Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-24

clearly that Mr.. Hamlin understood the amend
ment to apply only 10 merchandise. We copy
from the Record:
Mr.. Hamlin, said: l have one other amend
ment which offer, to come in on page 20, after
the word dollars in line 468.
That section s, of the act approved June %,
1874 making appropriations for the service of the
June 80, 1885, and for other purposes, be, and the
same is hereby amended as follows: Insert the
word ounce in lieu of the words two ounces
Mr.. Sargent. l move to lay the amendment
on the table.
Mr. Hamlin ask the Senator to give me my
five minutes.
Mr.. Sargent. | cannot take that away; but the
Senator had resumed his seat
Mr.. Hamn. | was trying to find a memoran-
dun which mislaid. ] will state what the prop
osllon is.
This is an appropriation bull. The amendment
Which | otlcr, ard which is now before
the Senate. is to Icplenish your Treasury, and l
think at this period Of time, when the revenues OF
your Post Ofi,e Department are running 80 low,
the amenpment which offer is one that should
CONNIE nd itself TO the judgment Of every Senator
here
In 1872 we passed law fixing the rate Of post
age upon what was called transient matter Of the
third class
Office Department in relation 10 a change of that
law, and have here an express recommendation
Of the Postmaster General in favor Of the amend
| ment which | submit
| | have a full knowledge Of this law. was a
| member of the Post Office Committee when the
plan of transmitting other than mailable matter
proper through the mail was adopted 1t fixed
the rate Of postage upon each two ounces. 1t has
been carried up to four pounds. 1t was an exper-
imcnt. | do not geek to change that experiment,
but do seek to place upon it a rate of postage
which, if the statements from the Post Office Dc
partment be correct, will give you S200O00O Of
| revenue in the coming year.
| 1t will operate as no hardship whatever upon
persons whom We desire to benefit by allowing
merchandise to go through the mails We sup
port the mail department proper upon postage at
six cents per ounce. This will still allow mer-
chandise samples to go through your mails for one
cent an ounce, at such low rates that any person
who desires to avail himself of the transmission Of
the mails for such purpose will have no reason
| 10 complain of our increasing the rate.
! The Postmaster General tells us it should be
done. Mr.. Bangs, whom regard as one OF the
very best officers in that department, the is so
careful; he understands his business has made
the statement that it will give to $1,000 600 of
revenue if VIC adopt the amendment.
/ trust the Senator from California will not move
to lay such an amendment on the table, but Will
let it 20 in and he p replenish the Treasury; or,
if he does so move, l hope the Senate will vote
down the motion
Mr.. Sargent. Very well, let US have the vote
now.
Mr. West l should like to ask the Senator
| from Maine what the amendment means in refer
ence to the charge upon merchandise conveyed in
the mails 1t is now eight cents pound, and
| this proposes to make It sixteen cents
| Mr. Hamln Yes.
| Mr.. West. 1t is always a misfortune and
always Objectionable to legislate with reference to
statutes upon an appropriation bill. The Com
mittee on Appropriations have examined that sub
ject. They have no such information from the
| Postmaster General
Mr.. Hamin. l have it, and can get it for the
| Senator.
| Mr. West. Then it has come in since.
Mr.. Hamlin. No sir; before.
| Mr.. West. The Senate ought to be aware that
this is one Of the very things they voted down
when the Post Office appropriation bill was up,
when it came from different quarter entirely.
| 1t is making the carriage OF merchandise in the
mails sixty-fo cents on four pounds, instead Of
thrty-two. So far as the Committee on Appro-
prations were concerned they had no such intor-
nation.
The amendment was adopted.
When the foregoing amendment as introduced
by Mr. Hamlin, and adopted by the Senstc, came
up in the House, Mr.. Garfield said:
This is a change of postage in regard to GER
tain kind of merchandise, and meets the concur
renee of the Committee on Appropriations.
The amendment was concurred in"
The increase Of postage is very justly subject
of complaint Mr.. Eamlin will no doubt be the
first to move repeal on the assembling of the
reNt Congress.
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