National Republican., 1882-12-16

bill proposed TO reduce the postage tax on in
dividual people 33l por cont. II was re-
duction which the experience of the world
had shown to be in the interest of the spread
of intelligence and the dissemination of
knowledge. Whatever danger there might
he in the experiment. for himself and for
those who were associated with him, he nc
cepted the responsibility before the American
people. This was measure in the interest
of individual people, and If I'm additional tax
was to he levied for its support lot IL fall on
the aggregated capital of the country. Ano-
ther change in the bill was the omission of
the provision for the benefit of certain sections
and in certain interests What was known as
special mail facilities instead of spending
the 100000 which had been appropriated
the postmaster general had found II necessary
to spend only $iS5,000; yet at last session
there was great claInor for special facilities.
All of those facilities were given to certain
special trains that left New York in the gray
of the morning just after the metropolitan
papers were issued, and reached the country
in advance of the local press. He didn't OBJ
ject to that; but he did object to paying for
special facilities for mail carried on regular
passenger trains. He had been directed by
the committee on appropriations to offer an
amendment to the bill providing that tho
compensation paid for carrying the mails
TO railway companies who have re-
ceived government aid in bond subsidies
as well as land grants, shall not exceed 90 per
cent. of the amount allowed by law as com-
pensation for the same service by railways
which had not received government aid. Of
course this amendment was for the benefit of
the people, and when that was done at the ex-
pense of power, the individual who took u
share in the benefit suffered at the hands of
power. When man undertook to benefit in
dividual interests he must expect to receive
the blows of the consolidated power whom he
/ ntt raI Int hn Pnhncnn\ f,.
should be content in the records of history if
it were understood that, so long as he held the
key of the position, ne was neither overridden
by power nor frightened by obloquy.
The bill was then read by sections for
| amendments. .l-
In speaking to a formal amendment Mr.
Mills protested against the reduction of the
rate of postage. Like all the reduction of tax
alton since the war, 1t was reduction which
began at the wrong end. What was all this
talk about superabundant treasury when
there was national debt of 81 ,400, 100000! 1t
was not the poor people, but the commercial
interests that paid the tax. These interests
were the interests which demanded the re-
duction and congress was going down on its
knees and taking all burdens off them and
placing them on the poor people. How many
gentlemen on the other side who voted for
this reduction would vote to take the tax from
cotton ties.
Mr.. springer favored the reduction because
he believed that the postal service would be
self.supporting even after the reduction was
made.
Mr.. Blanchard moved to increase the appro-
priation for transportation by steamboat routes
from $6,0O0000 to $7,000,0O0. Rejected.
Mr.. Caswell, of Wisconsin, on behalf of the
committee on appropriations, offered an amend
mcnt increasing the appropriation for " star 1"
service from $5,00O000 to S. ,25O,O0O.
Mr.. Upson moved to still further increase
the appropriation $250,000. Rejected-21 to a.
Mr.. Caswell's amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Robinson, of Massachusetts, offered an
amendment appropriating 100000 for neces-
sary and special mail facilities.
Mr.. Hiscock offered an amendment to the
amendment, fixing the amount at 100000.
Pending action the committee rose.
ALABAMA CLAIMS
Mr.. Reed, of Maine, chairman of the COM
mittee on the judiciary, asked leave to report
back the bill extending until May IA, 1883,
the time within which claims may be sub
mitted to the court of commissioners of Ala
bama claims
Mr.. Buchanan objected.
COLLECTORS FEES.
Mr.. Dunnell offered q resolution reciting
that allegations have been made that some of
the collectors of customs along the northern
frontier are in receipt of large ,feessIrom the
sale of blanks, which are not turned intosthe
treasury, and that said collectors are in the
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