Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-08

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ted was to clear the United States Of an
claim for damages, and pay the interest |
those only who could release the Government
Mr. Hall wanted to know whether the inteTe,
was confined TO the deficiency Of last yesri
Mr.. Hunter said yes.
Mr.. Hall thought it would set q danqerou
precedent. The Postmaster General goes Oh
making contracts just as though ConRTsss hal
made an appropriation.
Mr.. Hunter replied that the Postmaster Gen
eral is compelled by law to make these contracts
The Postmaster General did not pledge thu
Government to pay interest. Congress alloweC
it in lien Of damages.
Aitsr further debate, a triAing modification
to the amendment was adopted.
Mr.. ToOnbs moved an amendment 10 include
sub>contTactors, who actually performed the
service, in the benefits Of the bill. Adopted.
Mr.. Hunter moved to reconsider on The
ground that the Department did not know the
sub-contractors.
Mr.. Davis thought the amendment eminently
just and proper
hr. TOombs said he wanted those who did
the work to get the money. He did not want
TO give it to those who prOwled about the De-
PaItment and get the contracts and sub let them
to honest men who did the work.
Messrs. Rice and Fitch opposed the amend,
ment.
Mr.. Doolittle said the amendment would give
the Department endless trouble in deciding on
the conflicting claims Of contractors aud sub
contractors. The contractor was the man who
suffered the damage, for he had furnished the
means to carry on the service when the Gov.
eminent failed to do so.
The amendment was recOnsidered
The amendment, after further debate, was
rejected, ayes II, nays 80.
The third amendment provides for the abol-
lshment of the franking privilege after May lst,
but that all persons now entitled to the privilege
are exempted from the prepayment of postage
Mr.. Hamlin said the amendment had no
business there.
A difference of opinion on this point led to
defeat of the bill at the last session.
Mr.. Tmmbull denounced the abuse Of the
frsnking privilege He wanted to see the whole
system abolished, and move to strike out the
laet clause, which would saddle the expense
upon constituent who received letters OF doc
uments.
Mr.. Fessenden advocated the amendment
as it stood.
Mr.. Rice said the present object was to pay
the honest debts Of the Government, and the
Senate should not embarrass action by intro
dueing subjects not germane thereto.
MIR. T0ombs said the main contractors had
no more claim than any other class of the
public creditors. Now was the best time to
get this reform through. This privilege
which costs the department now 81, 800 coo
per annum, ought to be abolished. 1t was
not proper that members who wrote to con-
stituents on public business should bear the
burden themselves. Let the persons who
are benefited by the correspondence pay for
it
Mr.. Hale moved TO amend by changing the
time to April. If it extended to the first of
May it would be after the Charleston Conven-
ton, and the Democrats would have benefits
not enjoyed by the Republicans who do not
meet in Chicago till June. Laughter.)
Mr.. Toombs accepted the amendment.
Mr.. Simmons opposed the amendment as
having been improperly introduced. If the
proposition had so much grit, it might carry
itself through.
Mr.. Collamer said there were special laws
requiring the Treasury Department to pay
over seven hundred thousand dollars to the
Post Office Department, On account of the
transposition Of free matter. If the amend
ment passed, those laws still existed and the
Treasury would not be relieved.
The subject was one requiring preparation
and examination, and ought to be considered
by itself.
Mr., Davis advocated the adoption of the amend.
mept now. They could then 60 on and perfect the
system.
The amendment proposed first: the reform Of an
abuse, and secondly the change Of policy of the
administering departments.
The abuse Of the privilege was in the burdening
of the mails with large mass Of documents.
Mr. COllamer explained that previous 10 1851
the Postmaster General was limited in giving out
contracts by the receipts Of the Department but
when three cent hostage was established in 1851 il
was provided that the mail scrvics should not be
reduced. The consequence was that the Postmas-
Ter General had Unlimited discretion, and could il
be choose increase the expenses to twenty or
thirty million.
Mr.. Colamer moved an amendment, repeal
ing the Act of lS47 and 1851 appropriating
100000 annually for the use of the POstofiCe
Department.
Mr.. Irumbull said persons writing to members
on business could enclose stamps. He pointed
out the abuses likely to arise from the adoption
of proviso exempting members from the pay
ment of postage. He wanted the whole system
wiped out.
After further debate. in which Messrs.
ToOmbs, Collamer aud Haun participated, a
vote was taken on Mr.. Trumbulrs motion to
take out the Proviso, and it was rejected, yeas
"A, nays 80
Mr.. Slidell moved to postpone the bill till I
o'clock. Carried
The Senate then went into executive session.
Adjourned.