The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1860-02-16


WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, P. M.-SENATE.-
Mr.. Mason from the Harper's Ferry Com
mittee reported a resolution that the Presi-
dent of the Senate issue warrants for the ar
rest of Sanborn, John Brown, ir., and Red
path, who had refused to obey the summons
of the Committee to testify and, bring them
before the Senate to answer for contempt.
Mr. Hale said he would vote against it..
He believed there was no power in the Sen
ate to compel the attendance of these men.
The resolution was adopted by yeas 46
nays 4. Those voting in the negative were
Messrs. Bingham, Hale, Sumner and Toombs.
Messrs Seward and King both voted affirm
atively.
Various reports, petitions, and bills of a
private character were presented.
On motion of Grimes, Mr.. Davis's resolu-
tions were made the special order for Mon
day next.
MIR. Hunter moved to postpone the prior
order and take up the Post Office deficiency
bill. Carried.
The House having refused to concur in
the amendments of the Senate abolishing
the franking privilege, Mr.. Hunter moved
the Senate recede from its amendments
He was unwilling to enforce legislation on
the other House. Agreed to. Yeas AZ
nays IL.
Mr.. Toombs moved to reconsider. He
was opposed to the Senate receding. In the
debate in the House, Il strong feeling was
expressed averse to the franking privilege,
but they were opposed to its being incorpo-
rated in the appropriation bill. Now, in
this bill there was no general legislation.
The motion to reconsider was lost, yeas IA,
nays AZ.
AF- ~ ] al, ]
with the consideration of the bill to abolish
the franking privilege. Agreed to.
The first amendment by the Committee
on the Post office and Post roads, was that the
abolishing of the franking privilege should
not apply to those to whom it was granted
by same.
Mr.. Gwin moved an amendment that dur
ing the session of Congress, and for thirty
days before the meeting, and for ten days
after the adjournment, the President, Vice
President, Heads of Departments, and men,
bers of Congress, should be allowed to send
free mail matter not over OF in weight
Mr.. Gwin said the object of the committee
was to abolish the franking privilege-if
further legislation was necessary, it could be
done at another time.
Mr.. Mason approved the amendment.
Mr.. Doolittle wanted to relieve the Post
Office Department of the heavy business i'm
posed upon it.
Mr.. Hammond moved to strike out all the
bill, except the few lines abolishing the
franl1ing privilege. He did not advocate it
as a measure of economy. He believed that
if you ask for contract with the franking
privilege abolished, you could not get one
mite of a reduction. The railroad and
steamboat lines will take every cent that
can be got from the Government, and ii
made no difference whether they carried a
ton or truck load.
Mr.. Davis thought it might be well not
to take the franking privilege from the Ex-
Presidents or their widows.
Mr.. Wigfall explained that the bill, il
not amended, effected this.
Mr.. Hammond's motion was carried.
Mr.. Mason moved to add that hereafter
nothing passed free by mail. Carried.
Mr.. Powell moved to amend that persons
now entitled to the franking privilege be
excused from prepayment, to take effect on
the 18th of April.
Mr.. Iyerson opposed this.