Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-16
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Senate, Friday, June l6, 1854.


the private calendar was under his charge, and
he was extremely anxious that it should pass,
still, as il was highly desirable that the veto
message should be disposed of today, he would
waive all objections to postponing the private
calendar.
Mr. Brodhead said that private bills had not
been considered for moro than five weeks, and
Senators were constantly asked concerning
these bills. He hoped, unless the general de-
sire Of the Senate was otherwise that private
bills would DO considered to-day.
MIR. Hamlin called for the orders Of the day,
and the Senate proceeded to take up the bills
on the private calendar
The first bill was to renew the patent of Hi
ram Moore and John Hascall, for q harvesting
machine
Mr.. Walker addressed the Senate in earnest
opposition to the bill
Mr.. Stuart briefly replied, and Mr.. Douglas
opposed the bill
1t was then rejeeted-yeas 49, nays %.
The Senate then proceeded TO consider the
bill to authorize the coinage OF gold pieces OF
the value, respectively, of ten eagles and i've
eagles and for other purposes; and the same
was considered, and passed-yeas 20, nays 49,
House Of Representatives. June is, 1854.
Mr.. Houston asked consent to present bill,
from the Committee Of Ways and Means, to
reduce the duties on imports. Objection was
made
The bill to increase the rates Of postage was
taken up.
Mr.. Haven moved to strike out 30 much of
the substitute bill as directs the increase of
postage.
Mr.. Odds spoke in favor Of the bill, and
argued the necessity Of the proposed increase.
He said the bill was important, and called for
by the wants Of the Department. He replied
to tho remarks Of MIR. Chandler, made yester-
day, in which that gentleman spoke of the
tinkering Of tho Post Ofics affairs. Mr. 0.
thought tho reduction Of postage, in which Mr..
Chandler had concurred, was tlnkering; and it
had depleted the Department.
Mr.. Odds said he would prefer the repeal Of
the franking privilege; for it would greatly re-
lieve members Of Congress of much Of the COR
respondence with which they are burdened.
He said two and q half millions of dollars of
franked matter passed through the mails an
nually.
Mr.. Odds selected the New York Tribune to
illustrate his point, and showed that the post
age paid for it now was more than $42,O 900
year, and regarded the loss to the Department
as equal to that sum; and 30 with newspapers
generally, which claim that every kind Of mail
oUlo m6tUor uuOulu poy l0 OWu why.
Mr.. Odds 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 franking 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 franking privilege, with
out requiring the Government to pay the post
age on documents mailed by members.
Objection was made
Mr.. Etheridge moved to lay the bill on the
table; which was decided, by tellers, in the
negative-yeas 80, nays not counted.
Mr.. Haven's amendment was then adopted
yeas 70, nays "a.
The substitute as thus amended, was then
rejected-yeas 81, nays not 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 tho Private Calendar.
The original bill provided that from the
commencement Of the next fiscal quarter, there
shall be charged: for every single letter, for
any distance not exceeding three thousand
miles, five cents; and for any distance exceed
ing three thousand miles ten cents; when con-
veyed wholly or in part by sea, and to or from
foreign country, for any distance not exceed
ing three thousand miles, the OCEAN postage
shall be FIVE cents; and for any distance ex-
ceeding three thousand miles, such ocean post
age shall be ten cents excepting where such
hostages have or shall DO adjusted by postal
treaty y for double letter, double rates, SO.
A letter not exceeding half an ounce shall
be deemed single and all letters, excepting
from foreign country, shall be prepaid and
after the Ist Of January, 1855, such prepay
ment shall be by stamps. Dropletters, one
cent each letters advertised, shall be charged
one cent EACH in addition So much of the
act passed August 30th, 1882 as reduces one
half the postage on newspapers and periodi-
Gals, when paid in advance shall be abolished.
The substitute bill required that the frank
ing privilege should be abolished that the
postage Of the Departments should be paid
out Of the funds Of the general Treasury
that letters sent free Of postage shall be paid
out of the Treasury. All letters 60, of MEM
bers Of the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives Secretary Of the Senate and Clerk of the
House, should be paid out of the contingent
fund of the two Houses that the rates Of
postage should be, single little letter, any dis
tance in the United States, not exceeding three
thousand miles, three cents; exceeding three
thousand miles, ten cents, except in the case Of
treaties and that the reduction of one-half
on newspapers prepaid be repealed, AZ in the
preceding bill.
THE FISHERY AND REcIPRocITy TREATY.-
According to Washington accounts the Fishery
and Canadian Reciprocity Treaty will not be
contaminated without opposition. 1t will be
opposed by interests almost as numerous as