Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-08
FORTY-FIRST CONGRESS
This Afternoons Proceedings.
THURSDAY, December 8.

a mineral land fund, and for other purposes.
Mr.. Pomeroy introduced bill amendatory OF
the presumption laws.
Mr.. Wilson introduced bill 10 prohibit assess
ments Of money for political or other purposes,
upon government employees.
Mir. Ferry offered a bill authorizing the ap-
pOintment of an additional assistant engineer
for the heating and yentila,iDg apparatus of
the Senate. Passed.
Mr.. Abbott introduced bill to establish the
western judicial district OF North Carolina.
Mr.. Pomeroy introduced Joint resolution pro-
posing as an amendment TO the Consultation
new article comforting female suffrage.
MIR. Ross offered a resolution that the Com
mittee on Indian Affairs be directed to consider
the expediency Of susPending the issuing OF
patents for lands in the Miami reservation IN
Kansas until the charges of fraud in connection
Herewith have been investigated. Laid over.
Mt. Morton introduced bill TO provide that all
members OF Congress shall be by ballot.
Mr.. Summers resolution in reference TO the
condition of the colored schools OF Washington
and Georgetown, was modified so as to call upon
the Secretary of the Interior for the intorma-
ton, and was then passed.
The Senate then went into executive session.
AT LEO p. m. the Senate resumed Its legisla-
tive session. and the standing committees were
announced; and after another short executive
session the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Paine (wis.) introduced bill granting land TO
The State Of Wisconsin TO aid in the construc-
ton OF railroad from MILWAUKEE, 10 Lake Sd
perlOr. Referred TO Committee on Public
Lands.
The Speaker laid before the House a commu-
| nication from the President enclosing report
from the Secretary OF State, in relation to fees
of consular agents. Referred 10 Committee on
| Foreign Affairs,
Mir. Townsend PA introduced bin TO re-
| duce internaI taxes and for other purposes. Re
| ferred to the Committee on Ways and Means.
| MIR. Van Trump (Ohiol introduced a resolu-
| ton, which was adopted, requesting the Secre-
amount of money had been covered into the
| Treasury by the sale of vessels and war
| transports. and by what authority such sales
| had been made; also, what amount had been
| received from the sale of captured ordnance.
| and what amount had been covered into the
| Treasury from the sale OF captured cotton; also
| what amount of money has been paid out on ac-
| count of cotton so sold, and what amount now
| remains in the Treasury from such sales.
| Air. Banks Mass introduced bill for the
| regulation OF labor in the navy yards of the
| United States and the compensation therefor.
| Referred to Committee on Naval Affairs.
Mr.. UTth, Ond.,I from the Committee on
| Naval Affairs, gave notice that that committee
would, on Tuesday, the 10Th instant, call the
| attention of the House to the report made by
| that committee on Paraguayan affairs.
Mr.. Negley pa introduced resolution TO
have printed the proceedings at the various
| national cemeteries on Memorial Day. Re-
| ferred to the Committee on Printing.
| ON motion of Mr.. Schenck, lOhio,l the Com
mttee OF the Whole was discharged from the
consideration OF the tariff and internal tax bill.
and they were referred to the Committee OF
| Ways and Means.
| adjourn to-day il be to meet on Monday next.
| MIR. Farnsworth (lll) opposed the motion,
| and demanded the ayes and noes.
The motion was adopted-ayes %, noes %.
/ The House then in the morning hour, resu med
| the consideration of the Post Office bill, which
| came over from yesterday.
| Mr.. MAYNARD offered an amendment, which
was adopted, extending the Thanking privilege
| to the widow of ex-President James h. Polk.
| Mr.. Farnsworth presented as a substitute for
the thirteenth chapter in relation to the frank
| ing privilege an amendment abolishng uhe
ranking privilege from and after July LIST, Is, /;
newspapers, periodicals, and magazines as eK-
| changes between publishers 20 go free, and also
| weekly newspapers within the county in which
| they are actually published.
Ii also provides that the Postmaster General
| shall furnish each head OF the department, the
| secretary of the Senate, and the clerk OF the
| House 18th stamping machines, with which to
| stamp Official documents, including speeches OF
| Senators and memberS-which stamped matter
| will be charged against the several departments
by the Post Office Department. 1t also gives TO
/ each Senator and member 500 per session for
the purpose OF purchasing stamps for their cor
| respondence.
| The amendment was discussed by Messrs
| Potter, Maynard, and others.
| Mr.. Mckenzie (ta.) said he had last session
| voted for the abolition OF the Thanking priyi-
| lege, but he confessed that he regretted that
| action. He could explain practically how this
company which was paid for carrying the mails,
| and 1t would not cost the government any more
| or any less whether the amount OF mail matter
| carried was a ton or pound. They were paid
| stipulated price to carry the mails, without
| reference to bulk. The South did not want
| the ranking privilege abolished. What they
! wanted was information in the cheapest and
| best form, and they could get vast amount
| of information by the use of the Thanking
| privilege, which assisted in the sending OF
documents all over the country. He had voted
| for the abolition last year because the petit
| tons sent out by the Post Office Department
| had been signed by large number of his con-
stituents, but from subsequent inquiry he was
satisfied that out OF the 120, 900 people he repre-
| sented not more than 900 were in favor OF its
4 abolition. This thing of aboshing the pryi-
lege was, IN his estimation, all a humbug, and
| no one expected that the Senate would ever act
upon the House bill. The speaker and every
| member here knew that il was not the intention
Of the Senate TO pass that bill. for every time it
| call up some other special matter. ILaughterI
| He would repeat that he regretted having
| voted for the bill last session, but IL was
because he was new member, and did
| not fully understand il. Ii was very
/ foolish movement and he was one OF
the tools laughter who had voted for TIE meas
| ure. The amount Of mail matter sent by the
| members OF the Senate and House could not in
the least affect the great mail system of the
| United States. He was satisfied members had
voted for the measure without due consdera-
ton. and did not think it advisable to take any
further step in that direction.
Mr.. Butler (Mass.) said the morning hour had
Il
bill; but if the bill under consideration could be
| disposed Of to-day, he would not interrupt its
consideration.
| Mr.. Farnsworth, in reply to the objections
that had been made TO the amendment, pointed
out some of the present abuses OF the privileges
| and in the course OF his remarks said that not
l one clerk In q hundred in the various depart
mems ever paid any postage on their letters
He said the bill did not accomplish all that could
be desired, but il was q step in the right drec.
ton.
Several amendments which had been nro-
posed, were then acted upon. and one, striking
out the allowance Of 500 to Senators and Mem
bers, was adopted. An amendment, making
free Official communications addressed to chiefs
heads Of bureaus. and chief clerks, petitions TO
Congress, and copyright matter to the librarian
Of Congress. was adopted.
The substitute Of Mr.. FarnsWorth, as Amend
ed, was then rejected. AyesI70; noes, ZOE.
Mr.. Hill tN.J.) moved to strike out the whole
OF the chapter (l3) relating to the frankins
privilege. Agreed to-Ayes ", noes 20.
@Indiana is harvesting large measle crop.
The Peoria horse cars are to have stoves
during the winter month";.
~Davenport, Iowa. supplies the lack of