Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-12
Congressional PROCEEDINGS.

Washington, D. c., Feb II.
SENATE.
The bill continuing the Southern Claims
Commission, was passed.
Bills passed authorizing the secretary of
war to erect monument in Salisbury, n. c.,
to Union soldiers who died in prison there
permitting Lieut.. Mason Of the navy, to ac-
cept decoration from the Emperor of Bra
zil; granting the right way to the DIVER,
South Park, and Pacific and the Denver,
Georgetown and Union railroads over public
lands in Colorado.
Mr.. Stewart of Nevada, entered Il motion
to reconsider the votes on the two latter bills
removing disabilities of certain citizens of
Georgia and other states; to provide for paw
ment in gold of certain wages of seamen in
foreign countries.
HOUSE.
A bill was passed authorizing the President
to negotiate the cession Of the reservation to
the Seminoles and Sac Indians.
bill was passed to pay the heirs of Geo.
c. Boston $l25, 900 losses in constructing iron
clads.
bill further amending the postal laws
making letter postage, after July lst, two
cents was reported. An amendment was
adopted striking out the words actually and
wholly from the section relating to weekly
newspapers. so that it will not exclude these
country weekly papers having portion Of
their editions printed in large cities.
Mr.. Earnsworth of Illinois, explained the
bill at length, as to the payment of news
paper postage.
+. II. Roberts moved to amend by making
the postage on daily newspapers not exceed.
ing ounces in weight, Is cents per quarter
agreed to.
The amendments offered by Messrs. Gar
field and Hibbard, in respect to magazines
and newspaper manuscripts were agreed to.
The bill then passed.
The bill as amended, reads as follows Be
it enacted, that on and after the first day of
July next, all mail matter which is wholly or
partly in writing, except book, magazine and
newspaper manuscripts and corrected proofs
passing between authors and publishers, and
excepting also correspondence or postal cards
or all printed matter which is SO marked as
to convey any other or further information
than is conveyed by the original print except
the correction of mere typographical errors,
On all matter which Is sent in violation of law
or regulations of the department respecting
enclosures and all matter to which no spec &c
rate of postage is assigned postage shall be
charged at the rate Of two cents for each half
ounce, or fraction thereof, And this provision
shaii lbcluoe all letters commonly known as
drop or local letters delivered through the
post offices or their carriers. Section 9.
That from and after the first day of Janary
next, under such regulations and in such
manner as the Postmaster. General shall pre-
scribe, the postage provided by law to be paid
upon printed matter or mailable matter Of the
second class, shall in all cases be prepaid
Section 3. That any persons who, shall take
any letter, postal card. or packet, out of
post eftice, or branch post Office, or from a
letter or mail carrier, or which has been in
any post Office. or in the custody of any let
ter or mail carrier before it shall have been
delivered to the person to whom it was d.
rected, with design to obstruct the cores
pondence or pry into the business or secrets
OF another, or shall secrete, embdzzle, or de-
stroy the same, shall on conviction thereof
Tor every such offence, forfeit snd pay pen
atty not exceeding $500 or be imprisoned at
hard labor not exceeding one year, or both,
at the discretion Of the court.