Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-04-06

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ounces to go through the mail for one
cent should be restored, the deficiency
would exceed ten million dollars, and in
few years the deficiency would aggre-
gate hundreds OF millions of dollars.
Senator Mitchell inquired II the bill
sS now before the senate he'd the sane.
ton Of the postoffice department. -
Senator Hsmlin replied in the afirms'
tive. Resuming, Senator Hsmlin said
that If congress would act wisely and
make every article which passed through
the mail pay q fair compensation for
transportation, postage on letters could
be put down TO two cents tomorrow
aud the postoffice department be made
self sustaining. When that should be
accomplished, the millions would be
benefited and not the few. The de-
partment, he said, was self-eustaining
rom 1889 to 1S4t. In l84l four hundred
| and eightv-twO thousand six hundred
and fifty seven dollars was appropriated
to meet the requirements Of the foreign
mail service.
| Ssrator Sherman said in former years
| there was permanent appropriation TO
| carry free matter. BE quoted the lsR
of 1S4T, showing an appropriation OF
! sixteen thousand six hundred dollars for
| the mail service Of the Various depart
ments OF the government, and said that
the amount had been increased year after
year until itreached eight hundred thou
sand dollars.
Senator Thurman inquired il the de-
partment should be made self-sustaining
would not the effect he to make letters
Fay mora than they should.
Senator Hamin said he was going II
M
duced a surplus OF between four and five
million dollars per annum. The prac-
tice Ct the English government has
been 10 admit samples Of merchandise
into the msils not exceeding two ounces
in weight. There had been a great deal
said about the present law in regard to
third-class mail matter. On the third
of February, 1874, the postmaster gen.
eral sent to the senate a letter stating
the condition Of the department, and
the vest amount Of third-clsss matter
transported by mail, for which the gov
eminent did not receive One-halt the
cost Of transportation. 1t was referred
to the committee on pOstCffices and post
roads, and by that committee carefully
considered. Two amendments were
prepared by the committee, the first re.
ducing the weight OF thiTd-class matter,
and the second increasing the rate Of
postage. There had been great cry
that this last amendment was for the in
terest Of express companies. 1t was
measure designed wholly for the
relief of the treasury, and to
save the people from taxation,
which should never have been
imposed on them. No member Of any
express company ever approached the
COMMITTEES. He believed in making
men who received the benefit of the de-
partment pay for it. He wished he was
an artist; he could draw a picture Of
these men with their hands thrust ell
LoE-deep in the pockets Of the govern
inert and then c!amOring ali over the
land about Legislation in favor Of express
companies: He was not in the commit
tee the day the two amendments re-
ferred to were agreed on, Tor the reason
that he was in the committee on foreign
relations, doing his duty. The Est
amendment was offered by the
chairman OF the committee C5enator
Ramsey1 and voted down. The senator
from Arkansas Dorsey and the chair
man of the committee Ramsey re-
quested him HsmliD] to offer the &C.
cond amendment, increasing the rate Of
postage. He did so, and it was adopted.
He Hamlinl committed one error; he
did not turn 10 the statute to see what
was embraced in the third class; he
thought that class embraced mer-
chsndiss only, and did not sup
pose it applied to transient
newspapers and magazines. He
would not have included them in the
amendment had he understood it. Now
the postmaster general says it costs
eighteen cents pound to carry news
papers through the mails Of fsecOnd-class
mstter, composed of newspapers and
periodicals sent from the office Of pu0li.
cation to the subscribers. There were
one hundred and fi!ty.five million pieces
transported last year, weighing fifty.
five million pounds, and being fifty per
cent. of the whole weight OF the mail.
They yielded a revenue OF only nine
hundred and seventy-six thousand dol
lars, while it cost the government seven
million nine hundred and sixty-nine
thousand dollars TO transport them. He
had had no controversy with the news-
papers, and did not care a fig what they
said; but ne wanted to make one word
OF comment on the consistency Of the
newspaper press in connection with the
senate. He [Hamlin voted for the abO-
result was produced by q clamOr Of the
press; that press wanted to be subsi-
dized TO the extent OF millions to csrry
papers, but was not willing to allow
cent for the transmission of matter be-
tween members of congress and their
constituents. The committee proposed
to follow this bill with other remedial
measures to make the department self.
sustaining.
Senator Sargent inquired how much
additional revenue would be produced
if this became law?
Senator Hamlin said that question
could not be answered with certainty,
as 1t was not known how much matter
would be sent.
Senator MerTimon asked if there was
any special reason which moved con-
gress to admit me :chandise in the mail,
if so, why was it that eight to ten
pounds could not be carried IS well as
four pounds?
Senator Hamlin said that merchan-
disc was first admitted in twelve ounce
packages as a matter of convenience.
Pending the discussion, Senator Ed
munds submitted resolution instruct
ing the committee on the Judiciary to
inquire into the expediency OF further
providing by law for the administra-
tion Of oaths in the proceedings Of the
senate, and TO report by bill or other
wise. Agreed to.
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Stevenson offered a resolution di.
reCting the committee on the District of
Columbia to inquire whether additional
jail accommodations are required in the
District. Referred.
MIR. Randall offered a resolution di.
rectiDg the secretary of the treasury to
furnish the house with an itemized &C.
count of the amount expended under
the item OF three hundred thousand dol
lars appropriated for light and fuel for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1876.
Adopted.
Mr.. Cox, from the committee on bank
ing and currency, reported bill to Tegu-
late the winding up OF the national banks.
He explained thSt the object of the bill
was to facilitate liquidation and that in
solvent hanks may be perfectly and
speedily closed up in the interest Of the
public. Passed.
A message was received from the SEN
ate, informing the house that the senate
had OrCaOi1od for tho trial aOd irnpaaob