Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-02-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CONGRESSIONAL.

| WARRINGTON FEB. IL.
SENATE.
Mr.. Hunter from the Finsnce Committee report
ed the Executive, Legislative and Judicial APP
preparation bill,
Mr.. Mason from the Committee on Foreign re-
lations moved to print the report of the United
States Commissioner to Vancouver's Island
Agreed to.
Mr.. Wilson's resolution laid over calling for de-
! tailed information respecting Mr.. Butterfeld's
overland mail contracts, was taken up and agreed
| to.
Numerous private memorials, &C., were dispos-
ed Of
Wr. Wade, of Ohio, moved to postpone all prior
orders and take up the Homestead bill
Mr.. johnson, of Tenn, also urged it.
| Messrs. Wilson and Shield desired q vote, and
Messrs. Reed and Hunter wished TO have it post
poned, but the bill was taken up, 26 to %, and
read.
| Mr.. Hunter again moved to take up the Consu-
lar and Diplomatic Appropriation bill.
| Mr.. Stewart demonstrated against this crowding
| off the Homestead bill by an appropriation bill
which was sure to pass.
Some time occupied in arranging the precedence
of business.
Mr.. Seward urged a vote on the Homestead bill
as measure that would settle definitely the poli-
cy with respect to the public lands, and would res
cue them from being held by spectators and cap
italiss to the datriment of the interests of labor
HOUSE.
The Sergeant at Arms, pursuant to previous or
der of the House, produced John Csssin of Phil
adelphia, who had been summoned but failed to
appear before the Select Committee to investigate
the accounts of Mr. Seaman, the late Superinten-
dent of public printing, He was Rrraigned at the
bar of the House under attachment for contempt.
On motion of Mr.. Geo. Taylor, Chairman of the
Committee, the Speaker was directed to pEopound
to Mr.. Csssin the following questions:
What excuse he had to give, and whether he
was now ready to appear before the Committee
and answer all proper questions1
Mr.. Cassin answered by q written statement ur-
der oath that on being summoned by the Sergeant
at Arms, on the 9th inst, no immediately prepar-
ed to attend required but allowed himself to be
delayed few days owing to the illness of near
relative. lie had now come to voluntarily surren
der himself. He meant no disrespect to the House
and begged to be excused from any apparent or
actual derelictiOn, and ready to testify before
the Committee.
Having thus purged himself from the alleged
contempt, on motion of Mr.. Taylor he was dis
charged from custody.
Mr.. English called up the bill regulating the
postage on newspapers and periodicals He said
it had been reported extensively through the pa
pers that this bill proposed to tax newspapers
passing in exchange" This was not the fact
Inc design was that perloolcal dealers snail re-
ceive their mail matter on the same terms as reg
ular subscribers Another section authorizes maps
and Autographs to be carried at one cent per
ounce or fraction of an ounce. Heretofore such
matter has been excluded from the mails.
The third section proposes to punish persons
taking letters out of the office by mistake, but
wilfully or fraudulently retaining them. Also
persons who in like manner-failed to apply mony
handed them for the prepayment of postage, &c.
Nka-a e ~ ,1a 70 VnuT 80
such offenders. The bill proposes fine of 500,
or one years imprisonment, or both. The bill
was passed.
Mr.. English, of Ind, made an Intellectual attempt
to consider the bill to abolish the franking privi-
lege.
Mr.. Colfax stated that by the phraseology of one
section of the bill every newspaper published
would be compelled to prepay the postage on his
entire circulation passing through the mails. "a
change asked for by no one.
The House went into Committee, John Cochran
Chairman, and the Amy Appropriation bill was
taken up.