The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-06
DEBATE ON THE POSTAL APPROPRIA.
TION BILL.

Mr. GROW / rise to what seems to me privileged
question do not propose to discuss this question but
to it and have the House act upon it, Sec,
ton 4 article of the constitution provides that all bills
raising shall originate in the House of Rep
rcsenatives propose now to offer the following reso-
lution stf
the expenses the Post Office Department the end
3oh 1860 with the amendments thereto be
lure Of revonue BILL
want to state the reasons for this resolution.
Mr.. DAVIS of Mississippi | object to debate except
It is in order
MIR GROW II was part of the arrangement made by
the gentleman from Missouri that / should have the
privilege Of making statement otherwise the rules
could not have been suspended
Mr., DAVIS of Mississippi object,
Mr.. GROW. i have right to state my point.
The SPEAKER The Chair thinks the gentleman has
the right.
MIR. GROW hold the course propose is the proper
one when House thinks its privileges have been in
vaed by the other The 18th section OF the amendments
of the Senate referred to in my resolution provides for
raising the hostages The postages are collected and
paid into the treasury and appropriate them the same
as any other revenue for deayng the expenses OF the
| department The hostages for ocean mail service are
collected in the way and paid into the treasury SO
that this kind of revenue, take it, comes within that
clause of the constitution which prohibits the Senate from
| originating revenue bills difference be-
tween collecting ten cents on letter and collecting ten
cents broadcoth. In the the duty is coll
| ected from the citizens who consume the imported
ported goods then he is not taxed and the person
who sends letters through the mails is not taxed,
! Mr. DAVIS, of Mississippi. insist ON The point OF
| order The gentleman is debating his proposition
/ The SPEAKER The Chair thinks the gentleman from,
Pennsylvania has right to debate his proposition the
| previous question not having been demanded;
Mr., GROW. shall be through in minute. desire
| TO state my point fully.
| Mr.. SEWARD. Is debate in order m 4.
/ The SPEAKER. Ii Is
Mr.. SEWARD. When a similar question the
other day the Chair ruled me down mperatively and
| positively
The SPEAKER. The difference between the occasion
referred TO by the gentleman and the present one accord
ing the recollection Of the Chair is this On that
cason motion pending to suspend the rules, and
the question OF order arose when there was AN unde
batabe motion pending, it therefore not debaable,
But in this case the Chair thinks that the gentleman
flom Pennsylvania has right to debate the question.
| Mr.. HOUSTON / would like, with the permission OF
the gentleman from Pennsylyan to ask him question
| 10 the direct line of his argument.
| Mr.. GROW. Certainly.
/ Mr., HOUSTON desire to ask the gentleman whetll-
It Is not competent for the Senate to originate bill
proposing to bring unsold lands into market and direct
their slvY And desire to ask him II it is not compe
for the Senate to originate bill increasing the min
imum price of the public lands from 81 20 per acre to
| any greater sum they may see fit
| Mr.. GROW. The first part of the gentleman ques-
ton in the affirmative but the last part of it in
the negative The Senate cannot originate bill icreas
ing the price of the public lands for that Is source OF
can originate bill to raise revenue in any other way
But sir did not rise 20 argue the question: but mere
ly to state my point This 18th section proposes TO in
the present rates Of postage TO five cents and in
ten cents, which would increase the taxa
ton on those who the mails, Now, take 1t that
that is just exactly the they were TO attempt
to raise the tariff on imported goods, and increase the
| taxes ON those who consume them. can see no dis
tnction between the two Without further reark
| ] ask for vote ON my resolution.
Mr. RrTuHIE desire TO say that never will con-
the Speaker OF this House decide questions OF the
constitutional power of the House as points OF order, and
say whether shall receive bills from the Senate not
IL putting the whole constitutional power OF this House
in the hands OF the Speaker II is question for the
House to decide what Is its constitutional power,
and would trust no Speaker with any such power
Mr. GROW. ! thought the understanding was that
we we're to have vote my resolution question OF
| the privileges OF the House,
! Mr. PHELPS of Missouri Think the point OF order
been well answered by the gentleman from Penns-
| yanis Mr. RrrcHg. The section of the constitution
TO which the gentleman refers is not Applicable to any
case OF this kind That section of the constitution Is In
I these words
bHs raising shall originate in tho House Of Repre-