Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-24


protect certain public works of improvement
at the mouth Of the Mississippi river, was ia
ken up. The bill directs that the Secretary
of War shall assume full control over the
| particular channel at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi river, which is being excavated.
| After debate, during which Mr.. Window
related how the tow boat company of New
Orleans obstructed all the efforts Of the gov
eminent to deepen the channel in order that
the monopoly should continue and he urged
the passage of the bill.
Messrs. Sherman, Carpenter and Conkling
all agreed that the monopoly should be broke
up and the excavation of the channel made,
but opposed the bill as unconstitutional, Civ
ing Illegal power to the Secretary of War.
DIR. Thurman thought that the best plan
would be to pass law protecting all rivers
and harbors from distractions or from any
Interference with public works.
After further discussion the bill was re-
committed.
The Finance Committees resolution was
then taken up.
Mr.. Stewart spoke of the evils of depreci-
ated currency and advocated free banking on
gold basis. The issue of any more curren-
cy, he commended, would be an evil. No
matter how much should be issued, fifty mill
lions or a hunded millions, men would get in
Let step be taken toward specie payment in
time of peace and prosperity. Congress
ought not to encourage any speculation by
dealing out any more money. He though
we could stand efforts towards a return to
specie payment now, but if a step be taken
backward it could not be retracted.
Its further consideration was postponed
to Tuesday.
The bill to pay the bonds of the Louisville
& Portland canal was passed.
Mr.. Sherman, from the Finance Commit.
tee, reported without amendment the House
bill authorizing coinage to be executed at the
minis of the L. s., for foreign countries.
Mr.. Wright's transportation bill provides
for the incorporation of company (names
of proposed incorporators not mentioned) to
construct ship canal around Niagara Falls,
the L. S. government to endorse the con-
struction bonds to the extent Of so per cent.
of the cost of the undertaking and to reserve
the right to regulate its tolls.
Mr.. Pratt offered resolution, which was
agreed to, directing the Committee on Post
Offices and Post Roads to inquire whether a
just construction of the constitution does not
require that all postoffices should either be
established by congress or that its consent be
given after they have been established by the
postmaster general.
post route bill, the question being on Mr.
Pratts amendment, declaring all bridges
heretofore or hereafter 10 be erected over
navigabie streama in the United States or
lakes, or over outlets of lakes, or over arms
of the sea, or other bodies of water, and all
public roads established or hereafter to be
established in the states or territories and
used as public highways to be post roads,
provided no service shall be ordered on the
routes until after an examination and the re-
port of an agent Of the post Office department
and that in the judgment Of the postmaster
general such service is demanded by public
convenience and necessity.
Mr., Morton opposed the amendment and
expressed the opinion thai it would be legat-
ing tie power of congress to the postmaster
general. Congress alone had the power to
establish post offices and post roads and it
could not be conferred upon any one.
Mr.. HamliH opposed the amendment. If
every COW path i'll the country was to be
opened up and declared a mail route. he
thought the duties Of the postmaster general
would be overwhelming, besides large expen-
ditures would be required.
Mr.. Morrill, Of VT, moved to insert in line
six, otter the word ''highway." the words cor
leading from one town to another or from one
village to another or from any railroad depot
10 u tOWH VI ASTetu ~.
Mr., Pratt amendment as amended, was
rejected.
Mr.. Sargent moyce an amendment that
from and after June so, 1874, transportation
in mails of all bound books, seeds, cuttings,
bulbs and general merchandise be dscontin-
ued. In advocating this amendment he
spoke OF the great Inconvenience resulting
to the postal service from Transporting freight
through the mails. In some instances ALI
gators and snakes had been sent by mail and
in one case bee hive.
Nj. Morrill, of Me. said the adoption of
the amendment of the gentleman from Cali
tornia you'd be of q great benefit to special
service. The amount of freight carried
through the postal service WAS overwhelm-
irg.
MIR. Fielinlhuysen doubted that Tie post
master general desired the passage of that
amendment. Some means should be fur
nished for sending books through the country
and he had been told by the postmaster gen.
eral within few days that he intended to re-
duce the postage on books.
Mr.. Ramsey appealed to the gentleman
from California to withdraw his amendment.
1t has always been the practice of the Senate
not 10 put general legislation in the postal
route bill, and he hoped the amendment
would be offered at some other time.
Mr.. Sargent said he would withdraw the
amendment, though he had been assured by
the postmaster general that its passage
would be acceptable.
Mr.. Scott said that the gentleman from
California had spoken of snakes and aliga.
tors being transported through the mails. His
amendment was to prevent the transmission
of seeds, hooks, bulbs and general merchan-
die. Which head did the snakes and ALI
gators come'under!
Mr.. straightforward merchandise, ! sup
pose. Laughterl.
The amendment was withdrawn.
Mr.. Pratt Offered an amendment that no
post office be established on any route until
after such authority is given by congress.
Rejected.
The bill then passed.
At 4 o'clock, on motion of Mr.. Conkllng,
the Senate went into executive session. AT
ter three-quarters of an hour the doors were
reopcned and the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
After discussing the West Nirg MIA con-
tested election case till o'clock, the District
of Columbia affairs were considered IA white
and the West Virginia case was again re-
ffor FIN Il eli md ,,it ln