Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-17


Missouri river to the Pacific ocean. This
bill Furnishes any discrimination made by
the Union Pacific road or its branches, and
gives the party injured triple ,iamsges
Passed.
The Postal Appropriation.
The Senate took up the Post-ofice ap-
preparation bill.
Mr.. West said the amount appro-
priated last year was SS4, ,419,000 aid this
year S36, 6,34l 900, an increase of T1;92e. .0u0.
This increase was due to tie extension of
the service throughout the country. While
the increase of the service had been be-
tween and per cent, the increase in ex-
pense had been but 81 per cent. So the
bal was in the line of economy
Nessss,aSer Postage.
The amendments recommended by the
committee were agreed TO, with the eXeep-
tion of the first one requiring that postage
shall hereafter be prepaid ON all mailable
matter at the time OF mailing. The
amendments agreed to were as follows:
Limitingthe free delivery srste,.. 20 cities
of population exceeding 10000 persons,
and striking ont the clause inserted by the
House, providing that the monthly and an
ICDOIlS VI lHC DCPtilAAClAl VI
ture shall pass free through the mails,
Mr.. Sherman moved an amendment that
on all newspapers and periodicals and pub
locations, mailed from a known Office of
publications or I,ews agency, and addressed
to regular subscribers, or news agents, shall
be charged at the following rates On
newspapers and periodicals and publica-
tiOns, four cents for each pound or fraction
thereof; provided that the Fate of
postage on newspapers or periodi-
Gals, nos exceeding two ounces
ia weight, and circulars, when the same are
deposited in the letter carriers office for de-
livery by the Office or United States car
rierS, shall be uniform at one cent each,
but periodicals weighing more than two
ounces shall be subject TO a postage Of two
cents each, and these rates shall be prepaid
by stamp; that newspapers shall go free
through the mails to actual subscribers in
the county where published, but shall not
be delivered at the letter carrier offices or
distributed by carriers unless postage be
paid thereon. Mail matter of the third
class shall be charged at the rate Of one
cent for each two ounces.
The amendment also authorizes Post
master General TO require of publishers or
news agents
An Ahidavit
that they will not send through the mails
matter, except to regular subscribers, with
out prepayment Of postage, and any refusal
to make such affidavit fshall be punished by
a fine, not exceeding 81 900 for each refusal.
II also devides POStmaSters into four
classes, whose salaries shall be adjusted by
the Postmaster General.
Mr.. Ramsey moved to amend the amend
ment 10y adding the provisions of the House
bill to prevent and punish ''straw" bids.
AgreedtO.
Mr.. Conkling moved to amend so as to
TX the salary Of the Postmaster at New
York city at 5000 per annum. Agreed
to.
The amendment as amended was then
agreed to.
Mr.. Sherman moved to further amend to
provide that all
Public Documents
shall be transported without prepayment
and shall be delivered TO the person to
whom addressed upon the payment of the
lawful postage thereon.
Mr.. FrelinghuyseR moved a substitute
that the postage on such documents shall
not exceed twenty-five cents, to be paid by
the person receiving the same.
A lengthy discussion ensued upon the
abolition Of the
ranking Privilege.
The substitute of Frelinghuysen was ac-
cepted by Sherman.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont moved TO amend
by adding proyiso that the act shall apply
only to documents ordered TO be printed
previous to the passage Of the bill.
Mr.. Morrill, of Maine said it wasa
shame to talk about restoring the frank
lug privilege in any way.
Before voting for its re-enactment he
would suffer his right arm to fall from its
socket.
Mr.. Sprague said he regretted voting for
the repeal.
Mr.. Lewis said that during the last pO-
litical campaign documents of political
nature had come to him under postage
stamps issued to the
Internal Revenue Department.
Mr.. Sherman said there were probably
one thousand public documents now in the
vaults of the capital subject to his order.
What could he do with them? 1t would
take half of his salary tn pay postage on all
of them. Congress must either abandon
the publication of all these documents OF
find way to send them through the mails.
The repeal of the frankiDg privilege was a
GOd-send TO express companies, as they
transported public documents at One-third
of the amount charged by the POst-ofice
Department.
Mr.. Carpenter said it would be well to
direct the Postmaster General to
Send Out Petitions
for a restoration of the franking privilege
and he had no doubt there would be a pub
lie sentiment soon for its re-enactment
He had been sending public documents by
express, but had been reminded by his
friend from Vermont (Edmunds) that il
was
Criminal Ofense
to do so. As he did not want TO 90 to Jail
he intended at the proper time to offer an
amendment allowing members of Congress
TO send such documents by express.
MOfetS Repeal.
Mr.. Scott, from the Conference Commit
tee 10 amend the customs revenue laws
and to repeal mOities, made report which
was ordered printed. He gave notice thai
he would call it up tomorrow.
Mr.. Spencer called up the bill to provide
for the election of COngressman-at-Largt
for the State of Alabama. Passed.
The District.
Mr.. Allison from the Joint Select Com
mittee TO investigate the management O
the government of the District of Column
bia, made report with bill, which he gavC
notice he would call up as soon as the Post
office Appropriation bill should be disposed
of.
The Senate went into Executive session
and soon after adjourned