Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-02-25
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS Second Session

have expelled the English Commissioner.
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS Second Session
WEDNESDAYS SENATE-Continued.
Mr. Crittenden said he was no Democrat
and no Republican, and both parties know it.
He would vote against the amendment, as he
did not wish to send the bill to the House with
this sting in it to awaken contention there.
Mr. Hale's amendment was then put and
lost.
YEAs-Messrs. Broderick Cameron, Chandler,
Clark, COamer, Dixon, Doolitte, Douglas, Dur
kee, Fessenden Foote, Foster, Hale King, Seward,
Trumbull Wade, Wson-19.
NAYs-Messrs Bigler, Chestnut, Clay, Clingman,
Crtenden, Davis Fitch, Fitzpatrick, Green, Gwin,
Houston, Hunter, Iyerson, johnson of Tennessee,
johnson of Arkansas, Kennedy, Lane, Polk, Pugh,
Reid Rice, Sebastian Slidell Smith, Toombs, Ward,
4ulee-27.
Mr.. Mason paired off with Mr.. Stuart.
The bill was then passed.
Mr.. Chandler called for the yeas and nays,
which resulted-yeas 81, nays 16.
The Senate adjourned exactly at midnight.
THURSDAY, Feb "a
SENATE.
Nothing of public interest transpired during
the morning hour.
Mr.. Bright announced that had he been pres
ent last night, he would have voted against
Mr.. Hale's amendment.
The Senate being in committee on the Post
Route bill, Mr.. Yulee offered his amendment
abolishing the franking privilege, and provid-
ing members OF Congress with stamps to the
amount of $3.50. The right of franking docu-
ments is reserved to the Postmaster General,
his first assistant, and chief clerk to the Audi
tor of the Post Office Department, to certain
eX-Presidents of the United States, and other
special cases provided by enactment.
The amendment increases the rate of post
postage from three to five cents under three
thousand miles, and to ten cents over that dis
lance. Papers are entitled to free delivery
in the county where published to actual sub
scribers.
The subject was discussed at great length in
all its bearings.
Messrs. Mason, Toombs, Cameron, Hale,
Reid, and Fessenden advocated the total aboli-
ton of the franking privilege
Mr.. Houston and others favored the increase
of postage, but would retain the franking priv
ilege.
Various amendments were made ard re-
jected by a very close vote, when the Com
mittee's amendments were agreed to, and the
bill was reported to the Senate and read third
time; but on calling the yeas and nays, no
quorum was found to be present
Yeas-Beniamn, Broderick, Brown, Clay, Fitch,
Hunter, johnson of Tennessee, johnson of Ken
lucky. Mason, Reed, Sebastian, Shields Slidell,
Ioombs, Ward, 1ulee,-H.
NayS-Chandler, Clark, Doolittle, Douglas, Foot,
Foster, Gwin, Hale, Harlan, King, Lane, Seward,
Smith, Trumbuil, Wilson'S.
After considerable delay, the Sergeant-at-
Arms was ordered to summon the absentees.
An amendment subsequently prevailed to take
the vote at ii o'clock tomorrow, without de-
bate, The Senate them at II o'clock, adj
journed.
HOUSE.
The Post Office bill was under considera-
ton, the question being ON concurring in the
amendment allowing Butterfied & Co. to car
ry the overland mail ON such route as the NAV
select. The amendment was reected-S6 to
109.
The House also rejected the proviso direct
ing proposals for mail routes to be published
in two newspapers in each State having the
largest circulation, and adopted that appro-
priating $4,000 for printing blanks, the CON
tract to be given to the lowest bdder-ayes
ia, noes not counted.
A large number of amendments were acted
upon, but the whole bill was finally rejected
ll9 to sc.
Mr.. Bocock, from the Committee of Inquiry
into alleged abuses of naval contracts present
ed the majority report. The testimony shows
that glaring abuses have been accommodating for
series of years that the coal agency is in
the hands Of incompetent persons; that the
Secretary of the Navy is not censurable in the
matter of the live oak contracts, nor in the
contracts for the machinery of the soops of
war. On the other hand, Messrs. Sherman and
Richie JON in statement setting forth that
the Secretary, with the sanction of the Presi-
dent, abuses his discretionary power in select
ing coal agents, and the purchase of fuel that
the live oak contract with Swift was made in
violation of law, and to the injury of the pub
lie service; that the distribution, by the Secre-
tary, OF government patronage, at the Brook
Ign Navy Yard, among members of Congress-
was corrupt in its influence and I'M furious to the
| public service; that the President and the
Secretary, in receiving and considering the
party relations of bidders for contracts, and
| the effect of awarding contracts upon pending
elections, have set an example dangerous to
the public safety, and deserving the reproof of
| the House; that the appointment of Daniel b.
Martin, Chief Engineer, to be member of the
| Board OF Engineers to report on proposals for
! constructing machinery, Martin being at the
time pecunarily interested in some of said
proposals, is hereby censured by the House.
I The whole subject was postponed to Mon
| day, and the House went into Committee on
the naval appropriation bill
| Mr.. Wilson of Virginia argued against pro-
| lection. He said there was no necessity for an
| alteration Of the tariff and defended the appro-
priation for the navy.
MT. howard OF Michigan favored dlscrlml-
mating tariff for protection.
Mr.. Nichols of Ohio avowed himself in favor
| of free trade and direct taxation. Our present
evils arise not from tariff bills, but from legis-
lation.
Mr.. Kunkel argued in favor of specific du-
ties, and that protective tariff was the best
revenue tariff.
MIR. Thayer pointed out the confusion that
existed in the Democratic party, and contend
ed that the Republican party was highly ma
| tional.
Mr.. Bliss, of Ohio, advocated tariff revision,
and specific duties for revenue purposes only.
Mr.. Reagan, of Texas, advocated a bill to
reimburse Texas for money expended in the
suppression of Indian hostilites.
Mr.. Boyce, of South Carolina, spoke against
modification of the tariff and in favor of
making the Post Office department selfsus-
tanning, to bring the expenditures within the
receipts.