The Portland daily press., 1874-02-26

Solicitor to the Department of State, with
salaries of $500 respectively, and abolishing
| the Office of Examin of Claims. Referred to
| the Committee of the Whole
MIR. Z. r Hoar, from the Committee on
| Foreign Affairs, reported bill to carry into
| execution the provisions of the 18th amend
ment tOlthe Constitution concerning citizen
| ship and define certain rights of United States
| citizens in foreign countries, and certain duties
| of diplomatic and consular officers. The bill
| not being completely matured was recommit
ted.
Mr.. Bundy, from the Committee on Public
Lands, reported a bill to declare the Memphis
Kansas City and Kansas City & Memphis
railroads, military and post roads. Recon-
"A MI !: Bandy reported adversely on the bill id
ara OF pubic schools in he District OF Column
bia: Laid on the table.
mr.. Conger from the Committee on Com
mesoe reported bill 10 amend the steamship
the list of emigrants. Passed
MI. Small OF N. ID presented the resolution
of the New Hampshire Press Association for
restoration of the law allowing weekly news
papers free transmission through mails in the
county of their publication; also resolution
declaring hostility to any action that may re-
result directly OF Indirectly to the reservation of
the abuses of the frau king privilege.
The House resumed the consideration of the
bill to provide for the distribution of public
and of seeds furnished by the Agricul
tural Department, for the free exchange of
newspapers between publishers and for the
free transmission of weekly newspapers by
mail within the county where published.
Mr.. Cobb criticised the speech of Mr.. Phelps
yesterday, particularly as to illusions to grang-
ers. he declared that these grangers meant
BUS ness, that they were the movable force of
2O,OOO,O 600 of free men. That it was foolish to
array against them them the planks of Phia-
QeIDhla other DIatfprm. hat thav
would have justice inside of the Republican
party IT they could, outside if they must He
supported the measure before the House be-
Cause 1t was demanded by the people,
Messrs. Ward and Meilish opposed aud Co.
burn and Rice supported the bill
MIR. Lawrence of Ohio favored the section
providing for free the TRANSMISSION of weekly
newspapers and opposed the others.
Mr. Williams Of Mass, advocated the pas.
sage of the bill.
Mr. Butler of Mass, reviewed the history of
the postal service and the connection with it of
the franking privilege. In the process of time
the mails. Of the 581 tons Of mail matter
-hch left the New York Post Office da ly only
81 tons consisted of letters and correspondence,
while 47a tons consisted of newspapers and q
tons OF transient printed matter. He noticed
in the very remarkable sperch IF his colleague
what was claimed to be great abuse.
"A member-What colleague?
Mr.. Butler-Mr. Dave; be is the only one of
my colleague that makes remarkable speeches.
The others are good; his are remarkable (Hers
the clerk read an extract from Mr.. Dawes
speech as to the increase in post Office expendi-
tureS.)
Mr.. Butler went on to state that the amount
annually paid ON letter postage was over $780,
600 600 and only little over ST. 600, 900 on news
papers. and yet Congress was called upon to re-
lieve the newspapers of the burden. He con-
trasted the great abuse of the franking speeches
and documents ON the approach of the Presi-
Dental elections with greater abuse of loading
mails with newspapers, large portion of
which consisted of advertisements of no inter-
est outside the place where published. He
knew the newspaper was great educator. No
man had an idea how great an educator it was
and how it is educated. They heard now of
murder. robbery, arson, rape. larceny and
counterfeitng all over the country, and why?
Because of newspapers. They published cry
detail of how murder has been and may be
committed; how counterfeiting can be practic-
ed; how banks are brOk open; how safes are
robbed. A man with an insane delusiOn about
murder was taught how murder Can be done
safely. The last words and dying speech of a
murder was transmitted as preeiOns informa
ton. III there was a case in court where pruri
ent details must come out for the purpose of
justice, which ough to be heard in silence and
where in he English courts women and chill
dren were ordered to withdraw, they were all
spread out in the newspapers in the most sick
ening and disgusting details, and yet these pa
pers were to be sent free through the mails to
the people to corrupt them. He was opposed
to the bill and had conscientious scruples
against making free the means of delivery The
great criminal lawyer continued at length in
this pious strain
At the close Of Mr.. Buffers remarks. Mr..
Packer of Penn, who has charge of the bill, de
manded the previous question refusing to ad
init any amendments except the substitute Of
ferred by Mr.. Hale of N Y, to repeal the law
law which abolishes the franking privilege.
The previous question was seconded 112 to g..
vote on ordering the main question was
taken, by yeas and nays and resulted yeas 126,
NAYS III, the Democrats almost uniformly in
negative.
Further action of the bill went over till to
morrow, and at 4.45 the House took recess.
The evening session is for the consideration
of the bill to revise the Statutes.