Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-03-18
FORTY.FOURTH CONGRESS-.
The Business Of General Interest Trans
acted.

Mr.. Hamlin (Rep.), Of Maine, introduced .
bill fixing the rate Of postage on third-class
proposes the following rates Of postage, gradu-
ated according to distance, namely: For dis
tances not exceeding 800 miles, one cent for
each two ounces or fractional part thereof; for
distances between 800 and 800 miles, two
cents; for distances between 800 and 1900
miles. three cents. and for each additional l.
600 niles, one cent additional for each two
ounc' or fractional part thereof.
special rate ia, however, proposed for tran
sient newspapers and magazines, namely:
One cent for every two ounces or fractional
part thereof for any distance not exceeding l.
600 miles, but for any greater distance double
that all occasional publications, prices current,
catalogues and ANIMALS, and all regular publ
cations devoted primarily to advertising pur-
poses, Or for free circulation at nominal sub
scriptOn rates, shall hereafter be considered
and charged as third-class mail matter. Other
provisions authorized the writing of brief
form Of presentation or Of q brief description
upon books and magazines, or any other srti-
cles mailed Is third-class matter; aud all in
sufficiently prepaid matter to be carried to its
destination in cases where there has not been
an evident intention to underpay the full
amount, provided that double the deficiency
shall be collected at the other end. When the
sender is known, however, he is to be notified
and required to make full prepayment. Re-
ferred.
Mr.. Morton (Rep.), of Indiana, reported
favorably on the Senate bill to provide for and
regulate the counting of votes for the Presi-
dent and Vice. President, and the decision of
questions arising thereon. Placed on the
calendar.
Mr.. Spencer (Bep), of Alabama, from the
committee on the District Of Columbia, report
ed favorably on the Senate bill to amend Sec
ton 993 Of the revised statutes of the United
Atot OF to ha nj
as to make the twenty-second of February a
legal holiday, with an amendment making the
twelfth day Of February, the birthday Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, legal holiday also. Placed on
the calendar.
Mr.. Hanlin Rep.), Of Maine, submitted a
resolution requesting the postmaster-general
to furnish the Senate with any information
which he may have touching the submission
Of straw bids or probable worthless or fraudu-
lent bids for carrying the mails Of the United
States in the several States in which ADVERTISE
ments for mail proposals appeared Oct /, 1875,
his possession be furnished before awards
shall be made on said bids. Agreed to.
Mr.. Dorsey (Rep.) of Arkansas, introduced
a bill amendatory of the Pacific railroad laws.
The bill proposes to restrain the issue or sale
Of any more obligations of the company &C.
the land granted by the United States to aid in
its construction. The bill also requires de-
tailed statement of all the companys receipts
and expenditures up to Dec. 81, 1875, to be
fled with the secretary Of the interior, and
provides that the net receipts shall be applied
First, to the payment Of the interest on the
first mortgage bonds on the main line, and the
creation Of . sinking fund; second, to the
payment of interest on the bonds alleged to
have been issued, and thus secured without
authority and third, to the purchase and re-
tirement of all the last described class Of
bonds
Mr. Frelinghuysen (Rep), of New Jersey,
called up the Senate bill for tho protection Of
agriculture against injurious insects, which
authorizes the appointment of . commissioner |
haXjng the requisite scientific and practical
knowledge to investigate and gather uforma-
ton relative to the Rocky mountain locust,
chinch bug, army worm, Hessian fly, potato
bug, and other insects injurious to vegetation,
in order to devise successful methods for their
etc., said commissioner to be APP |
pointed for one year, and to receive "a 900,
etc The bill was read third time and passed. |
q bill to amend section l, 113 Of the revised
statutes Of the United States in relation to the |
appointment Of army suffers, which was re-
ferred to the committee on military affairs. 1t |
vests the appointment Of post traders in tho |
general commanding the departments wherein |
they are situated, instead Of the secretary
of war.
Mr.. Cameron (Rep.) Of Wisconsin, presented |
signed by over 16, 900 persons in re-
gard to secret societies. The petitioners de-
clare their opposition to all secret organiza-
tions, and ask Congress to withdraw the char
ter granted to the Masonic Hall Association of
a. , District of Columbia, and that law be
pasred making it unlawful to appoint any per-
son to Office under the government who is Q
member of secret organization, and also that
members CT such organizations may be chal-
lenged as jurors. Referred to the committee
on the Judiciary.
The Chair laid before the Senate the resolu-
ton for the admission of P. b. s Pi. chback as
q Senator from the State of Louisiana, the
pending question being on the amendment Of
Mr.. Edmunds to insert the word mot before
the word admitted" The vote WAS taken on
Mr.. Edmunds' amendment, and it was agreed
to-yeas, 80 nays, 20. Messrs. C6retancy
Mich }, Edmuuds Ella. Morrill, (Me.) }, Morrill,
(vt) aud Paddock (Neb. }. Republicans, voting
with the Democrats.
Mr.. Randall (Dem.), Of Pennsylvania, re-
ported bill appropriating $l63,0O0 to provide
for engraving printing, and other expenses OF
Masking and issuing United States notes, and
directing the secretary Of the treasury to issue
silver coins OF the denominations of ten,
twenty, twenty-five, and fifty cents in
redemption OF an equal amount Of fractional
currency, and to provide for such redemption
unit the whole amount of fractional currency
is redeemed Ordered to be printed and re-
committed.
Mr.. Sayler Dem }, Of Ohio, reported a bill
declaring valid all suspended entries OF public
lands in which the commissioner Of the general
land Office has decided that patents shall issue
and which have been confirmed by the secp-
tary OF the interior and the encouragement,
and repeating section 2,4,2 Of the revised
statutes. Passed.
Mr.. Sayler also reported bill to amend the
act of March 18th, 1874, to encourage the
growth of timber on the Western prziries
Passed.
we're introduced and referred
MIR. Randall Dem }, Of Pennsylvania. to de-