The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1868-07-10
THE OVERLAND MAILS.

imposes letter postage rates on all tran
sient printed mail matter conveyed be-
tween the western boundary of Kansas
and the eastern boundary of California,
came up in the House, June 18th. The
Senate had amended the bill to read
that the extra postage should cease Sept.
80, 1868, and the question was on its
reference 10 the Committee on Post Of
fees and Post Roads. Quite lengthy
debate ensued, Mr.. Cavanaugh leading
of, and Messrs. Chilcott, of Colorado.
Clark, OF Kansas, Ashley, of Nevada, and
Bashford, of Arizona, followed on the
same side. Mr.. Cavanaugh made a
strong argument, presenting the facts
that it was tax upon the intelligence
of the people of the territories, and that
men in the mining regions could not be-
come subscribers to eastern papers, like
those Of other communities, because
from the nature of their avocation, they
we're migratory, shifting continually
from one field of industry TO another.
Speaking of the character of the noun
tain men, he said truthtully -
"And furthermore, let me state that gentle
men are mistaken rs to the character of the
people who live In those Territories. We are
a reading people in the West. 1t is not the
fOssilIzed remnants of civilization who go to
the West, but the young men with living blood
In their veins. 1t Is the poor young men and
not the wealthy who go to the West; the
young, the middle aged, and old men of ener-
gy and pluck from New England and the
A1r SfRNn g.
tune in the development of the great resour-
ces which God IN his wisdom has hidden in our
mountains, men who create and build up new
States, who found new Commonwealths, who
add new stars to the national flag; who lay
broad and deep the foundations of civilization
IN the hitherto unknown sections of the conti-
nent; the exc and the rife lead, the church
and the Sohoul-hugse follow.
Now, Mr.. Speaker 1 ask the gentleman from
llltuois, Why the people of the Territories 1
have named should be taxed, why this embar-
60 should be laid on their intelligence. why
the Department at Washington should dis
cTiminate between the Rocky mountains and
kansas, Nebraska, Oregon, and California.
Why lay this embargo upon the keystone
which holds the arch of the nation together?
Aye, this golden keystone for almost every
mountain pass, gulch, and canyon is rich with
the precious metals, and her teeming soil
yields bounteous harveSts to repay the hus-
bandman for his industry"
Mr.. ChiIcott denouced the unjust dis
elimination against the people of the
territories, and the compulsory payment
of 96 cents per pound on mail matter,
while the postage to foreign nations was
only one fourth that amount. Mr.. Clarke
was in favor of the bill taking effect i'm
mediately, and thought that Wells, Fargo
& Co should no5 carry letters by their
express, to the exclusion of printed pos
tai matter. Mr.. Ashley, of Nevada, said
that by September the distance between
the two approaching ends of the Central
road, would be only 200 or 500 miles, re.
quiring stage transportation of mails.
| Wells, Fargo S Co. exacted So cents per
pound from California to Nevada, and
now put in the bid for carrying the mails
at 81 10000, while another party made a
bid as low as S335,OOO. He presumed if
this bill passed, the increase of mail
matter would be principally newspapers
and periodicals, but the shortened time
of staging should make amends for the
increase of quantity. lie stated further
that owing to the peculiar phraseology
of the bill, persons living east ofthe line
of Oregon, were not affected by the old
embargo. Although this is substantially
true, and probably would be so construed
by the courts, we can assure Mr.. A. that
the people of Montana have been requir.
ed TO pay the same excessive rates as
those of other territories. Mr.. Bashford
concurred in the views of the others,
and all hoped the Senate amendment to
section would pass. Mr.. Farnsworth
explained that the contract with Wells,
Fargo & Co. expired September 30; the
bids for the letter mails were already in,
and the recent high bid of Wells. Fargo
& Co. was In anticipation of the heavy
increase of printed matter which they
would be required TO carry under the
passage of this act, while the others
were made with reference to the con-
tinuance of sections l. The question was
; now whether the House was willing tc
add $780, 900 to the expenses of the De
| paItAueht- hC NoeO vas sASh SoANA S-
the motion TO refer, and lost. The House
concurIed in the Senate amendment
and the letter postage rates on printed
matter ceases Sept. 80. From a careful
reading of the debate in the Globe. we
think all the Delegates failed to reach
the root of the evil. If Wells, Fargo &
Co. comply with the terms of their con-
tract. it is certainly matter that the
people will not take exception to. If, In
addition they carry express letters a.
eight times the government rates. That