Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-09
HOUSE.

HOUSE.
Bills were introduced and referred as
follows: Mr.. Paine-Granting lands of
the State of Wisconsin in aid of the rail-
road from Milwaukee to Lake Superior
via Green Bay, Wis.
BY Mr.. Clark, of Kansas-Explanator
of the act of March 2, 1857, for relief
of inhabitants of cities and towns on
public lands,
By Mr.. Townsend-To reduce internal
taxes, providing that no duty shall be
imposed upon any succession which was
vested in. possession or expectancy prior
to the passage of the internal revenue
bill of July Is, 1866, but no reclamation
TO be allowed where any such duty has
been already paid.
Mr.. Orth gave notice that the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs would wait till
Tuesday to call the attention of
the House to the report on Psraguayan af-
fairs for fioal consideration.
Mr.. Stevenson presented memorial
from the Cincinnati Chamber of Com
MERGE against the construction of the
Newport and Cincinnati bridge on the
present plan as Obstructing navigation on
the Ohio, and praying for early action to
require a modification of the plan.
On motion of Mr.. Porter the House
agreed-94 to 92-to adjourn over from
to-day until Monday.
On motion of Mr. Schenck the tariff
bill and internal revenue bill of last ses-
sion were taken from the Calendar Of the
s IL N
to the Committee on Ways and Means.
The Franking Privilege.
The House then resumed cOnsidera-
ton of the bill to revise and consolidate
postal laws, the pending question being
the amendment offered by Mr.. Farnsworth
just before adjournment yesterday abolish
ing the franking privilege.
Mr.. Porter advocated the amendment
as one which would put stop to existing
abuses of the franking privilege without
preventing the publication of official docu-
ments.
Mr.. Van Wyck opposed the amend
mems as retaining the privilege in its
most Objectionable feature, the publica-
ton of documents of no general interest
and the incumbeling of mails with them
and as taking out of the Treasury $50, 900
each session to be paid to members for
their own private correspondence.
Mr.. Maynard opposed the abolition of
the franking privilege.
Mr.. FaTnsWOrth advocated ana explain
ed the amendment. He said the stamps
for Senators and members would not
90 into their possession. but would re-
main in the custody of the Secretary of
the Senate and the clerks of the House,
who would be responsible for their proper
use. Its effect would be to prevent the
abuse of the frankiDg privilege which
was mainly through the counterfeiting Of
the members autographs. The stamps
could be used nowhere else than in Wash
ingtOn, and there would be noOppOrtunity
for couuterfeiting. He believed it useless
to enact a simple abolition of the frank
ing privilege, for it would not be agreed
10 by the Senate, and the question would
| at the close of the session be in the same
condition as it now is.
Mr.. Dawes opposed the amendment as
presenting all that was OdiOus' and liable
10 abuse in the ranking privilege as it
existed.
Mr.. Hill opposed the amendment and
insisted on the pure and simple abolition
of the franking privilege.
Mr.. CobuTn sustained the amendment,
| except that section of it allowing Sena-
| atOrs and members hundred dollars each
for their own correspondence.
Mr.. Wood opposed the amendment,
| which was simply mode OF transferring
the shower of abuses of the members
themselves to the Executive Department.
| Mr.. Garfield favored the amendment
| as having the advantage of putting into a
definite and known quantity, a certain
item of public expense.
Mr.. Ferry moved to strike out the sec,
| ton allowing Senators end members q
| hundred dollars for their correspond
ence.
The debate was closed by the previous
question and the house proceeded &c
vote.
Mr.. Ferry's amendment to strike ou
the hundred dollars section was agreed to-
Mr.. Van Wyck moved TO strike ou
all after the first section. REJECTED.
The quest IN was then taken on Mr..
| taTnSW OTtu dHeuuACBG 90 oLhChuOu
and it was rejected-yeas 10, nays 1O2:
Mr.. Hill moved to strike out all the sec
lions of the bill relating to the frankinl
privilege, being equivalent to Its abOli
i1on. The motion was agreed TO- Aye
81, nays 70.
Mr.. Hill moved an additional section
declaring that no person should hereafte
exercise the Thanking privilege.
Mr.. Walker moved an amendment al
lowing the free interchange of newspaper
ard magazines, and the circulation o,
weekly papers within the county where
published.
General Amnesty.
MIR. Butler, of Massachusetts, gave no
tice that he would on Tuesday next ash
the House to consider tie general amnesty
bill.
The death of Robert Ridgeway, late
member from Virginia, was announced,
and remarks eulogistic of his character
were made by Messrs. Mckenzie, May
nsrd, Brooks of New Yolk, and Booker.
The House tken, at 1920, Adjourned til
Monday.