The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-06-10
F0RTy-F0uRTH CONGRESS-.
WASHINGTON, June 9.
SENATE.

hOubc Oil W hLueuQ certdln seCllODs Oh
titles 48 and 81 of the revised statutes Of
h' United States concerning commerce
and navigation. and regulations of steam
vessels. Calendsred
The Senate ren took up the bill max
ing an appropr alton Tor the service OF
the Postotfice Department for the last
fiscal year, and tor other purposes.
Mr.. West, in charge OF the bill, said
that when it came over from the House
Of Representatives it proposed to appro-
priste $33, ,589, 108; as now submitted to
the Senate by the committee it proposed
to appropriate S36, GAG. $50. The bill as
81 came from the House contained provi-
itins Of q general legislative character,
looking to the reduction of expenses. In
judgment of the committee, it was lot
practicable to po so, and therefore the
committee recommended the non-con-
currence in. Tha provisions of the
House bill looking to the readiustment
of the salaries and change in the compen-
sstion to railroad companies throughout
the country for carrying the mails, the
subject of compensation to railroad com.
panies was settled to years ago, and
the committee are Of the opinion
that il is not advisable to reopen it.
The reduction of this appropriation
would not be sanctioned by the people as
its result would be to abolish the system
of railway post Offices, and cause a re-
ducton of the fast mail service. The
committee had not met the House half
way at least, in the direction of econ
omy. They agreed to appropriate less
money this year tor the service OF the
Postoffice Department than was sppro
prirted last year. The frat amendment
proposed by the committee was to sppro.
pirate Sl50,0O for mail depredations and
special agents, instead of $4,000 ap
propriated by the House.
After q debate the amendment was OBJ
jected to.
The committee reported an amendment
to appropriate $4,000 for advertising
instead Of $4,000, MS proposed BY the
House, providing that the Postmaster
General shall cause an advertisement OF
all general mail lettings of each State
and territory to be conspicuously posted
upon each postoffice in the State and ter
ritory embraced in said advertisement
for ut least sixty days before the time
Of such general letting, and no
other sdver lsement of such lettings
shall be required; but this provision
shall not apply to any other than the
general mail lettings.
Mr.. Salisbury inquired what was the
object of taking the advertisements from
the newspapers OF the country. II seemed
to him as if it was an amendment OF
doubtful proprety.
Mr.. West replied that the amendment
was only to perpetuste Al arrangement
established years ago 10 save expenses,
and had been found to work advantage
ously. The amendme I was agreed 70
The House of Representatives proposed
to appropriate $1,000 600 for the
compensation OF postmasters. The
Senate Committee on Appropriations
reported an amendment 10 make the
amount s., 100000.
Mr.. Sherman said the reduction ought
to be made in the pay OF pestmssters
The pay of postmssters since 1868 had
been increased 65 per cent. The Senator
from Maine Hsmlin sometime ago, in
An able speech, showed that there was
deficiency from carrying newspapers
of the country, amounting to $6,9OO,OOO.
The whole amount paid by newspapers
towards carrying their mail was
81 100000. Had not the Senate
courage deal with this matter. Had the
newspapers such power over the Sena-
tors2 Was there such terror over
them that the Senate could not do what
was right? He acknowledged that the
power of the newspapers was great IN
the dissemination Of intelligence. Any
respectable newspaper publisher would
consider himself insulted If told he was
BENEFICIARY of the government IN this
way. The Senate should have courage
to raise the postage on newspapers, even
if every newspaper in the land cried out
against Il. He had consultation
with many newspaper publishers about
this subject, and they all said Congress
had fixed the rate too low. he wss IN
favor of Increasing the rate to four, FIVE
or even six cents pound. To have
solution of this trouble he did not see
why the pay of a postmaster OF town
in Ohio should receive $4,000 per anDum
while Judge of the Supreme Court OF
State received but $500. The office of
postmaster WAS very easy one. de
admitted IN. pos.masters in New York,
Philadelphia Boston and large cities
should be paid more than Others, but
because their salary in large cities was
to- low, was no reason why lney
should be kept high in small towns
Mr.. Sh .rman moved 10 amend the
amendment OF the COMMITTEES so a. TO
make the amount for the compensation OF
postmastcrs 81, 200, 900 instead OF $500
600. He also gave notice that he would
move at the proper time 10 increase the
rate of postage on newspapers to four
cents per pound and he would do so no:
to punish newspapers, but make them
DAY the same portion OF transportation
through the mal.s.
Mr.. Sherman subsequently, modified
hi. amendment fixing the amount at
81 40 zoo, 60 rs 10 provide that tae re-
duction IN the rate OF compel sation shall
commelce on the nrst OF
October. The next amendment was
then agreed to-yeas p nays 10. Other
amendments proposed by the Committee
on Appropriations were agreed 70 as fol-
lows Increasing the appropriation for
rent. light and fuel from 1890 900 10
S42i 1000; for compensation 10 railway
pos,sl clerks from 81, ,225.00O 70 300.
600: tor route agents from ss4SoO to
Sl 600 900: :or mail messengers from
s62I 90 TO $4,000; for transportation
of foreign mails from s225 OOO 70 $50
coo. The House adopted clsu.e pr0vi-
ding ihs, if the revenues Of the Postotice
Department be insufficient 70 meet the
appropriations made by set that the sun
si,2S0,9l6 Be appropriated ou! OF the
Treasury to supply the deficiency. The
Senate committee proposed an amend
ment making i, S7,lsS,linr instead Of
i2GU.eO6 Agreed 10.
The House appropriated 81, 10000 for
the payment ri letter carriers, ana Tue
) ns,e committee proposed 70 make the
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