The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-02-03
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, January 26.-Mr. Clark,
of Missouri, from the post-office committee
called up the bill regulating the postage
| on third class mail matter. 1t provides
that all mailable matter0f the third class,
referred to in sections 1915 and 1911, OF
the revised statutes Of the United States
may weigh not exceeding four pounds for
each package, and that tine postage there
on shall he one cent for every two ounces,
or fraction thereof. Mr.. Clark explained
this bill. 1t proposed to repeal the law
which was passed during the last hours Of
the last session, in the form of an amend
ment, inserted, obscurely, in the sundry
civil appropriation bill, with the evident
intention Of misleading the House. That
law increased the postage on third class
mail matter from one cent per two ounces,
to one cent per ounce, or, from eight cents
| to sixteen cents per pound. This bill pro-
poses to reinstate the postage on third class
! mail matter as it was before, to one cent
| for two ounces.
Mr.. Cannon addressed the House In fur
ther explanation and advocacy OF the
bill
Mr.. Garfield gave history OF the legis-
lation Of the last session, which it was now
pIOpOscu u Itptdi. II hdu il
the Post-Office Department in the shape of
letter to the chairman OF the Senate, the
post-ofiice committee suggesting that the
rate of postage on merchandise be doubled.
The sundry civil appropriation bill came
from the Senate to the House at O'Clock
on the morning of the last day OF the ses-
sion, with over one hundred amendments,
among which was an amendment supposed
to be in pursuance of the Postmaster-Gen-
erals recommendation, land in that idea
it had been unanimously adopted
by the committee on appropriations Of
which he was then chairman. No member
of the committee understood that the Ian
guage Of the amendment included anything
else than merchandise. After the bill had
passed it was ascertained that the language
Of the amendment covered not only mer-
chandise, but also transient newspapers and
pamphlets. All were surprised that the
amendment covered the whole of third
class matter instead of merely merchandise.
He deeply regretted it, for it was against
all his notions of proper postal legislation
to double the rate on printed matter. He
had been then, and still was in favor of
the legislation then had in reference to mer- |
chandise. 1t would be wrong TO say, how |
ever, that it had been smuggled in. 1t had |
been put in. or intended to be put in, openly |
on the Recommendation OF the Post-of6ce |
Department.
Mr.. Lawrence advocated the bill, and 1
said the legislation last session increasing |
postage on third-class matter was undoubt- /
edly at the instance Of the express compa-
mics, and 70 the great detriment Of public
interests. He favored this bill because the
mails reached every village in the land, and
the express cars did not and If the people |
Of those remote places were cut of from
the privilege of receiving packages of seeds
and books, and merchandise by mail, they
could not receive them At all.
Mr.. Randall also supported the bill, and
expressed his Qualification that those who
had any connection with the legislation of
last year, nov TO be repealed, disavowed il.
Even the Postmaster General had suggested
! repeal of Law which he had been clearly
Iound guilty of having inaugurated.
The bill was then passed without division.
The House then vent into committee of
he whole on the Military Academy appro-
,riation, and Vas addressed BY Mr.. Hale,
# Maine. He strenuously opposed any
IN the pay Of professors or cadets,
md said be would strike no blow directly
Y indirectly at that great military school,
shich had furnished some Of the Rreatest
Of the present day.
Mr.. Haniltoo, Of, n. J., member of the
onnita:e On aPProPriatione, having
harge Of the bill, replied 70 Nr. Hale, and
serted that figures and facts shoved that
here was large room tor setseacament