The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-02-09
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xxxvIth CoNGREss--Ist SESSION.
WAsHINaToH, February 8.

SENATE.--The Senate met at one o'clock
Mr.. Davis's resolutions were postponed till
Monday next.
Mr.. Green presented petition from the
mail contractors, asking the immediate pass
age of the bill for their relief, with the inter.
est left out, to be settled by future legislation
Mr.. Grimes presented the credentials of Jas
Harlan, Senator from Iowa, from the 4th Of
March, 1861.
Mr.. Pearce introduced q joint resolution, au
thorizing the Secretary of the Interior to make
arrangements for tho dedication of the statue
of Washington on the 22d of February next,
and appropriating 81, 900 therefor. Laid over.
A number of reports and petitions we're
presented.
Mr.. Davis made report from the Commit
toe on Printing, recommending tho printing
of 10000 copies of the reports Of Majors Nor
dacai and Delafield of observations in the
Crimea.
Mr.. Hunter asked how much they would
cost.
Mr.. Davis replied $5O,S0O. If they cost
double that amount they were we'll worth the
expenditure.
Mr.. Hunter moved to reduce the number Of
copies. Rejected-yeas rs nays 2s.
The report Of the Committee was rejected
rs to 81. A motion to reconsider was lost by
o large majority.
Mr.. Fitch made report from the Committee
on Printing, recommending the printing OF
fifteen thousand copies of the report of the
Commissioner of Patents. Laid over.
Mr.. Haun introduced q resolution instruct.
ing the Postoffice Committee to inquire into the
expediency of establishing line of steamers
between San Francisco and China via the
Sandwich Islands. Adopted.
The Postofiice Deficiency Bill was taken up,
the question being on the amendment offered
BY Mr.. Collamer, to repeal the acts of 1847 and
1851, appropriating S7Oo, 900 for the expenses
of free matter. Mr.. Collamsr withdrew the
amendment
Mr.. Powell discussed the amendment of
the Finance Committee, to abolish the frank
ing privilege, regarding this as the very time
and place to effect reform. The privilege had
been abused for partisan and private purposes,
the franking of electoneering documents, and
letters for friends. The effect also of the
amendment would be great saving to the
public printing expenses, amounting to $780,
600 per annum.
Mr.. Simmons offered an amendment, re-
quiring tho prepay Of printed matter.
The motion to reconsider was agreed to after
q colloquy between Messrs Simmons and
Toombs.
Mr.. Simmons withdrew his motion and Mr..
Toombs renewed 1t.
Mr.. Simmons suggested that the amend
ment be 80 modified as to require prepayment
on printed matter by all persons.
Mr.. Toombs accepted the modification.
Mr.. Douglas thought it unwise to cucumber
the bill with such legislation as was proposed.
1t would delay action and keep contractors out
of their money. He was ready to cooperate
on separate bill.
Mr.. Foote was in favor of abolshing the
franking privilege, but was opposed to It's in
PRODUCTION into this bill as out OF time and out
Of place.
Mr.. Hale ssid there was great want of
efficiency in the mail service. Express COM
panies now carried one-heif tho correspond
ence between cities, because they did SO more
rapidly and safely than The department He
would mako the revenue Of the department
subject to draft of the Postmaster General,
and give him discretion In establishing routes
and making contracts according to the fnan-
cial condition Of the department. The pay
ment of the honest debts of the country to tho
contractors had nothing TO do with the frank
ing privilege.
Mr.. Green said he was in favor of abolish
ing the franking privilege, but did not think
this the proper place for its introduction.
Mr.. Gwinn was willing to make the Post
office Department self sustaining if it could be
done with regard to the interests Of the country;
ne wanted it enabled to get proper mail facili.
ties for the whole country; therefore, he would
vote to abolish the franking privilege.
Mr.. Green moved to reconsider the vote by
which the proviso exempted those now enti-
lied to the franking privilege from the prepay
nent of postage was agreed.
Mr.. johnson, of Arkansas, opposed tho en-
'arrassing of the bill with the proposition 10 |
Ibolish the frankiDg privilege
After further debate Mr.. Toombs's amend |
nent, modified SO as to require prepayment on |
newspapers, was agreed to, by twenty eight to
wenty- six.
Mr.. Trumbull moved to strike out the whole
,roviso as amended. Carried.
The question recurred on the amendment to
'bolish the fraDkiDg privilege.
Mr. Summons moved that prepayment on
4ll printed matter, except newspapers and
periodicals. be required. Rejected.
The question on the original amendment
vas rejected by 81 to 81.
The next amendment was to appropriat 10
ereafter the revenues of the Postotiice De.
,artment for the use thereof. This was to en-
bio the Department in contingencies like the
resent to use the revenues. Rejected.
Mr.. Brown offered an amen dment that the
uperintendent of Pablo Printing be required
9 procure the printing of the Postofioe blanks
fter thirty days notice, and award the con
'act to the lowest bidder. Agreed to.