Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-20
Fat Fees.


Mr.. Cessna, from the same committee,
reported bill requiring United States
Marshals and the Clerks of United States
Courts, who have received fees and emolu-
ments in excess of their legal compensa-
tiOns to deposit the same with the Treas
ury of the United States. In case of re-
fusal, suits are to be brought and future
cases 10 be punished as misdemeanors.
Special agents are to be appointed to ex-
anime the accounts of these officials, who
are to be paid out of the fees and emolu-
ments received, but their total compensa-
ton is not to exceed 5000 in any one
year. After discussion the bill passed.
Mr. Butler of Massachusetts asked
unanimous consent that the Judiciary
CommitteeshOuldh have leavetOrepO at any
time bill for the distribution Of the Ge-
neva award and the Senate amendments to
| the bankruptcy bill.
w. p Roberts objected.
The House then took up the bill for the
Distribution Of Public Documents
printed by the authority of Congress, seeds
| furnished by the Agricultural Department,
for the free exchange of newspapers be-
tween publishers, and for the free trans
nilsson of weekly newspapers within the
County, where puDllSneu.
Mr.. KaSson gave uotice that he would of
fcra substitute for the bill providing that
extra numbers Of documents printed by
order of Congress shall be sold and dispos-
| ed oi, the Agricultural Report and abridge-
ment Of the Presidents message and ac-
companying documents at twenty-five cents
per volume, and all other documents at the
actual cost of paper, stitching and binding,
and che weekly newspapers shall 90 free in
| mail within the county where they Sic pub
blished, but shall not be delivered by post
Office carriers unless postage shall have been
| paid at the usual rates.
Mr.. Monroe gave notice of an amendment
to strike out of the bill all provisions look
inc to a continuance of the system of dis
tribution public documents.
Mr.. ScOfield stated that he would vote
against the bill, except the third section,
which provides for the free transmission of
weekly newspapers within the county
where they are published, and of news
paper exchanges. This he would do i'm ac-
cOrdance with the pledge which the Repub-
lican party gave in the Convention in Phila-
dslphia in 1872, TO abolish the frankine
privilege and keep it abolished. But if the
bill were to pass, he would propose an
amendment TO strike out the words with
out charge and insert the words
"Without Prepayment of Postage
but the amount thereof shall be stamped OI
the wrapper and paid by the person receiv
ing the same.
Mr.. KaSson proceeded to address tht
House in support of the Substitute. o
which he had given notice. He had beer
told this morning, by the head of the con
tract office in the Postofiice Department
that over that vast district west Of the Mis-
sissippi and north of Kentucky and Ten
nesSee, the mail lettings were so per cent
certainly 30 per cent, less than the last let
ting.
Air. Beck called upon Mr.. KassOn to ex
plain why the estimated deficiency for tn,
Po5toitice was larger this year than it wa
last year.
Mr.. Kasson declined to enter the discus
sion of finances, bat Mr.. Grassland under
took to demonstrate that that deficiency die
not appear in the Postmaster Generals es
Inmates, but in the estimates of the Secre
tary of the Navy, who wanted a couple o
millions to subsidize steamships.
Mr.. Grassland continued to talk loudly an,
GesticuIate Violently,
manifesting very angry feeling toward Mr.
Beck.
The Speaker, meantime, used his ham
mer vigorously, so that it was impossible
for the reporters to get any idea of wha
Mr.. Grassland was talking about.
At length order was restored, and Mr.
KassOn proceeded. He would show th'
House what the voice Of the people to tn,
FoTty-secOnd Congress was. (Here he haC
placed upon his desk four large waste
baskets filled with memorials for the abO
litiOn of the franking privilege) From al
sides of the hall came interruptions anC
questions, standing upon the point thai
these petitions had been
Got up by the Postmaster General.
In the midst of the noise and confusion
. the Speakers gayel indicated the close OF
Mr.. haSsOn'S hour. and objections weee
made TO an extension Of his Time
MIR. Tyne said that he should support SC
much OF the bill as authorized the trans
mission of weekly newspapers in the county
OF their publication and Of exchanges be-
tween newspaper offices, but he should op-
pose that portion of the bill providing for
what was equivalent to free distribution
oi public documents. He called the at
tentlon OF the House to the fact that the
| postmaster Generals estimates for the next
llScai year shows probable deficit Of 81,
Ooo,3O3 10 which was to be added the
amount to be paid for official stamps for
lhe executive department, making
The Real Deficiency $685. 1858
or over million and half more than the
deficiency OF last year. He believed that
the next official report Of the Postmaster
General and all other official reports would
show like deficiencies and therefore it was
his opinion that the abolition of the frank
ing privilege would not diminish the post
! oiIce expenses one dollar.
Mr.. Townsend would extend the privi-
4 lege proposed for weekly newspapers and