Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-04-15
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr.. STANTON, of Kentucky, from the Committee on
Printing to which the subject referred reported the
following resolution:
Reso1red That there be printed thousand additional
copies of the reports Of the and explorations of the
river Amazon with the plates and maps accompanying by
Lieuts Herndon Gbbon hundred and fifty copies
for distribution by Lieut. Herndon and two hundred fifty
by Lieut. Gbbon and the remainder for the Of the
bers Of the House.
Mr.. BROOKS moved to increase the number of add-
tona copies to be printed to twenty thousand; which
motion, after brief debate, agreed to.
Mr. JONES, of Tennessee moved to lay the resolution
the table which motion decided in the negative
The resolution US amended was then agreed to.
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
Mr. GREY asked consent to offer the following reso-
lutionu: -.... 49,. .... .'.
/. Rsolred, That the Postmaster General be directed
furnish the House of Representatives with copies all orders
rules regulations adopted by him which prevent deny
to the members of the Committee the Post Office and Post
Roads the privilege of going into the public of the Post
Office Department during office hours and of then and there
examining the public records Of that Department.
2. Resoiccd That the Postmaster General be directed
abolish all rules orders regulations which prevent or de-
ny the privilege to the members of the COMMITTEES the
Post Office and Post Roads, any of hem from going
into the public in the Post Office Department during
Office hours and then and there examining such public records
in the presence and with the assistance of the clerk having
charge of them such member may desire That he also
abolish all rules orders or regulations by which the clerks
either Of them prevented restrained from aorg
member Of said committee such information during those
examinations the public records of the Post Office Depart
ment will enable him to give
Mr.. PHELPS objected.
Mr.. GREY stated the reasons which induced him to
offer the resolutions He said that the House had called
for information from the Post Office Department in regard
to the contract for carrying the mail between Mobile and
Montgomery Alabama, which had been transmitted. On
examining the papers he found that they we're conradc
tory, and therefore went to the Department member
Of the Committee the Post Office and Post Roads, for
the purpose OF ascertaning how this and he wished
to say that he charged fraud but that there mis-
take in the report On asking at the Department the
privilege of examining its public official records he
told that the Postmaster General had adopted regulations
which precuded any member of the House any other
person whatever from going into the clerks and
there in their presence examining the records. He ad
dressed letter the subject to the Postmaster Gene
ra but had received answer and therefore felt
strained before the House for its interference
He hoped the objection to the resolution would be with
drawn.
Mr.. PHELPS persisted in his objection considering
the regulations of the Department right.
Mr.. GREY then hopod the House would excuse him
from further service on the Committee on the Post Office
and Post Roads, stating that he could discharge his
duties member of that committee unless his resolu-
ons should be adopted and he be allowed the privilege Of
examining the official records of the Post Office Depart
ment A..
Mr.. HARRIS, of Alabama, hoped the resolutions would
be received he desired the fullest investigation into
the subject to which the gentleman from Kentucky had al
luded viz the contract for the transportation of the
| mail between Mobile and Montgomery.
Mr. 0LDS also expressed the hope that the resolutions
would be received and referred TO the Committee the
Post Office aud Post Roads. This course he thought,
would obviate all difficulty. ..s ...> -..
Mr. PHELPS declined to withdraw his objection, when
| The question was taken on the motion Of Mr.. GREY
that he be excused from further service the Committee
on the Post Office and Post Roads, and it agreed
| Ayes Sc, noes 81.
| CHANGE IN THE RATES OF POSTAGE.
Mr.. 0LDS from the Committee the Post Office and
Post Roads, reported bill further to amend the act
titled An act to reduce and modify the rates Of postage
in the United States and for other purposes passed
March 1851 and the act amendaory thereto, passed
august ~, 1852 which read twice.
| The bill was then read at length, as follows:
he eafced DE- That from and after the commencement
OF the next fiscal quarter after the passage of this in lieu
OF the rates Of postage established by law there shall
| charged the following rates, to wit:
For every single letter in manuscript paper Of any kind
in which information thall be asked for
writing or by marks signs conveyed in the mail for any
distance between places in the United States not exceeding
three thousand miles FIVE and for any distance exceed
ing three thousand miles, ten cents For every such letter
paper when conveyed wholly in part by and to from
foreign country for any distance exceeding three thou
sand miles the postage shall be cents and for
distance exceeding three thousand miles such postage
shall be ten cents excepting haweyer all where
postagcs have been ha be adjusted Mt different rates By
postal treaty convention already concluded or hereafter
be made and for double letter there shall charged double
the rate above specified and for treble treble
and for quadrupe letter. uuadrupe those rates and
every letter parcel exceeding an ounce in weigh
shall be deemed single letter. and every additional weigh