New-York tribune., 1870-12-08

tISAhhING ABUSE.
WAsHISGToS, Wednesday. Dec. 7, 1870
The Senate held another very short session to-
day adournng only fifteen minutes after was called to
order The resolution Of Mr. Anthony reference 10 the
order Of business was passed similar rule but loosely
enforced worked well last session, and much
business transacted in a comparatively short space
OF time. The only trouble is that 1t very mate
rally restricts that wide latitude or debate allowed
in the Senate, and Senators tenacious OF the
old customs and privileges OF tho body, that
there exists great indispositon to strict adherence
to the rule Although last session. now, this new rule
prohibited any Senator from speaking than once on
the question: or longer than five minutes senators
often seemed quite restiye when reminded by the vice
President that they speaking out OF ORDER ana re-
sentcd the Interruption 80 much that he finally
abandoned the hankess task. But now that the Senate
has deliberately again passed this rule Mr. Cofax will
certainly deserve and receive the thanks OF the country
IL ne insists that Senators shall abide by their own
action Several important bills were introduced today
which all laid upon the table, the committees not
having been revised yet.
The House spent over two hours to-day on the Post
Office bill reported by the Committee PostOices ana
PostRoads during the last session, and after consdera
ton by the House. referred 1t back that Committee The
bill ia very long and Is in effect codihcat!on OF all the
existing Post Office laws, with such amendments as the
Committee have agreed upon. The bill was considered
by sections In Committee OF the Whole, under the
posed to allow the POstmasterGeneral at his dis
creton the salaries OF lettercarers from
$500 and LOCO to coo and 81 200 This amendment was
generally supported by those members representing city
districts and opposed by those from the country, and
the latter being In the majority defeated the proposition,
they also did others to raise the limit of salary to
CO TO add enough TO pay for the uniform required by
the POst-Odice Department, aud TO allow the Post
ma ster General to raise the salaries OF carriers
who have served faithfully five to $1,000 The do
termned resistance which every proposition to increase
the salaries Of carriers met in the House to-day ia re-
garded by some us discOuragirg sign for the clerks
and employees OF the Government, who will renew their
request this Winter for increase OF pay though some
members who voted with the opposition to-day did so
mainly they could benefit to be derived
by their constituents from the carrier system and not
through opposition TO the principle Of increasing Gov
ernment salaries The gift enterprise men, tie quack
doctors, counterfeit money swinders, and others who
mails for the purpose OF advertising their busi
ness came in for share OF attention to-day during the
consideration OF this bill One section made It unlawful
TO use the mails for the transmission OF circulars relating
20 any those swndlng enterprises, to GIT concerts
&c, and gave to the postmasters the power OF
retaining all such circulars and dsposng OF them In such
way as the POstmaster-Genera might direct. II
seemed to be tho general opinion OF the members OF the
House that ought TO be adopted to prevent
the mails from being used In this way hut thought
that give the Postmaster the right TO open suspected
letters might under circumstances, be dangerous
and subject TO great abuse This portion OF the I'LL was
finally amended by striking out the clause to which OBJ
lection was made and substituting another, imposing
penalty Of not less than $780, than $780, for using
the mails for the purpose specified The Hon JOhn I'LL
OF New-Jersey moved amendment TO the plu 10 re-
duce Of letter postage from three To TWO cents
per half This proposition found little favor IN the
House Mr.. Uil says that Postmaster General Cresweu
Il fFnU
shall have been abolished. Mr.. Hil also moved to
amend by inserting section authorizing the introduc-
tiOn Of penny pOstllcards, but a. tho Committee on
Offices has the matter under consideration, and pro
poses bring t before the House In the form OF sep
arate bill, the amendment not agreed to. Mr. Hi
then wished introduce amendment to abolish the
frankng privilege and while this was pending the
House adjourned The consideration Of this bill VIII be
resumed to 0mOrrow morning, when the Committee VIII
report as an amendment the following bill, introduced
by Mr. Potter yesterday, and agreed TO by the Commit
tee this morning, bare quorum being present Ihis
amendment will probably call out much debate "a the
advocates OF the total abolition Of the frankng abuse
claim that only proposes to retain the most opc
tonabe portions Of the present Law but is taking step
backward the House having already voted for the total
abolition OF the privilege
Be Il enacted &C., That the Frandng Privilege he, ana
the hereby is abolished from aad afcr me ISL day
OF July, 1870 and that hcnceforth all tcial coepohu
cnce Of whatever nature, aud other m1lbe matter sent
from addressed 10 any officer OF ne GoyeInhehi or
person authorized To frank such natter 5hai DO
chargeabe with the rates OF po tage as may be Jaw
fully imposed upon like matter sent by or addressed 10
other persons
SIC 2 And be il further enacted, That there shall be
prepaled aud issued by the POstOhiCe Department 10
ihe President the United States, to each head OF De
partment and 10 the Clerk Of the Senate and 5 Clerk
OF the House of uatves. proper stamping ma
chimes which machines shall print or impress the name
of the department officer using the same respectively,
and the OF the matter to be sent theIcuheI az
"Delartment Of the InterioI-A grculttra Re,
port" Executive O1ice-Presideiit's Message" and
tho like which stamps shall be used by
tie department or officer 10 whom the
same NAV ne issued respectively only for the purpose OF
stamping all books, documents, and other official matter
iss ned from such department or Office respectively ~
rludug In the use the by the clerks Oi the senate
and House " Representatives all reports ana speeches
made in their respective houses, and such stamping
machines shall be used for other purposes than as
aforesaid and all matter 50 stamped SHAH there
upon pass through the mails without requiring
further stamps charge, and the postage
upon all books papers documents, correspondence, ana
other public matter, so stamped snau De ~ ~cnHou VI
Postce Depa rtment Ia the department or once issuing
the respectively, and the amount 80 thargeu sna
propraons 10 made therefor by Congress as part OF
the Incidental expenses Of the Government.
sYc q Aud be IL further slaeted That there shall be
allowed 10 each senator and Representative aud Dele
gate in Congress, 10 cover the expenses OF ther VA
correspondence the sum OF - for each session oi Con
gress.
The House to-day refused TO adjourn from tomorrow
until Monday next and It seems really determined TO
keep at work IN an earnest manner. To-Iuorow the
question Of the Senate Committees VIII be disposed Of
and both Houses Will probably adjourn on fF"ay uhtI
Monday They will then resume work on the current
bus,uess aud continue until about the 25d inst. when
they will tako the usual holiday recess Of 10 days
REGULAR REPORT or PROCEEDINGS.
SENATE. WASHINGTON, Dec. 7, 1870.
The following bills were introduced, and
temporarily laid on the table
CABLE COMMUNICATIONS WITH ASIA.
Mr.. CoNKLING Rep., " Y)-To encourage ana pro
fg.p I.ofu Autrr A
and Europe. .,,, ,,,..A c..r -.
% gt fr a aid maintain Inc or lines Of t
rI ,Ir on the the United sties connect no
tsrn AMI Austs proyidd sad ComTAny sIA be- 10 y
L NTH