National Republican., 1888-03-30
THE uOuSE.

Mr.. Enloe, Of Tennessee, reported ad-
versely q resolution calling upon the Post
master General for the following informa-
ton:
First What instructions, If any, have been
given to subordinate officers of the Postofiice
Department intended to prohibit American
citizens from using the United States mails on
the same vicinage and competing In business
with such American citizens.
Second. Whether any statute law prohibits
the, mailing In Canada of seeds, plants and
bulbs grown by Americans on American soil.
Third. Whether, by the provisions Of the re.
cent postal treaty the officers of the postal
place an espionage on Canadian mails for the
purpose of determining whether citizens of
The United states are availing themselves of
citizens by the postal treaty.
The report accompanying the resolution
states that the resolution partakes more of
criticism Of existing law a protest against
its enforcement, and an arraignment of the
Postmaster General for enforcing the law
than of proper resolution Of inquiry.
Mr.. Enloe said that the resolution reflected
upon the Postmaster General by drawing an
inference that he has violated the law by the
issuing of a certain order, and that 1t was
intended to reflect also upon the department
for the negotiation Of the convention. He
contended that the Postmaster General had
ample authority conferred upon him by the
fourth article Of the postal treaty to issue
the order complained Of 1t had been as
serted that the treaty had been an unfortu-
nate treaty, and it had been condemned as
an attempt to discriminate against American
citizens. A similar convention had been
negotiated with Mexico, and no complaint
had been made in regard to it.. According
| to the terms of the convention with Canada
| the United States got the postage upon let
tapa lad sKt hnr fApN ttNNt tNsht 10
| Canada got the postage on letters mailed on
| her side of the border. As a financial treaty
| II was decidedly advantageous treaty to
| this country. IL was wise treasy.
Mr.. Allen, Of Massachusetts,, thought
| that the spectacle was unique one OF the
majority Of the committee Of the House
bringing In an adverse report upon resolu-
tion asking official information from the
head of great department OF the govern
ment. He did not think that the House
would indorse an adverse report upon a res
olution calling for information on subject
which bore upon the interests of thousands
| of farmers who were anxious to know what
| Congress was going to do. Such an action
| on the part of Congress would very prop
| erly be construed by the people as being
| due to one of two reasons-either the ma
| jority desired to completely ignore the
| wishes Of the minority, or desired to shield
| some incompetent official. The Postmaster
| General, filed with the desire of signaizing
| his administration, or feeling that his name
| would achieve higher notoriety If II could be
| linked with great treaty, or filed with de-
| sire to emulate his colleague at the head Of
| the Department Of State, had entered into
regulations with Canada by which he was
| willing TO make concessions 10 people who
| lived in that country. The Villas postal
| treaty was conceived The nurses and mid
| wives of the department We're promptly on
| m hnVn oil ipr
| in experience but what they wanted in skill
they made up in enthusiasm. The day Of
| labor came and the supreme moment an
| rived, and amid general rejoicing the poor
| little postal treaty of the United States Of
| America and the Dominion Of Canada
opened its poor, weak, watery eyes upon a
| cheerless world. IL was such little one that
| 1t did not attract much notice at the time,
outside Of the immediate family. twas not
| born with a caul, like Mr.. Dckens's famous
| character; but 1t had u protocol, on which
was emblazoned in proper heraldic tokens
the whole genealogical tree. The treaty
| went into effect on the lst of March, and
about this time shrewd business men dis
covered that postage on seeds, &C., was ~
cents in America, while in Canada IL was but
1 cents. They discovered that men em-
ployed In seed business or in large 0dver-
iisement business by having their work
done in Canada could avail themselves of
| the cheaper postage preNnllnS there, anu
that the postal revenues would be greatly
reduced The effect upon the revenue was
| practically to turn over some S2,0OOOO0 OF
$4,000, 900 annually to the Canadian govern
ment. He did not know what this could
mean. Why this Difference to the English
governments 1t could not he that the ad-
minstTatlon intended to deliver the people
bound to that government, lie was afraid,
If there should be another session of Eng
lish commissioners in Washington, some OF
the officers Of the government would be
found walking down the streets with orange
flowers in their button holes, with the bot
tom Of their trousers turned up, with large
canes, and with bull terriers. Laughter.
Mr., White, Of New York, suggested that
If the committee on postofllces and post
roads had displayed half the amonnt OF
ability in securing information on the sub
iect that It had displayed in finding out how
not TO get II, the matter would have been
disposed Of weeks ago, and a bill would
have been passed showing that the Ameri
can Congress recognized the fact that al
American citizen was as good as a Canadian
citizen If he behaved himself as well, lie
called attention TO the fact that the recent