Illinois, asked consent to sub
NIT the following resolution:
Resoired That the Committee Roads and Canals be
structed to inquire into the cxpedency of making appro
OF land or money for making canal around the Falls
Of Niagara.
Objections were made. ~. F.. ..... j. .
Mr.. WENTWORTH moved suspension of the rules ;
which motion was decided in the negative.
Mr.. GREY, by consent, offered resolution directing
the Postmaster General to furnish the House certain
Information relative to the mail service on route ooO2
Alabama which was adopted s.s
AFFAIR OF THE CRESCENT CITY.
On motion Of Mr. CLINGMAN, by consent
Resolcd That the President be requested to transmit to
this House, If not in his opinion Incompatible with the public
interest," copies of NIL correspondence that have taken
place between the Government Of the United States and that
of Spain in relation to the refusal by the authorities of the
island of Cuba time in the autumn OF lSoS permit
the United States mail steamer Crescent City land the mail
the passengers destined for that island Havana
Mr. RIDDLE by consent, submitted the following pre-
amble and resolution:
Whereas the House has passed resolution directing the
Clerk furnish each Of its members copy Of Jeerson
Manual Be it
Rolped That instead of purchasing said Manuas the
with the standing and orders for conducting business
&c in the House of Representatives and the rules Of the
Senate.
The resolution was agreed to.
MARTHA WASHINGTON CoNsPTRAToRs.
Mr.. BLISS, by consent, offered the following reso-
luton:
Rored That the Secretary Of the Treasury be and he is
hereby requested forthwith this any
information his possession facts within his knowledge
touching the expedency Of appropriation by Congress
defay the already incurred prosecuting the
charged with the burning of the steamboat Martha
ington Mississippi river in January, 1852 and
nh the for prosecuting said parties to conviction Of
the crimes and murder in the county Of Phillips in
the State Of Arkansas where they prison awaiting
their trial for said crimes alleged have been committed by
them in and by the burning of said steamboat
Mr. B. narrated the circumstances Of the Martha Wash
ingon case and stated that the county of Phillips in
Arkansas able to sustain the expense Of the pro-
secution and that the aid Of the was there
fore necessary.
The resolution was adopted.
DEFICIENCY BILL.
On motion Of Mr. PHELPS, by consent, the deficiency