Mr. KASSON. Mr. Speaker, thisbill is, in my judgment, purely a business bill, concerning the properand rotitable conduct of the business of the Post Glfice Dept. While I am opposed to one or 2 of the provisions of the bill, I cannot see the necessity for lug ging in a nestion of reconstruction in connection with (Giis simple bill. The postoffice Dept, in order to maintain the revenues of the Dept, wants to sell all the stamps it can. This bill proposes a measure to facilitate the selling of stain s. They cannot be sold where they cannot e bought. My objection, therefore, to, from the reading of the bill. this bill does not rest upon the fact that it enables people in the South to bu the stamps which, under the laws of the U.S., they must buy, or write no letters. My objection is that the bill contemplates what, it seems to me, is an interference with the system of administration adopted in recent acts touching the postoffice Dept. Postmasters were formerly paid by commissions, dependent upon the number of postage stamps canceled; and they were charged and are now charged with the selling of stamps and stain edenvelopes to anybody who may wish to buyt mm. It costs the Government nothing when it uses its own legitimate officers as the instrumentalities for the sale of these stamps and stamped envel opes. The propositisii embraced in this bill is to allow ve%. for the sale of these stamps to every one who shall be declared a depositary. Considerably over ten million dollars worth of stam s perannum are now sold; and an allowance o 5%. would amount to half a million dollars annually. I think that we should not subject the revenues of the postoffice Dept to so serious a subtraction as is proposed by this bill. On the contrary, if there are not a sufficient number of postmasters in any localities to distribute stamps, I think it should be provided that the Dept may in such cases do osit stamps for sale with any Government o eer there, requiring that officer to attend to this business in connection with his other public duties, without any additional cost to the Government. I am therefore opposed to this bill, as cal culated to cause a serious reduction of the revenues of the Dept. I think that the object soughtcan be much betteracco lished by an amended bill. Hence I be etat an opportunity will be given for members to see the bill in print, so that we may propose such amendments as will arrive most effectually at the result desired. I ought to add that I know full well, as does every gentleman who is acquainted with the PostMGenl, that no measure for the benefit or advantage merely of rebel interests will emanate from that Dept. This bill involves a simple nestion of business. The PostMGenl is, beyond doubt, honest in his desire to facilitate the sale of stamps and increase the revenues of the Dept. I do not like, however, the method in which be proposes to accomplish his object; and I hope an opportunity will be afforded to amend the bill.