The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1860-02-16
CONGRESS-.

On Tuesday in the Senate the third section
Of the Post Office bill was amended SO as to
read: Ik3
"That interest at the rate of per cent. per
nnnum, to commence sixty days after the expi-
ration of the quarter in Which the service
was rendered. hut in no case prior to the lst
day Of May. 1859, shall be paid on all sums
found due 10 the contractors for carving the
mail and that n sum sufficient to pay the same
oe and IS hereby appropriated, out of any
money i'll the Treasury not otherwise appropri.
ated: Troridcd That such interest shall be
payable only to the contractors themselves: ::
and the same is hereby declared to be in full
of all damages, 10y reason of failure or DELAY in
payment, but no interest shall be allowed on
payments for the last quarter, endmg the 3 lst
day Of December, 1859"
The following is the section of the bill. aLol
ishing the franking privilege.
That all laws authorising the franking priv
ilcge br, md the same arc hereby repealed
from and after the first day of April next ;
provided, all persons now authorised by law to
frank, by endorsing their names and desirna
ton by which the light is conferred upon them
on all matter mailed bv them, shall be exer pt
from prepayment of postage; but the postage
on such mail matter shall be due and payable
by the person or persons to whom the same
may be directed at the point Of destination"
Mr.. Wilson introduced the following:
R'solrcd That committee be appointed to
inquire into the extent of the power and pa
tronngc Of President Of the United States in
the power Of removal and appointment to
office. and report the number of offices Of trust
and profit under the control Of the President,
excluding the army and navy, but including
such ms are under the control of the Leads Of
departments and the amount paid to those nm
pointed to such office also, further to inouire
whether any power and patronage are ex rted
{,,, tl, L., u.
election III the states or territories, aud wheth.
or nny and whnt sums Of money are paid by
persons holding offices OF trnst and profit as
contributions i'll support of elections, and to in.
qulrc whether the power and patronage are
used by heads Of departments over subordi.
mates, mechanics and contractors. Also the
allowance made TO contractors Of supplies and
those employed to purchase government cites.
vessels, engines, &C., and report by bill or 9th.
erwisc.
The following veto message was sent to the
Senate Oh Monday:
"WAsnINGToH, Feb 6, 1860.
ITO The Senate of tie UniicI States:
'On the last dny Of the last session of Con-
gress a resolution had passed both Houses "in
relation to tic removal Of distinctions to navi
CATION Mt the mouth OF the Mississippi river. -
was presented to Inc for approval. have re-
tanned this resolution becnrse it was prescnteJ
to Inc at period when il was impossible to
give the subject that examination to which il
appeared to he entitled. need not repeat the
view on this point presented in the introduc
tory portion Of my message To the Senate ol
the Sd inst.
"ln addition, would merely desire that al.
though at different dosIods sums amounting in
the aggregate to six hundred and ninety thous-
and dollars have been appropriated by Con
gress for the purpose Of removing the bar and
distractions at the mouth of the Missssippi
yet it is TO be acknowledged that this money
has been expended with but little if any pruc.
tical benefit to its navigation.
JAMES BUCHANAN.