Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-02-25
HOUSE.


Mr.. Burchard, from the committee on
ways and means, reported q bill to facilitate
the expectation Of distilled spirits. The bill
amends the existing regulation in that regard.
After explanations by MeSsrs. Burchard and
kasson, the bill passed.
Bills introduced: BY Mr.. Packer, yielding
to the State of Indiana the lands covered by
Wolf lake and Lake George; by Mr. Field, TO
inter conversion with government bonds, and
TO abolish the sinking fund by Mr.. Barber, to
abolish capital punishment.
Mr.. Merriam asked the unanimous consent
to offer, and have acted on, a resolution sus.
pending the power of the secretary OF the
treasury to refund any moneys collected a.
customs duties. He stated that the secretary
was now paying out from ten to twenty thou
sand dollars day for that purpose.
Mr.. Wood thought that such q resolution
should first be considered by the committee
on ways and means, and IL was referred to
that committee.
The house, at half-past one O'Clock, resumed
the consideration OF the bill TO provide for the
distri button Of public documents printed by
authority of congress- and OF seeds furnished
by the agricultural department, for the free
exchange of newspapers between publishers,
and for the free transmission of weekly news
papers by mail within the county where pub
Mr.. willard W.T. spoke in opposition to the
bill and the notifications proposed by Mr..
Hale IN. ". The Dill proposed, in TACT, that
the members Of both houses should put their
hands in the public treasury, and take each
two thousand dollars and distribute it among
which the Republican party came into power
was that 10 would do away with all special
fsvors, with ali uses Of public prop
erty for individuals II there was
any principle OIL which the Republican
party had its foundation as on rock. 1t was
that they were trying to bring every depart
ment of the government down to an honest
and economical working basis; and yet, after
only six months trial of the repeal of the
franking privilege, they We're asked to restore
it, and with 1t to restore ths large expenditure
for publishing documents. How could the
gentleman justify that on any prin-
ciple? He declared it to be notorious
that the members of congress used these
books and public documents as private re-
quiSites. This was not justice; it was not Re-
publicanism. On the contrary 1t was hostile
10 the platform on which every Republican
member of the house held his seat
Mr.. Stowell declared himself personally in
favor of the fun restoration of the franking
privilege, but as member of the postofice
committee he should only advocate the pas
sage of the pending bill.' He proceeded 70
read an argument IN support of 1t.
Mr.. Albright spoke in favor of the bin of the
committee. II the government authorized
the printing of documents and procuring OF
packages of seeds, roots, scions, ETC., then pro-
Vision ought to be made for their distribution
| otherwise it would be better to dispense with
| the department of agriculture altogether.
/ restoration of the ranking privilege, prefer.
| ring to stand by the platform of the Republi.
| can national convention, which declared that
| the franking privilege ought TO be abolished
| and way prepared Tor a reduction of the
| rates OF postage.
/ Mr.. Porter thought it better not to have
| any documents printed for free circulation
| but that they should only be furnished at the
actual cost OF printing to those who deslre
| them. He declared himself particularly in
favor of the free circulation of the speeches o1
4 members, and In that connection gave his
sanction and approval, in the strongest terms :
I general debate, inasmuch as by this means
! members were brought into closer relation
ship with their constituents.
Mr.. Buckner gave notice of an amendment
which he desired to offer in regard to the dis
tribution of public documents.
MT. Robbins n. C.l, said he had consulted
! his constituents on this very question, and
! they had called out clamorOusly for light and
| for information from headquarters. They
/ had said TO him. "Give us the ranking privi
\ fege-giVe as documents-giVe us speech ches-
| give US bookS-glVe us everything" Laug gh
/ Ier.l Therefore he was for the bill.
/ Mr.. Hazelton lWis.l said that had he beer
/ in doubt as TO the policy, Of the pending
measure, that doubt would have been re-
4 moved by the arguments and statistics pre-
sented to the house, and which had clearly
! demonstrated that both is wisdom and ecOnO-
I my If figures proved anything. They proves
/ that the measure could be carried out with.
! out adding one dollar TO the contracts for car
I rying the mails. It was useless to conceal the
fact Ihat the proposition to abolish the agri
cultural bureau stood right behind the oppo
sitiOn to this bill. In his Judgment nothfnG
/ could be more untimely and more un
/ the great and infexibIe Industry OF tht
nation in the attempt TO strike down Its only
recognized department in the government
] and what was true in respect 70 agriculture
! reports applied more or less to census reports
/ the Presidents message, etc. He said ther,
was no reason why the government should re
solve itself into book agency OF the Cheal
! John order, to sell reports OF bureaus and de
| partments. It looked to him like two-pen
ny business for great government TO go into
He regarded the measure, on the wholej udi
cions, and would do what he could for its pas
| sage
Mr. Townsend gave notice of an amend
ri afrl-
I newspapers in the county where published
4 apply TO all newspapers.
J Mr., Phelps opposed the bill and all amend
/ fnepJs which proposed to re~eoaet the frank
/ ing privilege rs OPPOSED the hlil tn th
eRfnb OF thsA se9pPtoy which the
pssIssA ss Rass Raa wkisA tseY pFasslss