The New York herald., 1862-01-10
House OF Representatives.

House OF Representative.
WASHINGTON, Jan. o, 1852
PAYMENT OF INTEREST CLAIMS
Mr. FKNrox (rep) OF N Y, introduced bill providing
for payment Of tho in certain cases on claims
against the government.
PUNISHMENT FRAUDS.
Mr. wAsaBrRNE (rep.) of ILL.,, introduced bill to pun
sh frauds against the government.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill
Mr. RICHARDSON (opp.) of H.. introduced bill 70 esta
blish an arsenal at Springfield, Illinois.
Tho above bills were all appropriately referred.
ABOLITION THE vRANKING PRIVILEGE.
The House proceeded the consideration Of tho bill
abolishing the frankng privilege
Mr. CoLEAx (rep) Of Ind. in explanation said that
bill this purpose has several occasions passed tn
Senate but had before received favorable action
by the Post Office Committee Of the House. now
ported unanimously, with exception by the commit
tee. This would still keep open communication
between and their constituents and
millions OF dollars the government annually, which
an item of importance times like these, when add
tional has been put tea coffee and sugar. In the
Of his he eontended that thosse who
ceive speeches and documents should pay the small
amount Of postage required In England the Queen
has pay her own postage and no man has there sug
gesed that the frankng privilege be restored it should
be abolished in this country will be restored and
the people would wonder that had existed long The
Committee the Post Office had intended to introduce
other reforms among them to collect postage the tons
printed matter which carried by the express
companies All that he asked that the bill shonld
have fair VOTE
Mr. DuELL trep) Of N. Y. produced tabular state
ment show that with the year ending with 1851 the
Of expenditures over the receipts was 81
and progressively increasing II rose in 1859 70 s. 000
600. He argued that it was their duty to make every
effort economizs in the public expenditures Accord
ing TO tie theory which the Post Office Department
was established, It should be sef sustaining. 1t had
been adhered to for sixty years, and We should
now be allowed to the principle which pre-
vailed in the earlier days Of the republic Under the
law stands at least 20 900 persons, including
posmasters whose salaries do not exceed $780, receive
and transmit letters and packages free Of postage iu
no way relative TO public business. He opposed the
rendng BILL for the that while it abolished
claimed for the substitute he had prepared at least
equality and justice, placed the members OF Con-
gress the President and Vice President and all others in
authority who have heretofore exercised the privilege
the basis, excepting however, the principal Office
OF the Office Department and deputy postmasters.
whose privilege shall be confined to official business.
Mr. VALLANirGHAx, (opp) Of Ohio, reminded the gentle
Of the fact that during the Thirty sixth Congress
special committee was appointed on the subject the
abolition Of the frankng privilege at the head Of which
Mr.. Adams, OF Massachusetts. After consuming
much time in the investigation Of the result Of its abors
he found IL simply digest of the postal laws and
pruning Of them OF their crudes and absurdlies This
was the day Of small reforms, and, the measure
pending emnenty OF the very smallest, 1t
would doubtless meet with favor. He read from the
port Of the special committee, Of which he was mem
Der, the views therein expressed against the abo-
lition Of the franking privilege maintaining, among
other things, that there should be the freest
communication between Congressman and their corstitu
ents repudatng' the principle that the Post Office De-
parmeut should be sefsusLaning and showing that the
increased were owing mainly to the increase Of
mail facilities.
Messrs Edwards, Roscoe Conkling and Pomeroy
tinued tho debate. The last named offered resolution
to recomm.t the bill To the Post Office Committee, with
instructions to report new bill, embracing the following
Frst-Abolishing the transmission Of all written and
printed matter free o postage excepting that ordered TO
be printed by Congress; and
Secondly-such matter shall be stamped "Pubic Docu
mcnts and being franked shall through the mails
free.
Messrs. WRIGHT, (Union) Of Pa, and KEIIoss (rep.)
OF Ill, opposed the bill.
Mr. CoirAx replied to obecsns urged against the
pending measure.
Mr. HrcExAN (rep) OF Pa. said the abolition Of the
frankng privilege a favorite with the secessonists
II reforms desired let gentlemen direct their atten
ton to the millions OF dollars squandered for ships,
horses and provender to the theft in general OF which,
every member has some knowledge more or less
Mr. WRIGHT TO lay the whole subject the table,
which decided the negative-51, against IS, as
folows:-
Y.as-Adrich, Alien Bailey of Pa Baxter, Biddle Blair
Of Mo- Cobb Conway, Co per, Coz crsneld Diven Dun
lap Edma1as English Gooch Goodwin Guri,y Hale
knapp Lay Laze.r Leary, Loveioy Mallory. Msrs,en'
sayfsss "n H. Rollins
T. vs,sndishsT vanaevsr Wsdsw.rsh s Wallace Wash
0s SarsWAiey ncon" Arnold Ashley Bsbbiii Bailey Of
Mass., Baker. Beaman Bingham, Blair Of Va, Blair Of
e cos conenS cavss paT
Dawes Dael Dunn, Eliot F.nton, Fe.ssnden, Prsnchoi
McKneh McPher.on Nay Mitchell, Morril q W. NIon,
Thomas q Ma's Thomas Of NJ Trs,a J,nSs Trow'
yerree, Hibbard, Walton Of Maine Walton Of Vermont
Webster, wickline, Wilson, Window, Worcester.