Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-01
soUruEaN o~0scnEss.

NANNr a. ANN my 1A~eA N1HNAAlANs
After presenting the foregoing, Mr.. Shorte
said be hoped that the resolution would no
. excite discussion at the present time. II ther'
should be differences Of opinion be did no
, think that il would be to any material extent
The practical question for our consideration
is, what shah be done With The public lands
The ordinances passed BY the conventions Of
Louisiana and Mississippi have claimed foi
these States all the public laads belng within
those States. Georgia and South Carolina are
now the only original States in this Confede-
racy, within which there are no public lands
/ trust, however, that other States may join
US at some future day. The opinion prevails,
70 a large extent, that Il will be the best pol
icy to surrender to the States, in which those
public lands are situated, all snch territory.
As a source OF revenue to the Government,
they cannot be relied upon. The expense OF
disposing Of them would soon exhaust all the
profits arising from their sale. Upon consul-
tation with the chairman of tie committee on
public lands, I have deemed it expedient to In
troduce this resolution, in order that the CON-
mittee nav inquire into the best course to
adopt in reference 70 the public lands, and to
request them to report at their convenience.
Mr.. Wright, Of Georgia, said the resolution
offered by the gentleman from Alabama (Mr.
shorter was in relation TO a matter Of grave
Importance, and had been the subject Of re-
lection and examination in the committee on
public lands. Of which be was a member II
The resolution is submitted to the committee,
be was satisfied it would receive full and care
full consideration. He also favored the ref
erenee TO the committee on public lands.
TIE resolution was accordingly referred.
Mr.. Chestnut, Of South Carolina, presented
a memorial from George Fox and John C..
Thornton, citizens Of Georgia, on the subject
Of patents, which be moved, without reading,
should be referred to the committee on patents
referred.
Mr.. WauI, Of Texas, offered a memorial
from Henry Winslow, a citizen Of New Mex
leo. Without being read, the memorial was
referred to the committee on Territories.
Mr.. Waul also presented a communication
from the President Of the State convention OF
Texas, whiehson motion was referred to the
committee on Indian affairs.
Mr.. Raett, Of South Carolina, said be rose
merely TO state to Congress that the labors Of
the COMMITTEES on the permanent Constitution
bad very nearly been broughtto a close, a por-
ton Of the permanent Constitution had been
placed in the banda Of the printer a few days
ago, and he hoped by Wednesday morning
next to be able to lay The whole of that Con-
s~titution before this body.
The President said the next business was
the consideration Of the bill in relation to pub
lie printing.
Mr.. T. r. r. Cobb expressed the desire that
that bill should lie over a day, as the commit
tee were DESTROYS Of having another interview
with the public printer before the bill zane up
for consideration.
The bill was accordingly postponed.
Mr.. MeumiDger presented z communication
from Mr. Simpson Bebb, Of South Carolina,
Offering q site for an sfmory. It was referred
to the committee on military affairs.
On motion Of Mr.. BarnWell, Congress went
into secret session.
The annexed report and bill were adopted In
secretsession on the 21st Of February, and Sc
crecy removed to-day;
Mr.. Chiffon, from the committee on postal
affairs, moved the following report:
The COMMITTEES on postal affairs having con-
sidered Of the duties assigned them, have in
5trueted me to submit the following report, AID
the bill accompanying the same:
The committee have mainly directed their
inquiries TO the question whether, without ma
terial inconYelince 10 the public, the postof-
fce Department of this ConfedeTscy can be
made self-sustaining.
The committee find from the latest and most
reliable means Of information Of which they
have been able to avail themselves, that the
excess Of expenditure over the receipts Of this
department ia the six States composing this
CoHfederacy, for the fiscal year ending Both
June, 1883, was one million six hundred and
sixty thousand five hundred and ninety five
dollars and eighty-three cents. They have not
been able to obtain the report Of such receipts
and expenditures for the last fiscal year, but
they presume the above furnishes an approxi-
nation sufficiently accurate for the predicaiion
of oT present action.
To provide for this deficit, your committee
would suggest that the rates Of postage NAV
be increased, as proposed by the accompany
ing bill. By this bill, they estimate an in
crease Of receipts spproXimating five hundred
and s~eventy-eight thousand eight hundred and
seventy-four dollars and eighty-three cents.
They believe that a saving can be effected
by a change in the mode Of letting out mail
contracts, adopting what is usually called
"the star BID system.n Providing all our safe
guards for the celebrity, certainty, and security
Of the mails, but without other restrictions as
to the mode Of transportation. In this way,
your committee are satisfied that the expense
Of mail transportation may be reduced, say
thirty-three and one-third per cent. upon the
present cost, say six hundred and nineteen
thousand and thirty-three dollars.
They are further Of opinioR that there
should be ! discontiHuance Of numerous routes,
the cost Of which is greatly in dispropordon
to their convenience, and the receipts Of the
post Offices supplied by thsm. In this way,
they believe a saving Of one-tenth Of the pres
ent cost Of transportation may be attained
say two hundred and six thousand three hun
bred and forty-four dollars.
The service upon many OF the routes NAV,
without material detriment, be changed-dailv
routes reduced TO tri-Weekly, ETC., at an esti-
mated reduction Of say two bundred'and six
thousand three hundred and forty-four dollars.
They would also recommend the abolishing
a number Of minor post Offices, which occa-
sion considerable expense, without correspond
ing profit or convenience. In this yav, a saw
ing to the department might be readily re-
cured to the amount Of cay City thousand dol
lars.
These sums added, say BY increased receipts
BY reason Or postage .s5-sS74 So
By saving, as above Indicated, totsl.-.....- i,0sl ~ %
Gso.Fs5 81
Present excess Of expenditures erreceipts 81 $50. sec 50
Your committee are Of the opinion that
steps should be Immediately taken to procure
hostage stamps Of the denominations Of two,
five, and twenty cents; that these stamps will
be sufficient to meet the wants OF tae Depart
mentfo the present.
They would further suggest that Immediate
steps should be taken for procuring a supply
of locks and keys for the mail service, and
for post Office blanks, such as are now in use.
They would further recommend that all the
mail contracts within this 0onfederaoy be re-
let at az early a day as practicable; and until
they are Te-let the existing contracts remain
In force, this Government becoming RESPONSE
bic 70 all such contractors from the sth day
Of February, 1881.
Your committee are unable TO suggest any
plan until further arrangements shall rave
been made for the transmission Of mail mat
ter to and from other Governments. They be-
lieve, however, that until postal treaties can
be made, eKpedients arising from the necessi-
ties Of the public, will readily suggest them
selves which will, in a great measure. remedy
the Inconvenience. The widespread ramih-
cations Of the express companies would furnish
valuable auKiliGries for communication be-
yond the Gonfederacy, the mail matter bear
ing the stamps Of each Government through
which it may pass by said express.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
W. P. CHIFFON, Chairman.
AN ACT, Toibe.entitled an act to prescribe
the rates Of postage in the Confederate States
Of America, and FOR other purposes.
SECTION l.. The Congress- Of the Confede-
rate States Of America do enact, That from
and after such period as the Postmaster Cen
eral may by PROCLAMATION, annOunce, there
shall be charged the following rates Of postage,
to-wit For every single letter sealed, and for
every letter ID manuscript or paper Of any
kind upon which Information shall be asked
or communicated, in writing, or by marks
or signs, conveyed in the mail for any distance
places within the Confederate States
Of America, not exceeding Eve hundred miles,
cents and for any distance exceeding Ave
miles, double that rate and every
letter or parcel, not exceeding half ounce in
shall be deemed a single letter, and
every additional weight Of half an ounce, or
additional weight Of less than half an ounce
shall be charged with an additional single post
age; and all packages containing other than