The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-03

notice of a few days ago
The post office appropriation bill was then
taken up.
After much discussion, the third section was
stricken out, and in lieu thereof, was inserted a
section providing that the sum of So, 000, 900 be
appropriated from the Treasury, to meet the de-
| fciencies of the fiscal year commencing July
l, 1859, but that the Postmaster shall in no
event expend or incur any liabilities whatever
over the appropriations for the current fiscal
year. Adopted.
| 1t was also agreed that the Postmaster Gen
eral be required to report at the commence
ment of each session of Congress the routes
| upon which the expenses might be reduced, if
| the service were performed with a view solely
to the transmission Of the mails and that the
mail lettings shall be to the lowest bidder, hav-
ing reference to the mode of conveyance, celer-
ity, certainty, and security.
| The next amendment from the Finance
Committee provides that the number of route
agents, express route agents, local agents, and
mail messengers, shall not exceed the number
employed on the 3Oth day Of June, 1858; nor
shall the whole amount paid for agents and
| messengers exceed the sum of 100000.
| Mr.. Hunter moved to substitute $500. 900
which was agreed to.
Mr.. Wilson offered an amendment reducing
| the appropriations for advertising from $40. 900
to $4,000 for mail bags from $4,000 to
| 100000; for blanks, from $4,000 to SAC, 0O0
for wrapping paper, from $4,000 to $4,000.
Mr.. W. stated that he had good information
upon which to found statement that at the
last session the appropriation for blanks, al
though it was stricken out by both branches,
was managed to be kept in the appropriation
bill in order to give contract of $4,000 to a
newspaper editor in Pennsylvania, upon which
$4,000 was clear profit, and that profit was
shared with the editors of Democratic news
paper in Washington, another newspaper in
Philadelphia, and certain other politicians.
Mr.. Mason called upon Mr.. Wilson for the
source of his information.
Mr.. Wilson said Mr.. Rice, the publisher of
the Pennsylvania, had stated it as a matter of
complaint to member of Congress this session,
and furthermore stated that the President
knew of the arrangement when it was made.
Mr.. Cameron said he supposed these facts
were well known to everybody, except, perhaps,
the gentleman from Virginia Mr. Mason
He presumed his colleague knew something
| of it.
! Mr.. Bigler said, whatever wrong or fault there
was in this matter belonged entirely to Con
| gress. The price of blanks was entirely too
high but the expenditure was made strictly
according to law. He knew that the Public
Printer had complained that he had not received
this particular work, and he knew, also that
there was a contest for it +; but he did not be-
lieve there was ground for these charges
Mr.. Collamer inquired if Mr.. Rice was per-
mitted to retain the whole pay for the work
during the time of the contract?
Mr.. Bigler knew nothing to the contrary
Mr.. Johnson, of Arkansas, was satisfied that
this little matter for the blanks had suficed to
defeat the public printing bill passed by the
Senate at the last session, and would vote for
the reduction proposed. At the same time, he
did not believe that there was any foundation
for the intimation thrown out against the Pres
ident and other high officers.
Mr. Cameron gave notice that he should in
troduce resolution of inquiry on the subject
The amendment offered by Mr.. Wilson was
agreed to.
MIR. Wilson offered an amendment providing
that the contracts for stamps and stamped en-
velopes shall be given to the lowest bidder
after due public notice, saving the rights of
contractors under existing contracts.
After discussion, the amendment was agreed
to-yeas 30, nays II.
Mr. Bell offered as an amendment the bill
to abolish the franking privilege, and for other
purposes, which had already passed the Senate.
Mr.. ToOmbs moved to strike out so much as
raises the rates of postage. He was in favor
of increasing rates of postage but if they III
sisted upon that, he was afraid it would defeat
the rest.
Mr.. Hamlin advocated the amendment pro-
posed by Mr.. Toombs.
Mr.. Yulee said he would accept the amend
ment as modification, and strike out so much
of the bill as concerns the post routes and
raising the rates of postage.
| HOUSE.
Mr.. Reagan made personal explanation
relative to dialogue recently between himself
and Mr.. Bryan, his colleague, involving a ques-
ton of veracity. After the colloquy had been
continued some time this morning, Mr.. Reagan
asked whether Mr. Bryan intended to impute
dishonorable motives to him. If so, then they
would know where they stand
Mr.. Bryan, in reply, said, among other things,
if his colleague was aggravated, he knew where
he could right the wrong. He should not shell
ter himself under any constitutional provision
of his State. He responsible here and
elsewhere for what he said.
Mr.. Reagan charged his colleague with hav-
ing sought to place him in the light of not be-
ing good Southern man. But he (Reagan)
had always professed to be national man,
repudiating all sectional hereses and fanati-
cism, whether coming from North or South
He would even resist all viootions of the moral
or statute law to build up political or sectional
parties. He had once gone through the ordeal,
and was ready again to meet the people Of
Texas on this issue.
Much excitement prevailed during this col
loquy.
The select committee appointed at the last
session to examine the account and conduct Of
General Culom, former Clerk of the House,
acquit him of any corrupt or dishonest doings
in the discharge of his duties. They have re-
ported the facts connected with every charge in
which an investigation was asked, with atten-
| ton.
In some cases, the committee thought, much
care might have been exercised but it amount
ed to nothing more than failure to correct
pre-existing abuses.
The House took up the naval appropriation
bill, and concurred in Mr.. Sherman's amend
ment, reducing the appropriation of 81, 100000
for repairs, armament, and equipment; fuel for
steamers, TO 81 100000, &c.-yeas 1872, nays &c.
| The amendment striking out the appropria-
| ton for navy yards, and appropriating instead
thereof for repairs aud preservation of navy
yards, the following sums, viz Portsmouth, N.
H., $4,000; Boston, $4,000; New York,
$4,000 Philadelphia, $4,000; Washington,
$4,000; Norfolk, 500, 900; Pensacola, $4,000;
Mare Island, $4,000; and Sackett's Harbor
81, 000-was carried, by yeas 100, nays 62. The
appropriation Of S26,880 for the publication of
the American Nautical Almanac was not
stricken ont, by yeas II, nays ll3, The bill
was then passed
| Mr.. Phelps, Of Missouri asked leave to report