The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-04
TIE DOINGS OF CONGRESS.
TIE vote IN THE SENATE ON FRANK
ING PRIpILEGE RESTORdTION


ING PRITILEGE RESTORd TON
y Collector Arthur PetitIoninx for Relief he
cause OF n Deficiency In the Custom House
-oppcs,ns subsidy 10 John Roach.
WARRINGTON, Juno 3.-Tn the Senate, Mr..
blaine tRep.. Me-, submitted resolution that
Hayes be respectfully requested TO communicate
to the Senate. II not In his judgment incompat-
ibis with the public interest all correspondence
between our Government and tho Government
Of her Britannia Majesty in regard to inviting
other maritime powers to accedc to the three
rules prescribing tho duty Of neutral Govern
ments. as set forth In tho sixth article OF the
Treaty OF Washington. Agreed to.
Mr.. Conkling tRep.. N y presented n petit
ton Of Chester A. Arthur. Collector of the Port
OF New York. praying the passage OF law au-
thorzlng the proper officers OF the Treasury
Department to adjust and settle discrepancy
in the accounts OF the lato cashicr Of the Custom
House at that port. The petition sets forth that
tho shortage OF So. 900. for which he asks relief
wns discovered by Cashier Robinson ut the close
OF business on Jan. 81. 1876. being deficit in
the amount OF 1854 900. which by the accounts
OF the Office he appeared to have received that
day; that the most careful and prolonged in
vestgation was nj once instituted TO ascertain
In what manner such loss had occurred, but no
trace OF II was ever found: and that although
some OF those who investigated and were famil-
lar with the matter were OF the opinion that the
amount had never been received. Mr.. Robinson
was OF opinion that II was stolen in some un-
known manner by some one not employed in
the Office. Collector Arthur says he Is confident
that there was no carelcsncss or wrongdoing on
tho part OF Robinson. and mentions during the
thirty-four years that Mr.. Robinson held Office
tup to the date Of his death in July. 1876, he
received not less than twenty-four hundred
million dollars. every dollar OF which, except
this shortage" no had properly accounted
for. Mr. Conkling introduced a bill to afford
the necessary relief.
Mr.. Edmunds rep. VT from the Committee
on the Judiciary. submitted an amendment to
penses Of he PgerP Cor
so as to appropriate, $50 900 to be- placed TO the
credit OF the contingent fund of the Senate to
defray the expenses OF any inventigation s or
dered by the Senate during the fortytith Con-
Mr.. Spencer tkep.. Ala) submitted an amend
ment 20 the Army Appropriation bin appropri-
afing $4,000 for building military post or
:. The Senate took up the House bill to estab.
lish post routes. The committee reported
amendments fixing the compensation TO be paid
mails relating TO the classification Of mail mat
ter. g.. Mr.. Ferry. in explanation. said the
mails covered substantially the proposition
submitted by the commission appointed by the
~ VI 4ofo shulf'l ol lllNll lTNllS-
port1tion. They embraced substantially tho
single idea Of changing the basis OF compensa-
ton from weight OF such matter TO space Occu-
pied by IT, and the saving TO the .Govcrnment
by the change would be over "A million dollars.
The amendments did not change the rate Of
postage, only the classification of matter.
Al OF these amendments being agreed To
without discussion. Mr.. Hamlin rep. Mel
submitted an amendment that the President
aud Vice President Of the United States. Sena-
tors. Representatives. and Delegates in Con-
gress. the Secretary Of the Senate and Clerk to
the House OF Representatives may send and re-
eeivs free through the mails written or printed
communications not exceeding two ounces in
Mr.. Herman (Dep.. n. Y. opposed the amend
ment II this franking privilege should be- re-
stored. there would be great omplaint through
the country. Members Of Congress should
pay their postage like other people.
members OF Congress to pay postage on COM
Impnications. nearly all OF which are upon pub
Mr.. Blaine (Rep,, Mel saidthe ranking priv.
ieee was a6olished by a very laborous effort q
Every prilciple Of the frankng privilege which
clogged the mail had been restored. Printed
mater and political speeches could be sent iree
amount OF postage on all the correspondence OF
members OF Congress would reach 100000
Mr.. oonkling rep. N " said he never lost
an opportunity 10 vote against restoring. the
never Jailed TO vote for its abolition. He had
heard many arguments against the frnnking
privilege but never heard an argument against
that part OF it which the senator from Maine
proposed by his amendment to restore The
arguments against ths privilege were directed
against the d!strlbution OF printed documents
and seeds. The abolition OF the ranking
privilege was Intended 70 stop The printing Of
had failed TO do this The publication OF books
and the distribution OF seeds went right on. and
the privilege had been restored so far rs print
ca puolcatlons We're concerned. When he
voted 10 put an end 10 the ranking privilege he
ofpubc documents but it was not OF So
The amendment OF MIR, Hamlin was then re-
}seredb ~ tie y2e nays 49, yeas 49, as follows
Ys.s-Messrs. Alton A"9ony. B'nis. Bl7,its Bu,ler
GGrs'"} to"9s.r D9,.sg Ei~s'a GORDON, H','s nm
fsDcns snias sO %i,s fa 2i' P SSs'' s ss,
nXSrs-Ms.:rs. Arai.roas' bailey parqpm. Bayara.
s seoG JosnS K ersn SeSf Eaon IS
Mepherson. Maxey, Merrmon, M~rR, .og'sg. Plum,
S. IGSipn Ransom S''' salisbury Voorhees, and
The Committee on Post Offices and Post
Roads having reported an amendment provid-
Ing Tor semi monthly mail communl alton to
Rio De Janeiro. touching at st. Thomas. Para.
ferndmbn.o. and Bahia; the other linz 10 ply
between Nav Orleans and Rio de Janeiro.
t1on.hng at Galveston, AMI at such ports in the
United States. the West Indies, and Brazil as
the Postmaster General may deem necessary
anu e&pedient, the Postmaster General is au-
tnoriTeu 70 pay $40 mile year for each lins
Tor the distance between tho termini OF the
routes respectively. which distance shall not be
estimated nor paid for at more than 5000 miles
tinue ten years. Mr. Wlthers dem. Va sub.
Witted an amendment SO AZ to provide that the
New York line should touch at Norfolk. Agreed
20.
Mr.. .Maxey Dem. Trxasl submitted an
amendment so as 70 provide that tho fret de-
parture OF a Steamship Of the first line shall not
BE- later than the first day II July. 1876 and the
first departure OF n STEAMSHIP y of the second line
shall not DO later than the first day OF February.
1879. Agreed TO.
Mr.. Jones Dem. Fla) submitted an amend
ment so MS 10 provide that the steamers OF the
New Orleans line shall touch at Pensacola
Mr. SALISBURY Dem. Del was ouposed to
this whole measure. ltpurported 10 hr one to Hd-
vance the postal Interests OF the country but that
was the last consideration which entered into
IT, The Postmaster General had said it WIS
not necessary Tor the postal aerylce of the coun-
Try. To subsiiile steamship lines, instead Of
advancing the commerce ol the country would
De hndrhnce to II. MS the subsidized lines
could nut down freight and destroy competi-
uon. The Till proposed to subsdze John
!ioach NJ the rXpence Of the Other shiphuild.ng
Interests Of Ihe country II WAS n measure OF
great Injustice 10 shphuiiders at Wilmington.
Oh the same river with Mr., Roach. He WAS op-
posed TO squandering the public money, and
protested against giving II to John Roach or