The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-12
A LIVELY DAY IN CONGRESS.
DISCUSSING THE REPAVEMENT OF
PENNSYLV1NIA AVENUE.
Fixing for Another Job to Bleed the Proper
" UOldcrs-The Postage Question More
Money for the CAPITOL GrOu Canada.

fiNinR iOr Announcer JOB TO blccd tue Proper
" HOidcrs-The Postage Question More
Money for the CAPITOL Grounds Canada.
WASHINGTON, April lin the Senate
to-day MIR. Dorsey diep., Ark) called up the bill
authorizing the requirement. OF Pennsylvania
avenue.
Mr. Elmunds (Rep., VT moved an amend
ment so as to allow the commission appointed
to select material for paving the avenue 90 in
clude stone In the material TO be selected from.
He said II might be a wise thing to pavo the
avenue With square blocks OF stone such as IL
now used in many cities, though he had no
doubt asphalt would make the best pavem ent.
Mr. Conkling Oiep., N. " was not in favor Of
blocks Of stone for paving purposes. lie said no
had often stood In the streets Of New York,
where the best kind Of stone blocks had been
used for pavements, and seen horse after horse
tumble down.
MIR. Burnside GRep., Il. ~ moved an amend
ment 80 as to exclude blocks or cobble stones
from the materials to be selected for such pave
ment Rejected.
Mr.. Edmunds's amendment was then agreed to.
Mr. Oglcsby (Itep., M said he would just
lief see dirt road on Pennsylvania avenue
not. lie did not believe IN Congress being
called upon to pave this avenue.
Mr. Sargent Qtep. CALI said his constituents
did not want to a dirt road on Pennsyl vania
avenue they did not want to tear down and sell
the dome of the Capitol for old iron; they had
some pride In the Cipitol of the nation.
MIR. Oglesby SAID most Of his life he had trav-
eled on dirt roads. and what was good enough
for him was good enough for the senator from
California. tLauahter.l lie remembered when
both himself aud the Senator from California
slung dirt Ia the mines Of California. lRenewod
Mr. Haiulin rep. Me- said It was an outrage
to imuose a tax upon the property holders Of
the avenue TO pay for this Improvement. after
they hid already paid for one. lie did not pro-
pose to discuss this bill now. but demanded the
regular order, being the bill liking tho ratio OF
posfag ON tbird class mail matter.
Mr. Edmunds. from the Committee on the Jul
dietary, reported adversely on the House bill To
protect witnesses who shall be required to tes-
ufy In certain cases. and asked that the bill bo
placed on tue calendar with tho adverse report.
So ordered.
Mr.. stevenson Dem, XVI presented the report
Of the minority Of the committee on the bill,
and IL was ordered that both the majority aud
minority rep lrts be printed.
THIRD CLASS MAIL NATTER.
The Senate then resumed the consideration Of
the bill fixing the rate Of postage on third-class
mail matter the pending question being on the
amendment Of Mr.. Merrmon to strike out from
the first section the clause allow ing In the mails
law, and which are not, from their form or
nature, liable to destroy, deface, or thsrwiso
injure the contents OF the mail bags or the Ter
sou OF any ne engaged I'm the postal service.
Mr.. Mefrimon modified that amendment so as TO
strike out Of the third-cass mail matter prints.
engtavings, blanks, flexible patterns. samples u
merchandise. imple cards. Photographic paper.
| letter envelopes, postal envelopes ana wrappers.
cards, nlain and ornamental paper PHOTOGRAPHIC
representations, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, and
sclons
mcnt was to organize fourth class Of mall IN IT.
| ter for merchandise, and to make 1t pay the cost
! OF Transportation. lie did not believe It wise to
make the Post ONCE Department self sustain
| ing. The thirn class Of mail matter should he
| composed of such things as were Intended to
educate the popular mind, and the postage on
| that class should he restored TO what 1t was be-
fore the law was changed. If the amendment,
| which proposed to strike out the article above
| named, should be adopted. he gave notice that
| he would offer an amendment to the second
| section. to make the postage one cent on e ,ch
| two ounces or fractional part thereof. instead OF
| each ounce and IL that should be agreed to, he
| would offer another section providing for
| fourth class Of mail matter
| MIR Hamlin (liep, Me- thought the theory OF
| the senator from North Carolina ali wrong. He
| or. Hamln) argued that books should pay tho
| cost Of transportation, and not be mailed for
| half cent an ounce.
Mr.. Merrimons amendment was rejected
Mr.. Merrimon said, this amendment had
| been rejected. II was no use to offer tn to or
therefore was ready 60 support the amendment
| submitted by the Senator from Kansas Mr.
Hawley), to return To the old rate of postage.
Mr.. Wlthers Dem, Val said the deficiency in
| the Post ONCE Department had been caused
more by straw bids and frauds than nything
else. lie favored the substitute OF the Senator
| from Kansas (Mr. Harveyl The colored people
OF the South were especially Interested in cheap
made to educate them, and II the old law should
| be restored they could get school books from
the publishers at cheap postage. lie believed In
| a free press, and thought It would be a bad DAY
| for this country when Congress should muzzle
the press by any legislation, directly or indi-
Pending discussion, MIR. Morrill, (Rep.. VIZ
! called up the oil making appropriation To con
aud the amendment Of the House, reducing the
| amount from $S.yOO 10 $4,000 was agreed to,
and the bill passed.
The Senate then went into executive session,
and afterward adjourned.