Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-02-25

l 70 oiier, and have action on, resOlutioI
srspending the power of the Secretary o
the Treasury, to refund any monies collect
ed as customs duties. He stated that tht
Secretary was now paying out from ten Il
twenty thousand dollars day for that pur
pose.
| Mr.. Wood thought such resolution
should first be considered by the Commit
tee on Ways and Means, and it was refer
red to that committee.
| Mr.. Burchard, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, reported bill to facilitate
the expectation Of distilled spirits. The
bill amends existing regulations in that re
gard. After an explanation by MeSsrs.
Burchard aud KaSsOn the bill passed.
Frankins.
| The House at halfpast one resumed the
consideration Of the bill TO provide for the
distribution Of public documents printed by
authority 0f Congress and fseeds furnish
ed by the Agricultural Department; for the
free exchange of newspapers between pub
fishers and for the free transmission Of
weekly newspapers within the county where
published.
Mr.. Willard, of Vermont, spoke in OpDO-
sition 10 the bill and the notifications pro-
posed by Mr.. Hale, of New York. The
bill proposed in fact that the members of
both Houses should put their hands into
| The public Treasury aud take each two
thousand dollars and distribute it among
their constituents. One Of the promises on
which the Republican party came into pow
er was that it would do away with all
| special tavorS, with all uses of public prop
| erty for individuals. If there was any
| principle ON which the Republican party
| bad its foundation as on a rock, it was that
they were trying TO br ng every department
of the Government down 20 an honest and
| economical basis. and vet after only six
months trial Of repeal of the franking priv
ilege they were asked tOrestore it and with
il to restore the large expenditure of pub
fishing documents. How could the gentle,
man justify that on any principle? He de-
| clared It TO be as notorious as private per-
| quisites. This was not Justice. 1t was
not Republicanism. On the contrary it
was hostile to the platform on which every
Republican member Of the House held his
seat.
Mr.. StOwall declared himself personally
in favor of the full restoration of the frank
ing privilege, but rs 4 member of the Post
Office COMMITTEES, he should only advocate
the passage Of the pending bill. He pro-
eeeded to read an argument in suppOOrsOf
it.
Mr.. Albright spoke in favor Of the bill Of
the Committee.
If the government suthOrized The print
ing Of documents and the procuring of
Packages Of seeds, roots, sciOnS, etc. some
provision ought to be made for their distri-
button. Otherwise it would be better to
Dispense with the Department Of Ag-
rieulture-
Mr.. Cotton declared himself opposed TO a
restoration Of the franking privilege, pre-
ferring TO stand by the platform OF the Re-
publican nominating convention which de-
clared that the ffanking privilege ought to
be abolished and the way prepared for a re-
ductiOn Of tie rates Of postage.
Mr.. Potter thought it better not to have
any documents printed for free circulation,
but that they should only be furnished az
the actual cost Of printing 10 those who de
sired them. He declared himself partially
in favor Of the free circulation Of the
speeches of the members, and in that con-
nectiOn gave his approval in the strongest
terms to the system of having Saturdays
set apart for general debate, rs by these
means members were brought into closer
relationship with their constituents.
Mr.. Buclner gave notice of an amend
ment which he desired 10 offer, in regard
to the distribution Of public documents.
Mr.. Robbins of Nersh Carolina said that
he had consulted his constituents on this
question, and they had called out clamor-
ousiy for light and for information from
headquarters. They had said 10 him, give
us the franking privilege, give us dOcu-
mentS, give Us speeches, give us books,
Give us Everything.
Oaughter). Therefore, he was for the
bill.
Mr.. Hazleton Of Wisconsin said that,
had he been in dOubt rs TO the policy of
the pending measure, that doubt would
have been removed by the arguments and
statistics presented TO the House. and which
had clearly demonstrated both its wisdom
and economy. II figures proved anything,
they proved that the measure could be car
ried out without adding one dollar TO the
contracts for carrying the mails. 1t was
useless to conceal the fact that the PROPOSE
ton to abolish the Agricultural Bureau
stood right behind the opposition to this
bill. In his judgment, nothing could be
more untimely and more Uncalled for than
a blow aimed at the great and infieXible
industry of the nation in an attempt TO
strike down its only recognized department
in the government. And what was true in
respect to the agricultural reports applied
more or less To the census reports, the
Presidents message, etc. He said there
was TO reason why the government should
resolve itself into
Book Agency OF the Cheap John
and sell reports of bureaus and depart
ments. It looked TO him like two penny
business for great government TO 90 into.
He regarded the measure, on the whole, rs
iudiciOIs, and would do what he could for
its passage.
Mr.. Townsend gave notice of an amend |
ment making the free distribution Of week
ly newspapers within the county where pub
lislIed apply 10 all newspapers.
Mr.. Phelps opposed the bill and all
amendments which propose to re-enact the |
franking privilege which they practiced so |
little. After spending weeks in discussion |
as to the salary Of members, the Chairman |
Of the Committee OF Printing had come in |
with a bill to print 10000 copies Of the |
agricultural report for gratuitOus distribu- !
tiOn. How be (Phelps) had admired tie |
audacity of thai member, How lie had |
pitied his fate. If there had been slch |
speeches, such protests about their poor FIVE |
hundred a yea each, what should be the |
fate of the man who dared to come forward |
and propose to throw $4,000 into the
Rag Bags and Barber shops
of the nation. The bill had gone through
almost without objection, certainly without
discussion. Day. after day bills had been
introduced, and there was not man of
them that did not cry for economy. But
they had never been able TO find that par
ticular measure on which they were willing
to practice. Af,er Tidlculing Cannon for
his devotion TO the interests Of the GrangerS,
he turned his attention to Garfield and
satired him very humOTOusly for the con-
trast which he had drawn in his speech be-
tween the calm, cool, sensible country eIi-
tor and the editor Of the great metropolitan
journal, who Siashcs or an article az mid
night and calls that the voice Of the people
He reviewed with admiration the iusinu-
ity of the committee which reported the
bill, in
Sugar Coating Ehe Assaf@fida PHI
50 as TO make il agreeable to the taste Of
he country editor. If Congress was going
10 rehabilitate this old job Of the franking
privilege, IL should be done boldly. Con
yress should not make the mistake of a.