National Republican., 1874-05-21

eral debate In committee having expired, the
reading Of the bill by paragraphs for amendments
Mr.. KENDALL, Of New, moved to strike out
the clause in relation to advertising mail routes,
and said he had supposed that 1t WAS the custom
TO let the mail routes to the lowest bidders but
report made by the Postmaster General TO the
last Congress showed q most extraordinary state
OF affairs. He then read from the report showing
at mere nominal price, and the parties falling %
comply With the contract, temporary contracts
rates higher than the amount named by any oi
the twenty or thirty bidders.
i Mr.. TYNER said these contracts were made
under the old law, and the Postmaster General,
on tho day the service should commence, found
himself at the mercy Of the man who had the
coaches and horses on the route: He was com
tiso the route again. The law had now been
changed, and . certified check as forfeit had
failure was forfeited to the Government, and the
money turned into the Treasury.
Mr.. ELDREDGE, of Wis, wanted to know II
into the Treasury, or whether the Postmaster
General was hum6ugging them under the pretext
| OF carrying out the lawf
| Mr.. TYNER said the law applied only to con-
tracts for service to commence on the LIST Of July
next II any certified checks were then forfeited,
Of course the money would then be called into the
After further discussion, Mr.. KENDALL with
drew bis amendment
Mr.. WHITEHEAD, OF Va, moved to strike out
the paragraph suthoriIing the advertising OF
mail routesin Virginia and Maryland in news
papers 10 the District OF Columbia. He said that
the gentleman from Florida INT PURMAN1 had
urged the publication ofthe laws in the country
newspapers as necessity for the support OF Re
publican papers. He did not agree with him; but
II that was to be the rule, there were needy he
publican papers in Virginia and Maryland quite
as deserving as the papers In the District Of Co.
lumoia- The amendment was agreed to BY Q vote
Mr. E r. HoAR. Of Mass, offered an amend
mendment to the bill, (authoriIed to De offered
the postage on the annual report Of the Agricul-
| tural Department shall not exceed ten cents and
| appealed to the House not to jeopardize this
| amendment, SO important to the agricultural in
terests, by adding other documents, but to leave
all others to general bill now being prepared in
Mr.. SHANKS, OF Ind, moved to amend by
striking out ten cents and inserting one cent
MI. MILLS, of Texas, offered q substitute pro-
viding that all printed matter ordered by Con-
gress shall pass free through the mails.
The CHAIR ruled the amendment out OF order;
Mr.. RANDALL appealed from the decision Of
the Chair, and the decision was sustained by
vote Of liz to Is.
MI MILLS then modified his amendment, so
as TO allow the agricultural report to pass free
NIr. HALE, of N. Y, opposed the amend
franking privilege met openly and squarely as o
Mr.. BGTkEER, Of N. Y, said the agricultural
richest, and capable Of apprecating the propriety
of every member paying for what he wanted. He
came from agricultural district, and did not be-
tions at q less rate than others.
Mr.. GARFIELD, of Ohio, thought It unfortu-
IN DSea in
in his district, We propose to treat you as oass
Of paupers, and give you your documents at q less
rate than any other class. He wanted to see the
franking privilege met squarely. If the House
wanted to restore the franking privilege, let It
Mf. q. F. HoAR said that he was one Of those
who voted against the abolition Of the franking
privilege. He held that ten cents was all 1t cost
TO carry the agricultural report, and there was no
reason why this, one Of the principal documents
that went TO the country, should pay profit Of
thirty cents on Its transportation.
Mr. MYERS Of Pa rstortsd etc upon MT GAR;
amendments In relation to other documents, had
not been as frank and open as he had talked
Mr. CANNON, Of III, oontsnded that news
papers went through the malls at rate much
lower than documents and that the agricultural
report should go as cheap as newspapers.
Mr.. MILLS amendment making the report
Mr. HOLMAN offered an amendment to in
clude the monthly as well as annual reports.
Mr.. SMITH, Of Ohio, as q farmer and for the
farmers, secuted the idea Of receiving this mere
gress. The proposition was to distribute ESQ, 900
Of these books among millions Of farmers as IN
electioneering document.
was farmer, pure and simple. He wanted to
ask him II he had not held office for the last Il.
teen years, or cay half that time, and If he was
2ot willing to come back to Congress BY the votes
Of farmers He referred to the history OF the abo-
lition Of the franking privilege, and said he had
been amused and instructed BY the Republicans
who were constantly telling the House Of the re-
power long time, and tins talk Of reform was an
implied confession that they had been in the
wrong for the past ten years.
Mr.. ELDREDGE, ofWis, said he had opposed
the abolition Of the franking privilege, and said
specious demagogIsm ever started in this coun-
try. and the Postmaster General knew well that
he had spent more money In printing and sending
sending them back here, than was ever saved by
the abolition OF the ranking privilege, which he
charged was effected ey a false sentiment created
Mr.. O'BRIEN, Of Nd, opposed the amend
ment and said he did not favor a discrimination
in favor Of the agricultural report and other doc
uments. There were others now stored in tn Cap.
itol in his opinion the distribution Of which were
more needed for the education of the people than
repudiated by the representatives Of the largest
agricultural districts, and the proposition seemed
9 b thss E the Rsnesrs had constituent; who who
the expense Of their transportation upon the Gov
ernment.
Mr.. HoAR's amendment as amended, so as to
make the monthly and annual reports free, was
then adopted.
The second section, relating to mail steamship
subsidies, was reached when the committee rose.
PENSION APPROPRIATION.
Mr.. O'NElL, Of Pa, from the Committee on
Appropriations, reported the pension appropria-
tIon bill, which was ordered, printed aud referred
to the Committee Of the Whole. The amount
appropriated is S29, $50, ,000.
The SPEAKER laid before the House q num-
Der OF executive documents, among which were
copies Of the papers In the trial of Captain HURT,
transmitted by the Secretary Of War In answer to
a resolution Of the House Of NJ arch 5. which were
referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.
Mr.. TAYLOR, Of Ohio, offered q resolution d.
recting the Committee on Military Affairs to in
Quire whether Major N. H. Mclean was not un-
Justly treated in connection with the trial Of Oapt
HURT, and whether an examination OF the records
will not show that his restoration Is required and
that in pursuing the Investigation the committee
have power to send for persons and papers.
Adopted.
Mr. SAWYER, Of Wis, introduced bill for
deepening the channel at the mouth Of the Mis-
s!sslppI river. Referred to the Committee on
Commerce.
At 6:I5 p. m. on motion OF Mr.. KELLOGG, of
Conn, the House adjourned.