The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1859-03-05
Tu,uTY.F,rTH CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
sY4u-xs TIT 90


WASHINGTON, Feb. 28.
SENATE.-An additional section from the
committee was adopted, instructing the Post
master General to report Mt the commence
mont of the next session Of Congress what
Post routes have not paid one-half Of their
cost. Also, to report on what items of the
Department generally tho expenses may be
reduced. Also, an amendment by Mr.. Brod-
erick, reducing the salary of the California
Mail Agent, from S., 900 to 1900.
Mr., Wilson, OF Mass, amended the bill by
cutting down most OF the miscellaneous
items, such as advertising, mail-bags, wrap
ping paper. and postofice blanks. A total
saving of over $4,000. In reference to the
blanks, he said hc WAS cognixant OF case
where Mr.. Rice, editor Of the Pennsylvania,
had contract for printing blanks for $780,
900, which cost him just Eve thousand, the
profits being divided, SO per cent to the Wash
ington Union, per cent to Mr.. Appleton and
the interest to q member OF Congress.
MIR. Mason, Of Va, said If the facts were
so, it is due to the Senate and the country to
lay the information before them. Mr.. Will
son reiterated the statement, and said that
Mr.. Rice himself had said SO, and moreover
that the arrangement was with the cognizanoe
of the President Of the United States. Mr..
Cameron said that tho matter was so notori-
| Gus that everybody, except perhaps the Sem
ator from Va, must know all about it. Mr..
Rice, until recently, was creature Of the
President, but Mr.. Rice went about babbling
| all about it.
Mr.. Mason-ssDid Mr.. Rice tell the Sena-
| tor 20
Mr.. Cameron replied, "The way to get this
information is to appoint committee OF in
vestigation, or sue me for SANDER, and that
will bring the evidence. am responsible
elsewhere. just bring here Billy Rice and
the President. They know all about it, and
think my colleague knows something about
it, too"
Mr.. Msson-sDid Mr.. Rice tell you so ?'
Mr.. Cameron--sI do not speak to MIR
Rioe."
Mr.. Mason--"Then you bring here the ru-
mors and hearsay Of the country to make
these grave charges of fraud"
MIR. Bigler, of Pa, said that whatever ex.
travagance there might be in the printing Of
these blanks, he could say the whole was ex
ecuted in accordance with the law, and the
prices were fixed by law. Mr.. Bigler Their
explained the details of the affair, and addet
that his colleague was scarcely justified in
these imputations OF the President.
Mr.. johnson. of Ark, while considering
the price for printing these blanks too high
could not believe the impusation cast by thu
Senator from Pa, on the President. M
doubt that the Senator himself believed it
but he, (Mr. Johnson) could not give il ere
dence.
Mr.. Cameron said that to show his SINGER
! ity, he would move for a committee Of in
quiry.
Mr.. Iverson, of Ga, proposed to add
clause to the bill, increasing the rate Of post
age from three to FIVE cents, for the reason
as he stated, that the post route bill, to whic
; was added similar provision, is an import
ant bill, which the House, If it was averse I
raising the rate, would let fall to the grounc
whereas they could not throw over this Ar
preparation bill. Lost--yeas Is, nays II.
Here, on motion Of Mr.. Green, the Sena'
; adjourned-sye %, nays II.