The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-15
Whereupon the Senate adjourned
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

Mr. ENGLISH of Indiana from the Committee the
Post Office and Post Roads, reported bill to establish
certain post roads.
Mr. JONES Of Tennessee called for the reading of the
last section Of the bill which accordingly reported
This section provides that the Postmaster General shall
he authorized in his discretion to contract for the
ing o the mail according to existing laws upon all public
roads which have been, shall be, constructed IN all
cases when in his opinion the public interest and
v,nence require it, and for the time it may be carried ON
such public roads the shall be, and hereby de-
ciared to be, post routes of the United States
Mr. ENGLISH explained that this provision SIM
lar that passed in 1852, with the exception that the
words .pnbc highways had been inserted in the place
OF plank roads, and not new. Its adoption would
relieve the Post Office Committee OF great amount OF
labor.
Mr. GARNETT, of Virginia, suggested that the power
contened by this section should be limited ia
spects not extend to overland routes to the Pa
cic coast and to prohibit the Postmaster General from
exceeding the amount Of appropriation in any year
Sir. BARKSDALE, Of Mississippi, inquired whether
that section applied to the contracts made last year.
lir ENGLISH replied that it applied to al the public
roads in existence which may be declared to be
highways hereafter.
Mi. KlIGoRE of Indiana moved that the second
ton OF the bill be stricken out.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Of Alabama, was in favor of that mo
ton His experience in this sort of legislation was
that wherever they could keep the responsibility from
any department. Of the government il WAS better that
they should do it, Whenever the door opened TO
unlimited application to any department favor either
for clerkships ail-routes, the worse it
Mr.. DAVIS Of Mississippi could not what differ
it made whether the Postmaster General declared
the routes the committee every public highway in
the country would be inserted at the suggestion OF
beers OF Congress
Mr.. HOUSTON thought the argument of the gentleman
from Mississippi established the fact that the present laws
met the wants Of the country and II they should
not change 1t for the purpose OF changing the legislation
Of the country, which always objectionable Com
binations might be made all this country, and in
huences brought to bear the Postmaster General that
he ought DO kept from by the legislation OF the
hy. IL fair that they should take from the Post
master General the shield Of the law
The question recurring on the motion of Mr Kill
Mr.. ENGLISH demanded the previous question which
seconded ayes 49, A.
Mr. JONES Of Tennessee then called for the reading
Of the bill remarking that he did not know what in
it, lie would inquire whether there any proposition
for road to the Pacific.
Mr.. ENGLISH replied that there was nothing ia the
bill requiring service, but there route from ST.
Paul to the Pacific coast
Mr.. JONES. Yes and we have one now which is a
to the country II costs 5000 900 year. and the
contract made for six years He then moved that
the bill be laid on the table.
The question being taken, the motion did not prevail
yeas so, nays 9S.
The question then taken the motion of Mt.
kIieoHs and 1t was agreed to.
The bill was then read at length and being read
Mr JONES, of Tennessee, moved to reconsider the
vote by which the bill engosed and read the third
time which motion being agreed TO- he moved that the
route from ST Paul Minnesota, TO the Pacific coast
be stricken out pending which
Mr. PHELPS Of Minnesota, moved to amend that
clause OF the bin by authorizing and directing the Post
master General to contract for the conveyance of the let
ter mail from St Paul. Minnesota and Superior Wscon
sn VIA Forts A6ercrombie Benton and Union Seattle
in Washington Territory, with branch to Portland Ore
gen. for term OF SIX years at compensation per mile
not exceeding the compensation for a similar grade OF
service now paid from Memphis and ST. Louis to San
falcisco, California the service performed weekly
semi weekly at The option of the Postmaster General
and granting the right 10 preempt 500 OF land TO
the contractors for stations not each other than
ten miles the service to be commenced within twelve
months Vt the signing OF the contract.
:. Mr.. LEICHER of Virginia mised point Of order
that the amendment not only made contract but dona
ted the public. lands sAsg
MIR PHELPS ,sontended that il similar 10 the
amendment by which the service from Memphis AID ST
Louis tc San Francisco authorized
Z Tho SPEAKER oyerroed the point Of order adding
that when the point had been made heretofore his
decision had been oyerruled upon appeal lie would fol-
low the precedent then established. =.
The question being takens the amendment was re-
ieotsd-yeas "a, nays l04
The question recurring on the motion of Mr.. Josss
Of Tennessee
Mr.. wAsHBURN, of Wisconsin, asked leave to offer