The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-12
CONGRESSIONAL.
Thirty- Pif,h oungress--second Session
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY II, 1859.
SENATE.


SENATE.
The following memorials and petitions were presented
and appropriately referred
By MIR PEAItCE A memorial very nu1nerously signed
by the most influential citizens of Hayre de Grace, Mary
land, asking the establishment OF national foundry at
that place and setting forth the manifold advantages
which il presents for this site of such establishment
advantages, they think obvious to be familiar 10
many members OF Congress, who they think viii act for
the best interests of the country.
BY Mr.. KENNEDY From the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company asking to be allowed to extend their
Washington branch road to form close connexion
with the southern and southwestern lines.
rris memorial is commended to the favorable consd
Grafton OF Congress by the presidents OF the Wilmington
and Baltimore and Orange and Alexandria Railroad Com
panies One of the several proposed routes is by un
mel under the Capitol Hill, not to interfere with
the public buildings in any disturb the surface OF
The ground aud thence by the most eligible route To
the most convenient point all things considered the
Potomac within the District of Columbia
BY Mr.. HAMLlN: From citizens of Bristol, Malne,
asking that the public lands may be laid out in farms 81
limited size for the exclusive use of actual settlers
by Mr.. GWIN From Charles Mintun, president Of
the Central Steam Navigation Company in the State OF
California; asking compensation for transporting the mails
from San Francisco to Oakland and Petaluma.
By Mr.. CRITTENDEN From Leslie Combs Of
the survivors Of the battle the river asn during the
of 1872 asking the passage of law for the benefit
of hs few surviving brother soldiers of that war.
COMMITTEES.
Mr.. YUI4EE from the Committee on the Post Office
aud Post Roads, reported bill to abolish the franking
privilege, and for other purposes.
crhis bill consists of twelve thirteen sections, the
most prominent features of which will be found in brief
synopsis 1t does not apply to Presidents any per.
whom the franking privilege has been conferred
by name
In lieu of the privilege hundred and fifty dollars in
stamps be given each member of Congress at the
OF each regular session the stamps to be
paid for out of the contingent fund o the two Houses of
rl.ix
public documents books printed by Congress, and all
other mailablc matter to be prepaid by stamps stamped
envelopes before their delivery ut any post office, and all
letters to heads of departments an members of Congress
shall be prepaid ut the mailing office except the Post Of
cc Department and the Auditor of the Treasury for that
department The Postmaster General and Assistant Post
master General Chief Clerk of the Post Office Auditor
aud Chief Clerk OF the Auditor authorized to receive
and send letters packages other maable matter
lang exclusively to official business and it il made their
duty to endorse all such under their signatures the
words official business and for every endorsement
falsely made they to forfeit and pay to
the intormer.
It is made the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury
to pay to those offices and bueaux mot excepted by the
b such amount the proper accounting officer OF the
Treasury shall credit and allow for stamps mailable
matter sent from their offices on official business.
1t SO consrues the 18th section of the law of March,
lSi5 TO prohibit the Postm aster General from max
ing contracts for the transportation of the mail with
any view to the transportation of passengers and to
strict him in making such contracts by the acceptance
of such bids only shall provide for the conveyance of
the mails repeats so much OF the lst section OF the
act of August, 1852 allowed deduction of fifty per
newspapers and periodicals paid quarterly in ad
vance,
From and after the first of July, 1852 the postage
letters not exceeding three thousand miles is to be five
cents and for all letters that distance ten cents
Letters conveyed wholly In part by sea, 10 from
distant country, without regard to distance ten cents
except in where it has bee. shall be adjusted at diff
ferent rates by postal treaty convention
Al Used lett to lp cha one nd,
ton to regular postage From the ls Of july 1889 the
rates charged upon each newspaper, periodical unseacd
circular not exceeding three in weight shall be
to any part of the United States cent and for every
additional fraction of ounce cent add
onal shall be charged the postage to be paid quarterly
in advance either at the Office sent from received ut
nothing to interfere with the present exchange by editors
of papers, &C.
Instead of the present compensation allowed to deputy
posmasters the Postmaster General is authorized to al
low them commissions not exceeding the following rates
For any not exceeding 500 forty per cent, and at
offices where the mails arrive regularly between nine
o'clock at night and five in the morning fifty per cent is
| allowed on the first hundred dollars Sums 800
and not exceeding s400, 335 per centum on any sum
$l00 and not exceeding 81, AGO. 30 per centum
any over and above the first 50, 400, l24 per
tum the amount of postage on letters and packages
received mt distributing Office, not exceeding 10 per
centum and on the money arising from newspapers,
periodicals. pamphlets, and other printed matter he may
allow commission not exceeding so per centum. Deal
in newspapers and periodicals may receive such quan
titles of either they may require by paying the postage
thereon Mt the rates regular subscribers.
Mr.. CLARK, from the Committee of Claims, to which
referred House bill for the relief of Benjamin Sayre,
reported it back without amendment and recommended
its passage.
Mr.. CLAY, from the Committee on Commerce. to
which referred the bill for the relief of Mrs. Elza
beth NJ Cock widow of Major Thomas II. Cock reported
hack substitute for the original bill, and asked its inn
mediate consideration which was agreed to- and the bill
was passed Isl ~
Mr.. IVEI,SON from the CSmmittec of Claims, TO which
were referred the following House bills for the relief Of
Enoch u. Talcatt, late collector of customs at Oswego
New York. and for the relief Of Captain A. w. Reynolds
severally reported them back without amendment and
recommended their passage.
Also, from the committee, asked TO be discharged
from the further consideration Of the reports of the Court
pf Claims adverse 10 the claims of Charles " Stewart
and Martin Il. Lewis which agreed to-
Mr.. FITCH from the Committee Printing, reported
in favor of printing the report of the Secretary of the
Treasury respecting the building OF United States court
house aud post Office at Springfield Illinois which report
concurrcd in
TO-
On motion by Mr.. DAVIS, aa
Resegced Secretary the Interior be
Senate, incompatible with tho public interest,"
the oregon and Washing
supply the Indian the
1858.
On motion by Mr.. IVElsSON,