The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-23
House Of Representatives.


BOUNTY LANDS PRvArEERsxEV
motion OF Mr.. DAVE, (opp OF Mass to get up the bill
granting bounty lands to privaeersmen, lost by
vote Of 90 against II.
The bill goes the Committee Of the Whole on the
State Of the Union will not probably be reached this
session.
TIE POST OFFICE APPROPRIATION
The House went into committee the Post Office Ap.
preparation bill.
Dir. HATCH, (adm) Of N. Y, offered amendment
that the supplies for the department be given by contract
to the lowest responsible bidder. He stated that there
similar provision in the organic law Of New York.
which has saved millions from corruptons and frauds
This s the only practicable reform
The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. GARNET, (adm.) Of Va, spoke OF the constantly
increasing expenses Of the Post Office Department They
grew at the rate Of million year, and there was no
telling where they would stop. He offered amend
mcnt restricting the Postmaster General to the present
appropriations in next years expenditures.
SIR. BARKsDAIE, (adm of Miss, said the service had
been increased the application of members of Congress-
and complimented the Postmaster General having ex
tended mail facilities To the hitherto neglected South and
West.
Mr. sIcKIEs, (adm) of N Y, remarked that the amend
mcnt would be positive relief TO the Postmaster General
and could not imagine how could in any possible
be offensive to him.
Mr. SEWARD, (adm) Of Ca, offered amendment pro-
vidng that the money shall be spent equally all the
States He so show the utter folly and impractical
biy of Mr. Garnetts position, that the Post Office De-
partment should be self sustaining.
Mr. JOHN COCRANE, fadm.) OF N. Y, was convinced the
Department should not in an economical political
sense, be self sustaining machine AS to New York. the
receipts were largely in excess Of the expenditures
MIR 1ErcBER, (adm.) Of Va, thought the Department
should be self sustaining 1t former years. under
al the disadvantages not now existing.
Mr. JOHN COfHRANE (resuming) spoke in favor Of the
abrogaton OF the Thanking privilege as the commencement
of wholesome reform
Mr.. MOORE, (adm) of Ala. said IL the receipts at New
York were largely in Of the expenditures, in
consequence OF ocean mail facilities being conferred
that city.
Mr.. SMITH, (adrn.) Of Va, made similar remarks.
Mr.. SCKIEs REPLIED asserting official data that the
service in New York is self sustaining and creditor to
the amount of hundred thousand dollars annually
Mr.. FLORENCE, (adm) Of Pa, thought this rivalry be-
tween gentlemen in and out Of New York should here
came up gentlemen would exercise wise discretion and
distribute that kind Of service all the Unon and not
conhne II to New York, which has so many commercial
and artificial advantages. The effect OF Mr.. Garnetts
amendment would be to curtal the service.
Mr.. Branch, (adm.) ofN. G., favored Mr. Gernetts
amendment while be would make the most liberal postal
arrangements. II only Of late years that the Post
master General had been allowed 10 call public
treasury and this presented grave reason why Congress-
should limit and control his discretion in expenditures
Mr.. GARNET said his amendment had nothing to do with
the ocean or overland mails. He merely asked that the
purse Of the nation shall remain under the constitution
and not at the indiscrmnatc mcrcies Of any executive
officer.
After further debate Mr Garnetts amendment was
rejected by ayes "a; noes not counted.
Messrs AVERY, adm Of Tenn. and ATKINS adm of
Tenn. severaly replied 30 the remarks made yesterday
by Mr.. BLAIR, opp OF Mo- and with much carnestncss
defended the Postmaster General from the charge that in
selecting the overland mail route he influenced by
personal considerations.
Mr. AyEsY said that IL true the Postmaster owned
land in Arkansas, but not within eighty miles Of the
route, and that the Mississippi.
Mr.. BLAIR said that Sr. Craig, Of Missouri, and Mr.
English OF Indiana, had informed him that the Postmas
ter General owned lands in Arkansas.
Mr. ENGLISH, (adm Of IDd denied that he ever com
muncated any such information.
Mr.. CRAIG (adm) of Mo-, explained that he did say
that in selecting the route there moro OF politics than
advancing the value of the public lands, and that he
thought was the pioneer 20 the Pacific Railroad. He,
however, had attributed unworthy motive to the Post
master Genera TO whom the present administration
indebted for thrccfo Of s popularity. daughter
Mr. FoHEstx denied that the Postmaster Generals land
touched anywhere the route.
Mr.. BLAIR wished TO be informed how tho gentleman
knew the fact.
Mr. FieRgscE replied that he had asked the Postmaster
General this morning. The route heretofore adopted
by the late Gen. Rusk.
These explanations caused not little excitement
without concluding action the bill the Committee
rose.
TIE WASHINGTON NATIONAL MONUMENT SOCIETY.
On motion Of Mr.. BURNETT (adm) Of KY, the House
took UP and passed the Senate bill the Wash
ington National Monument Society.
THE OVERLAND Rourg SOC
Mr. EsGtisB, rising TO an explanation, remark.
l cd that he had SAID, In conversation with
| Mr.. Blair, Of his own knowledge, that the Post.
master General owned lande in the vicinity az the
overland route, although ho might have spoken OF