The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-16

HOUSE.

kasson from the committee on appropria-
tions, reported bill making appropriations
for the service of the post office department
for the year ending June 80, 1851, which was
made the special order for next Thursday.
Raymond presented petition Of the pho
tographers of the various sections of the Uni
ted States, praying for an amendment of the
excise laws relating to their business The
petition was referred TO the committe on WAYS
and means.
Raymond presented the petition of James
Hamilton and FIVE other citizens of New York
city. praying for protection to American in
dustry, by tariff on imports. The petition
was referred to the committee on ways and
means.
The House then resumed the consideration
Of the bill reported yesterday from the com
mittee on post Offices and post roads, provid.
ing that the Postmaster General NAV. when
ever IN his opinion the public service shall
require 1t, until June 3oth, 1883, deposit post
age stamps and stamped envelopes with such
persons as he may select for sale. The per.
sons with whom stamps and stamped envel.
opes are so deposited shall engage 10 sell and
circulate the same under the instruction OF
the Postmaster General, and give bonds in
such sum as the Postmaster General NAV di-
rect, with one or more sureties, conditioned
tor the faithful keeping of the stamps and
and stamped envelopes so entrusted to them,
and tor the payment TO the pos, Office depart
ment, IN such manner as directed by the post
master General, Of the monies arising from
the sale thereof
The second section provides the Postmaster
General MAJ allow to such deposiiors a com
mission not exceeding per cent on all sales
of stamps and stamped envelopes Such
fe Il 81
todians ofthe public money. and they shall
not sell stamps or stamped envelopes on ere
dit, but shall sell them invariably for coin or
United States Treasury notes, al price no,
exceeding the price fixed by law. They shall
De subject 10 oil the pains, penalties and fines
aud forfeitnres now provided in case Of re-
ceiyers and eustodans of public money and
oil Postmasters to the person 10 whom the
sale OF stamps and stamped envelopes is in.
trnsted.
Mr.. kasson moved to strike ont the second
section of the bill. The first section he said
would accomplish all that was desirable.
Mr.. Alley did not think that the amend
ment wonld improve the bill, the object Of
which was to enable the people of the South
to procure postage stamps at the current
rates without being compelled to buy them
at great expense. The bill was merely for
business purposes and to increase the revenue
of the Department. II would be no harm TO
any indiridual section of the country. The bill
was ameasure for the interest Of the Govern
ment and in behalfof freedmen and humanity.
No man appreciated more than himself the
danger Of any legislation which would bring
into this hall. those who have never acknow-
lodged their allegiance to the Government.
for he held that no men who stood in that
position should be intrusted with the power
conferred by their admission: but he was in
favor Of granting all fair measures necessary
to promote the interests of the great masses
of the people ofthe Sonth.
They have suffered everything q people
ought to suffer for their transgressions, and
while we had nothing but sympathy for the
people, as we had pity for ali mankind, he
felt that those who led the people into rebel
lion, the leaders, deserve, aud ought to re-
ceive all the torments of the damned.
Regular debate followed, after which Law.
renee, of Ohio, moved to table the bill. which
was disagreed too to l0S
The further consideration of this bill
was postponed tor two weeks.
Mr.. Alley from the Committee on Post
offices, reported bill to amend the postal
laws, which authorizes the Postmaster Gen
eral to sell postage stamped envelopes for
newspapers, or letters, at the value of the
stamps impressed upon them, and allow dead
letters to be returned free Of postage and
prepaid letters to be forwarded at the request
of the person addressed to another postoffice
without additional charge, also letters en-
dorsed "to be returned to the writer shall
be free of postage on their return. 1t also
authorizes the transportation Of mails by sail
iag vessels to and from foreign ports at
cost not exceeding sea postage. The mode
Of advertising is left with the Postmaster Gen
eral. The money order fees are l0c on $500;
25c on S400, and soc on $500. The order
shall be good for one year. The considera-
ton of this bill was postponed for two weeks.
The House resolved itself into COMMITTEES
of the Whole with Mr.. Pomeroy, Of New
\ York, in the chair, proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of the miscellaneous appropriation
bill. This measure failed to become law
during the last session.
The clerk having read the clause appropri.
ating SAC, 900 to enable the Commissioner Of
Public Buildings to properly furnish and re-
pair the Presidents House, when Mr. Ste
vens explained that heretofore before the in.
coming of new administration, certain
sum was appropriated for a similar purpose,
an item was inserted IN the miscellaneous
bill which all knew had failed to become a
law, owing to an hmenument maze 10 the Dill
on the motion of Mr.. Davis, Of Md. During
the period between Mr. Lincoln's death and
the leaving ofthe White House by Mrs. Lin
coin, who was detained there on account OF
sickness, the building was left prey to all
comers. When President johnson took pos
| session there was scarcely anything left,
spoons, linen, bedding and other articles hav.
ing been open to everybody. The steward
was responsible, but had failed in his duty.
The family had tried 70 est alous with great
lecoaOUy.