The New York herald., 1871-02-05


Congress Yesterday-The Postage Laws
Aid for the European BeIigerents-Territo
rial Business 10 the Veterans Of
1S12-The Southern Pacific Railroad Bill.
The House bill, to revise, consolidate and
amend the postage laws, was under considera-
ton in the Senate yesterday, but no result was
reached. This is the bill in which the repeal
Of the franking privilege is provided for and
therefore its passage will be locked forward to
with interest. With the looping of Of this
abuse great many other abuses connected
with it will drop of, such as the wasteful ex-
travagance in the public printing the making
OF buncombe speeches in the House and the
loading down of the mails with eectioneerng
documents BY freeing the Post Office De-
partment of the incubus of franked matter the
reduction Of postage to two cents, or one cent,
as suggested by Mr.. Sumner will become
practicable and may be looked forward to
within few years.
The Senate passed yesterday after some
debate, joint resolution authorizing the
President to station at this port one or more
national vessels for the purpose of conveying
breadstufis and supplies, to be contributed by
the people, in aid of the destitute and suffer
ing people of France and Germany. This is
proposition which will meet with the appro-
val and hearty concurrence of our citizens,
though we doubt whether the vessels of our
navy are well adapted for the purpose. There
~c
steamers owned in this city which will be
much better suited to the purpose, and which
| can be chartered at the expense of
| the government. A fleet of such vessels.
| laden with provisions, would be inadequate to
supply the war-wasted inhabitants of those
countries; but we are sure that the generosity
of our people will be equal to the emergency.
Let us, therefore, contribute with full hands,
and thus manifest at once the benevoence
and wealth of the United States
| The House devoted most of the session of
| yesterday to the consideration of bills con-
nected with the Territories. There was no
proposition to convert any Of the Territorial
| governments into State governments nor is it
likely that any such measure will pass at the
present Congress. A bill to organize Alaska
into a county, with the county seat at sitka,
and with the public laws and the jurisdiction
| of Washington Territory extended to it, was
passed. Notice was given by Mr. Maynard,
of Tennessee. that he would move tomorrow
to take from the Speakers table the Southern
Pacific Railroad bill, passed by the Senate
- -
this session. AS it will require two-thirds
| vote to get it up out of it's order there is not
much probability of the motion being sue
cessful The Senate amendments to the
House bill, granting pensions to the surviving
| soldiers of the war of 1912, were non-concur-
red in, as mere formality, and the whole
subject referred to committee OF conference
1
| RELIEF FOR FRENCH SUFFERERS. New
York is never found wanting in good works.
/ Her charitable institutions are monuments to
the benevolence of her citizens, and never
has an appeal for aid been made to her in
| vain by sufferers of other countries Her
charity is truly catholic, and the universal
world has been recipients of her generosity
| This characteristic Of our citizens was happily
exemplifed yesterday in the prompt and ener-
getic response of our Chamber of Commerce
to the appeal of the sufferers by the war in
France for relief. Fifty thousand francs were
at once placed at the disposal of Minister
Washturne, to be disbursed for the benefit OF
the poor of Paris, and this sum will be daily
increased. Let this example of The Chamber
| Of Commerce be followed by our citizens gen.
orally and a fund be contributed that will be