The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-23
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
THIRTY-FIFTH CONGRESS- SECOND SESSION.
WASHINGTON, February %, 1859.
GEN

u,
SENATE.
Mr. KING presented a memorial from John Reeves,
naval architect at Brooklyn, asking that the Minis
ter at be instructed to urge his claim
upon the Turkish Government Referred to the
Committee on Foreign Relations.
Mr.. FITCH, from the Committee on Printing
moved to reconsider the resolution to print five
thousand extra copies of the coast survey report
for distribution along the seaboard.
Memorials were received from the Legislatures
OF Maine and Michigan against an increase of
postage.
On motion of Mr.. HUNTER the Senate took up
the Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropria
ticn bills
Several amendments reported by the Committee
OF Finance were concurred in.
At one o'clock the Cuba bill came up as the spe-
cial order of the day, but Mr. HUNTER moved to
postpone, to keep the appropriation bill before the
Senate, which was agreed to-yeas 33, nays %.
The following amendments were agreed to:
10 enable the Secretary of the Interior to take
census of the people of Kansas preparatory to ad-
mission into the Union.
To extend for TIVE years the provisions of the act
relating to foreign coin and the coinage of cents.
After protracted debate, which was continued
till after eight O'Clock, the Senate without coming
to any action on the Appropriation bill before them
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The journal having been read, a message was re-
ceived from the President asking for authority to
protect the transit routes, &c.
Senate on Friday last.
bill to amend the bounty land act was passed
by yeas l08, nays IA.
MIR. WAsHBuRNE, of Maine presented memorial
from the Legislature of Maine, in opposition to an
increase of the rates of postage.
Mr.. DAVIS, OF Massachusetts, moved to recon-
slider the vote by which the bill granting bounty
lands TO seamen or privateers, commissioned by the
United States, was referred to the Committee of the
Whole.
Mr. JONES moved to lay that motion on the table,
Carried by yeas 80, nays II.
The House then went into Committee of the
Whole on the Post-ot1ice appropriation bill.
This bill appropriates SIG, ,657 060 for the regu-
lar service of the Department, and S3,S3S, 72S to
supply deficiencies of revenue for the year ending
3Oth of June, 1859.
Mr.. PORTER, of Wisconsin, offered an amendment
that no special agent should receive more than
81 500 per annum. He understood that, though
the law limited their compensation to 81 900, many
OF them got as much as $4,000 per annum
Mr.. PHELPS denied that such was the case None
of them received more than 81 900 per annum and
their travelling expenses.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. ABBOTT, of Maine, moved to reduce the Ap-
preparation for Miscellaneous Expenses of the De-
partments from 100000 to S50, 900. He said the
appropriation for miscellaneous expenses of
the different departments had swollen to nearly
$4,000 ,O0O and this system should be stopped.
Mr.. PHELPS asked if the gentleman thought it
right to build custom houses in the State of
Maine?
Mr.. ABBOTT said yes; but he was opposed to
building Custom-houses as in New Orle ans, at an
expense of SO, ,000,0 ,000
Mr.. CRAWFORD, of Georgia, argued to show that
the reduction proposed was too great.
Mr.. SPINNER, of New York, offered an amend
ment requiring the Postmaster General to render a
detailed statement of the expenditures under the
head OF miscellaneous, and making it unlawful to
use any portion of this money to defend suits
brought by citizens against agents of the Depart
ments.
The amendment of Mr.. ABBorT was rejected, and
that of Mr.. SPINNER adopted.
Mr.. SPINNER, of New York, moved an amendment
reducing the appropriation for new edition of the
Post-offce Laws from $4,000 to $1,000, that he
shall declare the same to be official and shall give
the publication to the lowest bidder Carried by
ayes rs, A.
Mr.. GARNETr, of Virginia, moved an additional
section to the bill, providing that the appropria-
ton shall not be exceeded for the service of the De-
partment, and that the Postmaster General shall
notentcr into contracts in of the appropria-
ton. He said that we must bring back the controlof
the Post-ofice Department to the Legislative
branch OF the Government where it belongs and
prevent the public money being used without au-
thority Of law. The expenses of the Post-ofTice
Department are increasing at the rate of ST 900 900
per annum, and some stop must be put to this irres
ponsible use of the public funds.
Mr.. BARKSDALE, of Miss, defended the action of
the Postmaster General, and said Congress and not
the Department was responsible for the increase of
tie expenses. We should make the Department
selt-sustanng, and lop off the appropriations for
Ocean steamers He said the present Postmaster
General had managed the affairs Of the Department
better than they have ever been conducted before
Mr.. SIcKLEs, of New York. defended the amend
ment proposed by Mr.. GARNETT, and said the def
cencies in the resulted from the expense of
giving mail facilities to the Western and South
western States.
Mr.. SEWARD, of Geo, offered proviso that the
amount appropriated should be expended equally
in the several States.
A l0nr discussion nnSued oo tho of
Mr.. GARNETr, those opposed contending that the
effect of the proposition would be to curta the
mail service on all the great routes.
Mr.. GARNETT said the whole question was whether
or not the practice of spending money without au-
thority of law should be continued and the Consti-
tuition made nullity.
Mr. JONES offered an amendment that no money
should be expended except after the shall have
been appropriated by Congress. He opposed
to these deficiency bills which were constantly
brought in here and should confine the expendi-
lures within the appropriation.
Mr.. kEITT argued in favor of making the Post
Office Department sef-sustaining, and thought that
the Government had no more right to monopoliZe
the carriage of letters than to carry produce. As
long as the present system continues, the abuses
complained of would exist. He did not think the
amendment proposed would accomplish anv thing
He was ready at any time to go into thorough re-
vision OF the system, and divorce the Government
entirely from the business of carrying the mails.
Mr.. WAsHBuRNE, of Maine, said too much power
was 'esteu III tle nanus OF the postmaster General;
too much left at his discretion. He agreed with the
gentleman from Virginia that some restraint must
be thrown around the expenditures of this Depart
ment. The receipts were now less by some 50 000,-
600 than the expenses.
The amendment was further discussed but finally
was rejected, and without concluding their action
on the bill the Committee rose and the House
passed the Senate bill Incorporating the Washing
ton National Monument Society
MIR. HUGHES Intellectually sought to introduce the
bill revising the tariff act of 1S46.
Adjourned.