The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-13
Forty Fourth Congress-First Session.
SENATE.

cording to the population and to make legal
tender notes equal in value to United States
government bonds, with the consent and by &C
ton of their owners, and to authorize the issue
of legal tender notes and the retirement of the
same under certain circumstances and on Ger
tain circumstances Referred to the Commit.
tee on Finance.
A bill was passed to provide for extra copies
of public documents aud for the distribution of
regular official editions thereof.
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont, from the Committee
on Public Buildings, reported back the letter of
the Secretary of the Treasury in regard to the
cost of land to extend the east front of the
treasury building, and the committee was dis
charged from its further consideration.
Mr.. Morrill, said the land referred to was as
sessed at 1875, 1863, but its estimated value was
ST. OBS, 1884, and it would cost that sum to pos
sess it. Although the extension of the east
front OF the treasury building has been recon-
mended for long series of years, the commit
is too poor at present to buy the land. At
some future day, although the expense might
be increased, the country would be better able
to buy it.
Mr.: Morrill, of Maine, presented petition of
the citizens OF Portland, Me-, demonstrating
against the manufacture and sale 10y the gov
eminent OF envelopes, etc. Referred to the
Committee on Postoffices and Post Roads.
. Mr.. Anthony called up the bill to provide for
the sale of extra copies of public documents
and for the distribution of regular official edi-
tions thereof. The bill was virtually codif-
cation of the existing law in regard to the SUBJ
ject and to reduce the expenses The bill was
passed.
Mr.. Morton introduced Joint resolution au-
thorlzing qualified voters of the District of
OF Columbia to vote upon the question whether
they desire Congress to establish a government
for the District for the regulation of its domes-
tic affairs, the officers of which shall be chosen
by the qualified voters of the district, and for
10 ri tbo oil hofor To-
for its information. Referred to the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia.
The consideration of unfinished business, be-
ing the bill fixing the rate of postage on third
class mail matter, was then resumed.
The bill was discussed by MesSrs. Sargent.
Howe, Window, Hamiin, Harvey and Sher-
man.
Mr.. Dawes moved to amend the second Sec
ton as reported by the committee, so it would
read, 'The postage on mail matter of the third
class shall be at the following rates: For all
distances one cent for each ounce or fractional
part thereof" Agreed to-
Some other amendments were offered and
rejected, and then the substitute of Mr.. Har-
vey to restore the old rate of postage was re-
Jected. Yeas %, nays %, as follows:
YEAs-Messrs. Bogy, Booth, Burnside, Cameron Of
cock, Ingalls, Jones of Fla Kelley. McCreery, NC
Donald, Nc hullan, Merriman. Mitchell, Ogesby,
Paddock, Ransom, Sargent, Wadleigh, White, With
ers and Wright-25
NAYs-Messrs Allison, Bayard, Boutwell,, Caper-
Frelnghuysen, Goidthwaite, Hamilton, HamIn,
Howe Herman, Key, Logan, Maxey, Morrill, of Me-
dom-25.
Further amendments were offered and re-
jected.
The bill was then reported to the Senate and
the amendments made in Committee of the
Whole were agreed to.
Mr. Harvey again offered his substitute to re-
store the old of raiao
ed. Yeas 49, nays 26.
Mr.. Dawes offered an amendment which was
rejected.
The bill was then read third time and pass
ed without division.
The bill as passed is as follows:
BE At enacted, dc, That the mail matter of
the third class shall embrace all pamphlets, oc-
casional publications, regular publications de-
voted primarily to advertising purposes or for
free circulation or circulation at nominal sub.
scrlptlon rates, prices current, catalogues an
nuals, handblls, posters, unseaed circulars,
prospectuses, books bound or unbound, books,
manuscript, proof sheets, maps, prints en-
cravings, blanks, patterns, samples, cards.
photographs, paper, letter envelopes, postal en-
velopes and wrappers, cards plain and orna-
mental, Photographic representations, seeds,
cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions and all other mat
ter which may be declared Inailable by law. as
third class matter, and all other articles not
above the weight prescribed by law which are
not from their form or nature liable to destroy,
deface or otherwise iDjure the contents of the
mall bags or the person of any one engaged in
the postal service. All liquids, poisons, glass,
explosive materials and obscene books or papers
Shall be excluded from the mails.
Section THAT packages of matter of the
third class shall not exceed four pounds in
weight and shall be subject to examination and
rates OF postage as hereinafter provided The
postage on mail matter of the third class shall
be at the following rate: For all distances one
cent for each ounce or fractional part thereof.
Every package of the third class of mail mat
ter shall bear the postmark Of the Office at
which the same shall be mailed for transporta-
ton.
Section 3.-That hostages on third class mat
ter shall be prepaid by stamps. If however,
the postage on third class matter mailed at an
office shall be less than the full amount above
prescribed, in cases where the sender is known,
such sender shall be notified of the fact and
the amount of postage due shall be collected
from such sender before the same shall be
transmitted by mail. In case the sender is not
known, and where it has not been the evident |
Intention OF the party so depositing the pack |
age to place less than the full postage on. such
package shall be forwarded and double the |
amount of deficient postage shall be collected
from the party to whom it is addressed or de- |
livered at its proper destination.
Section THAT the sender of any article of |
the third class OF mail matter may write his or |
her name and address therein or on the outside |
thereof with the word from" above or pre- |
cediDg the same, or may write briefly or print |
on any package the number and names of the |
articles enclosed. Publishers of newspapers |
and periodicals may print on the wrappers of |
newspapers or magazines sent from the office |
Of publication to regular subscribers the time |
to which such subscription therefor has been |
paid.
Section 5.-That transient newspapers and |
shall be admitted to and transmit |
ted IN the mails at the rate OF one cent for every
three ounces or fractional part thereof and one
cent for each two additional ounces or fraction
81 part thereof.
Section 6-That this act shall lake effect on
and after the LIST of July, 1876.
The Senate then took up the bill to repaye |
Pennsy lvana avenue in Washington D. c. |
Pending discussion, Senate went into executive
session and at 4 80 o'clock adjourned.
EOUSE.
The silver bill came up and the Senate
mendments were concurred in without debate
and without division. The bill now goes to the
President for his signature.
John f. Waite, who was elected to fill the |
lnexpired term of Mr. Starkweather of the
committee, appeared and took the oath of
office.
The Speaker presented a communication
from the Sergeant-at-Arms in reference to the
tdbeaS corpus from the Supreme Court of the
District and served on him 10 the Tease of
Halett Kilbourne.
Mr. New, of Indiana, in view of the gravity
)I tne question involved offered resolution |
which was adopted, referring the subject to the
Judiciary Committee with instruction to report
rs soon as possible, not later than Saturday
A paragraph has been inserted in the lecisla-
i've appropriation bill requiring the printing of
Internal revenue stamps to be done in the
bureau of printing.
Mr.. Hoar OF Massachusetts, offered a resolu-
ion nstructing the judiciary Com mittee to in
Iuire what steps shall be taken for properlv
representing the interest of the United States
n the suit instituted against the Credit Mobi-
er and others under the provision of the act of
March Sd, 1873, and also whether the Union
Pacific r. r. Co. has not forfeited its charter.
md whether the same should not be repealed |
because the company has resisted the recovery |
q its behalf of its capital stock wrougfully |
withdrawn by means of fictitious construction
contracts on unlawful d vidends. Adopted.
Mr. Harris of Virginia. from the Committee
~ Elections, made report in the Minnesota
contested election case, that Mr.. Strait, the
lifting member, is entitled to seat. Ordered
printed.
Mr.. Walsh of Maryland offered resolution
nstructing the Committee on Public Buildings
md Grounds to examine the buildings rented
n the city of Washington by the various de-
Dartments of the govern Dent, and inquire into
he necessity of continuing their occupation.
Adopted
Mr.. Pierce of Massachusetts,, from the Com
nittee on Commerce. reported a substitute for
nj ,,l0 ia l. fal