, 1874-03-09
Distribution Of tho Currency, or Dis
tribution Of qaraen-Seeds?
The Remarkable Influence Of Hay-Seed
in Congressional Hair.
Valuable Documents on tho SiIurian Period
and 1sothermal Theory.
The Average Congressman md
His Country Editor.
What the Farmers Do Not Want.

What the Farmers Do Not Want.
During tho discussion In tho House Of nopre.
sontativeB on Bill No. 825, providing for rcstor-
.tion Of tho franaing privilege in favor Of pub.
tic documents and tho country newspapers, Mr.
Waltor Phelps, Of Now jersey, mado tho follow.
lug remarks, which excited almost rs much NOR
r1ment in Congress- ns did Proctor knott's Bpcocll
On Duluth:
THE DISCUSSION.
Atr. pIIELrs-Nlr. Speaker, I shall oppose
the bill introduced by tho Committee. Bla
oppose tho amendment suggested In his speoc
by tho gentleman from indiana [Nlr. Tyncr].
shall opposo tho substitute which will bo offered
at tho proper timo by my friend from Iowa (A1r.
Kasson]. In word, I shall oppose, with all duo
respect to those who ditror from MIC in opinion,
evory bill, ovory amendment, oyory substitute.
which proposes, in whole or III part directly or
indirectly, to ro-onact tho franking privilege. I
bclioyc that privilege for the fow ia NIL injus-
tico to the many, aid I. for one, shall try 10 gyo
privileges to none, oqunl rights To all.
My opposition to this bill in The first instance,
Mr. Speaker, is Oh tho ground Of that economy
which VIC praise so much, which wo practice 10
little. ELaughtor.J And if it iH not prosump-
tuous to criticihc let mo say that iii my opinion
tho record OF this House in tint regard has beon
Hingularly illogical and unsatisfactory; ad when
I remember TINT We aro what MY fraud from
Massachusetts [alr. &. T. uoarl 30 appropriately
callcu ILL fow days ago in moment Ut great
oxcisement when remember that in his words
wo arc Il "body OF intelligent statesmen"
submit, Alr. Spoakcr, our record il pnzzling ailt
unsatisfactory. [Laughter.]
WHAT IL THAT RECORD?
We came hero fresh from tho people, eagor to
win reputation for ourselves, and to saEe tho
Commonwealth. What did wo do Wo began
10 speak you spoke, 0Ir. Speaker; l spoke !;
And every man who got tho floor spoko-for
what7 10 demonstrate to tho people our viii
lingness to sacrifice oven our own salaries.
tLaugl,tcr.] Wo wasted ton days in talk, and
when an end came, WHOM wo wero NIL tirod,
wlon wo wore al hungry, when We wnro nll
sleepy, my interchangeable friend from Ataino (a1r.
1Ialo] insisted VIC SHOULD stay hero late into the
icttor on tho selfish oxerayagance
which would cut down our salnrics to
only sG,00U Instead Of $500, [laughtor].- sum
which lo had recommended aud more tlan once
urged us to adopt. Aud tho fathor Of tho House,
(Mr. DaweH,l rising 10 tho leight Of tue grout
subject, in a voice WHOM aepncllral warny,
yet fingers i'll my ear, assured us aSain and agnin
that he could bide his tmc-iio could bide his
tinlo.
went home that night distressed TINT could
not look upon this maltor Of $500 as ono Of
ouch stupeudouB importance. But. sir, at the
sanlo tilno 1t entorcd my heart to think that
ul1dor lsaders 10 jealous the Republic could
never tuEe my detriment. But, mark you, tho
very next morning. or tho noxt morning but one,
my friend upon my right, tho go,ltlolIlal from
Iowa Mr.. Donnaul, the Cllairn,au Of the Com
nittee OIL Printing, niolesty stopped to tho
len ,io Ir1l b,.F., 1,
same earnest economists, proposed I. bill--for
what2 10 priut for gral1itonB distribution
25o,000 copies Of tho Agricultural Report
not 250 q; not twonty-tiyo hundred not 25.00O
but 250. 900 copies Of the agricultural Report.
How admired tho aucncity Ut my fricl!u from
lowal How pitcd his fate! II there had
been s1tch protests and speeches for poor s500.
whit would be tho fato OF d. man WHO darod
to como before this House ntid propose tlat We
should throw $500. 200 into tho rng-bags an1
barber-slI0pB OF tho nation 7
Mr.. Speaker, my interchangeable friend from
Alaine never once took tho 1soor upon that q.1en-
prophesy, and the bill Of my friend from Iowa
went through almost without objection, ccrtai,l-
1y without discussion. And then day utter dav
followed and hill after bill was introduced and
OF uA who got tho floor who did not cry out for
cconomy2 Was there nun Of us ahle to fud
TINT particular measure OIL which he willing
ing to practice it? [Laughter.]
brave and eloquent gentleman before mo [Alr.
Woodtord] Belzod it. lIe offered tho House un
opportunity to reform and improve tA record.
liz rose up worry boldly-yery unfortunately as
before tho House. Docs the House wish to dis-
cuBs the finances Of tho nation, or does 1t wish
TO DISCUSS lTS 1AnnEN-SEEDs?
and after full consideration the House, by ono
OF tho most unanimous votes haye witnessed
lhiB session. declared that rs for them tEiey would
provide first for tic distribution Of garden:
fccds and after tllat for tho distribution Of the
CURRENCY. LLaughter.] When sought tho OK
whit was it2 Tho reply which I mover hear
upon this floor, but which hear III my Beat or
whispered III tic lobby, 1T wus tho draugors !"
TINT the arangors had called tue attention Of
come, aud The earth WIS waiting Tor its soctlu,
aud there could DO 10 further delay. Laughter
And 10 wo got b bill before Ill which pay. III
perfect sincerity, 1oyiyeB tho f9anking privilege
m;ttoo gives tho member every right he had be-
fore except Quo. We caun0t write our autograph
!uttora aud flu1ik thou. Wonderful restriction!
VIC may frank documents that woigh 100 pounds;
men Of the Committee take from us tile only
lriyilogo TINT iH desirable and not subject to
abuse. Who will write lottcrs enough to burden
the muils DoeA the Committee knUw how hartl
it iH for members to write? I)oeu il Know bow
lard it is for constituents to read Tie abuse
lieH elsewhere. ..........
WHAT wAs THE ABUSE
Of the franlug privilege which WIS complained
material, masscs Of binding and printing which
VIC crnmmel into tho mails Of the country, to tho
damage aud delay Ut the business and social cor
1espolldence Of tho pooplc? And it is this hoayy
Haterlal that the bill proposes to frank-publlo
Documents, boola, periodicals, seods, roots.
plants, scionH, everything else TINT is worthless
mud heavy. Tho Comnttoe III preparing this
biz have revived the old abuse. Thoy have