New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-06-20
VOL. XXXlV.. No. 1854
WASHINGTON.

NEWSPAPER POSTAGE DISCUSSED IN HE
M" ~ HOUSE
xorsy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS DOUBTS AS TO
ruP Proper FUNCTION OF THE PosT-oFFlCE DE-
pART,fFNr MODIFICATION or THE SENATE
MISUNDERSTANDING FOR TIE FRANhlNu
PRIvIIEGE-A PROPOSITION TO INCl'LASH I'M
SALARY OF TUE EEw-YoRK PosTMAsILH DE
FEATED
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THD,rRInUSEI
w,suxcroy June l9.--Nose, turmoil disorder
md confusion were the prevailing characVeIis'i0s Va
to-dav's session of the House. Several hhles 'le
cnoaLor ,vas forced 70 suspend the course VI pro-
eeedines until some sort of order could DE secuIeu
and intelligent action had Even Mr. Wheeler Oh
Nevyork. who occupied the chair during all the time
that the Senate amendments TO the Post-Ouce Ap-
uropriation bill were before the House, could not
with all his acknowledged skill and hrmness. as a
nresidiug officer restrain the turbulence OF
members and preserve order and dec0rum III Tue
assembly. In fact the House was IN one Oh us
most irrepressbe moods The discussion Oh
the post.OfIice bin was noteworthy In many
respects The question of the rates OF newspaper
,ostage was debated by Messrs Garfield, Hawiey
Of Connecticut, E. n. Roberts. G. +. Hoar' ana
others Mr.. Garfield traced back the origin OF the
Post Oshce Department in order TO negative the
theory recently put forward and apparently be-
nPVel I
business of the Post-Oflice Department is not to
convey intelligence but merely TO carry PACK
ages. which may or may not contain lnteL-
gence. He contended. and based his argu-
raeut on the first resolution passed on the sub
iect bv the Continental Congress- that the primary
idea at the basis of the whole system is the convey
arce OF intelligence. and that IN so far az the news
paper Is superior to private letter IN tue transmits
sion and spread OF intelligence IN just so Tar should
preference be given 10 the newspaper IN hXlng the
rates of postage. Gen. Hawley represented the IN
Justice which would be done to the publishers OF
newspapers by the immediate enforcement OF pre-
payment. He admitted that. as a principle, en-
forced prepayment night, but considered that IL
should not be put IN operation TOO rap
idly and without due regard TO the interests
of newspaper publishers. on some OF whom he sand
the tax would reach as b GA as $4,000 Mr.. L. ii.
Roberts in enc of ms measured, thoughtful speeches
cautioned the House against being guided IN Its
legislation by spite against the metropolitan news
papers reminding members that public LIE Is
short aud hectiug when compared with the career
of a great newspaper. Mr.. Hoar replied TO MI
Roberts defending the House from the imputalon
of legslating In spite. and advocating the reduction
of postage on all classes of newspapers.
The result Of tine vote was that the Senate amend
ment. which required newspapers 10 pay four cents
a pDund posta-a was modified as 10 make the
postage ON weekly and daily papers T. cents pound
and ON publications printed less frequently than
once week three cents pound. Then followed
the discussion ON the Senate amendment whlch re-
heved public documents from the necessity OF pre-
paymcnt made the maximum postage % cents per
volume confined the provision 10 documents already
published or ordered, and made The Congressional
Record and all parts thereof free Gen. Hawley
gH,a4n ON hU
thing which looked ike a restoration of the frank
ing uriyJlgre Mr. Parker Of Missouri nd
ieuled the sort Of public sentiment that
was created 10 order by the PostmasteT-General'
AGAINST the ranking privilege, declared THAT the
whole thing was a hambug and nothing else ahG
iutiuiatsd that the graveyard directory had been
drawn uD0n u furnish names for the petitions. Mr..
Tvner OF Indiana. VINO had charge OF the Dill as
member Of the Committee on Appropriations put
himself on record as decidedly opposed 10 any
restoration Of the ranking privilege. ana warned
membees That they would be held 10 close ac-
ilifv for their votes on this question N the
approaching elections. N which many OF them We're
candidates. Notwithstanding this warning, mo-
tim bv Mr. Mills Of Texas TO reduce the maximum
posta.e on public documents TO 10 cents
volume was agreed 10 by IA 70 10. The Senate
amendment was further modified by striking out
the provision mat il should apply only 10 documents
already printed and also by striking out the clause
to let TIE Congressional Record 90 tree, and then the
whole amendment rejected-Yeas. ll3; Nays, us.
The Sena,e amendment allowing mail matter OF the
third class-mercantile parcels seeds, plants, &c
10 he transmitted through the mails TO the exteNt Of
four pounds weight, was coucurred IN, while that
dividing posaasters INTO four classes in respecJ to
salary and making that OF the postmaster al New
York = go was rejected. Early IN the day the
House voted 20 proceed 10 business On the Speakers
table TO be disposed Of under the two-thrds rule,
but i'm executing that order the Speaker got no
further than Executive documents