fl'ftl.- liri'H I "" ' U . T- - - ' - .'- ... . -"""""""""I MMWaMMH
PiiWiO eft every Thursday Evening 1y
JEBEMIAU GROUSE, Prop'r.
Terms of H irwertpttnrt,
two iv-ma rw rrcn anntm. ray-
al.ln vithiii si months, or ?'.Wif not
paid within ttiivenr. No paper di-i-continued
iir.tii itil n iron rigcs are
paid unless at the option of the pub
lisher. gllbscriptl'nna outside of the COnnty
1MYA.IIT.K tS AKVAXCE.
ffcrf-rcrson liflimr nnd usm paper
sil'lre.sod to othrs become uihMcri'licr,
Hint nre liahh" fnrthi prior nfthn paper.
t
nO, JOHN B. PACKER,
In the HotiHO of Representatives.
The Houni having muter consideration
the hill for ttm frro cxvhanne nf
l.csspnpcra between publishers, nml
for the fn-n trnnsmis.ion of weekly
iirpnprra y nuiil nml within the
comity where published.
Mr. Spfarfr In reporting thin
hill for the net ion of the Mouse, it
certainly rntinol lie regarded ah ne
cessary that we should enter tixin a
general discussion of tho franking
privilege as it existed prior to tho 1st
i.f July. 1S73. for that lias lecn dis
posed of by Congressional enactment.
Mini, with its advantages mul liHnl
vsntagos, itn uses and abuses, what
ever they tuny liavo lecu in now a
tiling of the past.
K.ptally foreign and ii relevant to
the question now presented for the
consideration of the House in the
subject to which reference is some
times made in thin connection, of the
additional eost of printing, nud of
increased expenditures in the prepsr
lit ion nml publication of the public
documents for distribution among
Uie people.
1 1 i h dill linen not provide for eith'
fr. hut is expressly limited in iU
o-rution, hy its own terms, to pro
viding means fur tho distribution,
without charge, to citizens of the
fluted State or pereens residing
there:li, of the public documents,
books or publications, and printed
matter published and issued by
authority of Congress, ru1 of such
packages of m-eds cuttings, roots.
iiu 1 scions as may he luriiisbed by the
Agricultural Department under nu
thoi'ity of law. It makes no pro
vision for ivin! injLf a single docu
mentor book not already published,
and docs not eontenpl:ite or require
tlmt any more shall I in ordered for
rublication t leaving tlmt question
fertho decision -of Congress whi p it
shall properly arise.
Lut we lmvii now, sir. in the folding-rooms
of this House, hound, fold
til, and ready fur distribution, about
oi.c hundred and thirty-llireo thou
.and volumes of the most valuable
looks minted bv the direction nml
under the authority of Congress. In
il'B public document room of the
Senate they have about tho come
'jiunber, making in all tdxiut two
i.iindred and sixty-six tlioiiKand vol
iiinca t bi.Kid'H many piunphletn eon
Uiin'iig much nai-ful iiiftiruiiitioii
nvn (ju htiouH of nntional inijmit
m(! and of gteut intereht to the
(lthlie.
That there boolis belong to tlie
(Mfiplo there o,n be no Uitton.
llicir money him paid for them, and
t'jt;r ii-..ht t have thrm cannot be
J'jv.bU'il t l :le tho lett rn, altuoRt
without nninl o", eouiiug to uh from
;.ir couhtitneiita by every mail attest
tin ir anxiotiB dchiic to have them.
Heretofore, uh their repreHclita
tivca, menibera tif Congress have
Iwn charged with tho duty, some
n!mt luboriotiH, it is true, but ntjll a
i lcasant duty withal, of inaking a
iilicious diHtribution of the ipiota of
theso doeumenta apportioned to each
ivngreasionnl diatiii-t among thoae
lor whose nee, information, and bene-
lit they were printed. Then. how.
t-ver, tho law proviiled tho meana for
unking thiu dixtribution, and of
giving tho information no highly
I't'izeii by many of our eit'.zena, and
Licit iacolluted, prepared, and
printed at cotiBiderablo coht to the
public, free of expenno and without
itarge to the people for tranxiiorta
lion in their own uaila,
Charged simply with the duty of
tibU ibution, certainly the r pre sen
t.itive could not bo expect! to jiay
i e cost of Kcntung tin ho publication
itlmr by mail or by expreaa, or other
itans 1 1 trat s; ortalion, to the con
lituentH to whom they belong. Aa
c'.l, and junt as leaMOuably, might
" In nnked to funiinh the paper upon
'iich they aro prititbd, and to pay
v cost of printing and binding the
"In, or to contiibuto a portion of
io epenaes incurred in the preja
ti'.n of the dift'ereut works for pub
ition. It is tine, the distribution
a limited number of dooumeuts,
(iu at our own expeuae, might not
opproiiKjveJy ouerotta, but tlie
iticipla is the same whether the
i on nt in amall or large, and the
'pie would not fail torecoguizethe
-juhtioe of the burden to w hich everr
(luber of CongreBS would be sub
tle! by a repetition cf similar
vors to any ranmderable number pf
isconatituents.
From a statement I Lave before me
' tLo weight of each of the docu
Dta in the fuldinor-room it aimeara
Ut the postage, at tlie rates now
sea by law, would range from about
enty-tive cents on the smaller
A to about VI. 70 upon the largest
:i reachinif. for a set of the Globe
'the Forty-second Congress, the
Kpcctable figure of 97.82. These
ts of postage, chartred noon the
bole number of documents each
'-uiber of tlie House sent to his
iintituonts and actually distribu
l tim ing the people during the
nionu of the Forty-aacond Con
im. would have amounted to fl,
Hl.OG.ort he sum of 076.6Jv Dor
V th Senator's poeuK
i-.i-vi. 'wii.ii during tht Bams
ft
Jl
VOL. 12.
Congress, upon his quoto of docu
meiita, if charged at the present
rates, b',il.W7 tier annual, ibis cat
dilation is baaed, however, upon the
w hole number of documents actually
sent) and m they include some lying
over from former years, I have pro
cured from the foktiug-roora a state
ment of the number properly allot
ted to each Congressional district
during the three sessions of the late
C'otigrena, and distributed by the
iiienibem of the Iiouse, from which
it appeals, by a careful computation
of the rates of postage upon each
book sent, that the aggregate of each
member's poatage would have been,
upon these documents alone, al
785.14 i the average rate of postage
iK-ing forty-six cents pr document.
I'pon the one hundred and thirty
three thousand volumes now on hand
in tho House folding room, which
were authorized before but not
furnished until after J ujio 30, 187:4.
the poatage, at present rates, would
be in excess of il, )(), while the
charges upon tho books in tlie Sen
ate document room would be about
the same.
Since the expiration of the frank
itig privilege on the 1st day of July
last, but few, if any, of these docu
ments have been sent by mail, those
that have been distributed having
nccn sent ny express; and it is there
fore very obvious that comparative
ly few will reach their proper owners
esiH-cially if they reside at trreat
distances from the capital, and off
the line of the express companies
routes.
In nearly all the States in which
the policy of publishing and distribu
ting oflicitd documents for the in
formation of tho people has been
adopted, tho State it is believed, pays
for tho stump put upon tho package
by the oflicvr or person sending it
by the mail, and practically that plan
liafl lieeii adopted aud ih now cm
ployed, under the act of Congress,
by the Executive departments of
i ue uovernweiii av , asuington.
Tho principle of tho payment of post
age upon official papers, documents,
luniks, ic, by the (Jovcmuieut, is,
therefore, fully recognized aud acted
iimiu now by all the Executive lc
partmeute, iu seiuling uuder ofliciid
stampa provided by the Government
the very large proportion cf these
dix'uiuenUauthoridby Congress to
lie printed fur their use and and fur
nished by tho Government Printer
to them, although cliaJ'god to tho ae
count of CougU'M. And this Vtll
only jiropoae to can-y that principle
into cfi'uet, fur the btmetit aud aV
vantage of the people themselves,
aud for the purpoae of securing the
diHtribution of a portion, at least, of
these publications to thoso whom we
lepreeeot. by a method which will, it
is believed, stand the test of a com
parison with that now iu use by the
Departments to which I Jiave refer-
Let us examine for a moment, air,
tho practical operation pf this de
part mental, or official-stamp system.
I'lHUi tlie abolition of the franking
privilege of course it ra'came neces
sary to make some provision to enable
the several Departments to transmit
their official mail matter through the
mails, and therefore it was enacted
by tho fourth section of the act mak
ing appropriations to supply defi
ciencies, &o approved Mar, 3, 187:ir
Tbat Iha fulluwlnf iiaounli, or to much
(hereof may b ntetMtrr, r hereby
-pro)rilfd for lb following da Died o.f-
Qifru mid Uvptrlaienli for nurckkes of
jioigi--iin)i fur UM during lbs Otctl
jrr ending June 80, 1T4 ;
For Ereoutivs oflioo, f 000 ; fop Depirt
mcnt of Bute. $HK,000 ; for roit-Oflic
Ui-psrlmtnt, (COO.OIX) ; for Treaiury
I)Ftnnint, $504,000 for Ny Depart
men, $.'IS,(KI0 ; for Inlerlor Depart mea t,
f'JHO.nOO ; for Agricultural Peparlmeat,
$52,01.4) ; for Department of J urn ice, ff,
ooo for War Dt-parloient, $I6S,ooo ; for
offioei of the Clerk of the lloiiae of Renre-
eoialiven, $loo each i mnklns la all
rna.i'oo ; rroviuca, io'-i id lotlmaaler
Genaral (hall cau la be prepared a pe.
cial alanip or tlamped envelope, to be
ued only fur official mail mailer, for each
of Ih Eiecutit Departmem and ald
tamp and lmpd n1np (hall b,
upplied by lb propr officer of laid De
pan meat lo all penoo under It direction
riiiriiif lb (am for official ui.
T'udor this act there were furnish
ed to the Executive Denai-tmenta.
fi-om the 30th of June to the 8th of
Decern Lmi-, 1873, a poriod of five
luuths sud eight dayp, offlcial ixst
age-stamps and stamped epvelopea
of the nominal vale pf 14P,i7
02. Dy turning to the reports of tliese
officers we learn how these stamps
and stamped envelopes, supplied in
such large number, are disposed, pf
by tbcro.
'i lie hocrcMiry of the Treasury, In
his circular to officers and clerks of
the Treasury ppnai tuieut aud others,
instruct them tfiat -
Tbe, damp ar o L ud on all of
ficial oorreponden of whatever natur.
and other offielal nail mailer, wbetber
ddreed lo officer lally rniilled lo Ih
franking privilege, to piper plAoer of lb
d or eminent who bad not ih irivilaa, or
lo prival pereon on official builneat; Ibu
entirely doing away with tb tie oflbe
ordinary podags (lamp for official our-
P0"!
And then he informs na that nis
Department furnishes auph stamps to
the following t 42 officers of the De
partment in Washington, 10 assist
ant treasurers, S designated deposi
taries, 7 mint and assay offloers, 21
light bouse inspectors and engineers,
iS superyjsing and Jpcal inspectors
of steam vessels, 42 revenue marine
and hie saying service, surgnpus
in charge of matin hospital, 33
superintendent construction and re
1
fauv xiuiiug ymMUM, ja apecuuipoaiae,
I LI:. 1 Jl I. aa I I
B
HUDDLEBURG,
agents, 1 commissioner of fish and
fisheries, 171 custom officers, $2i
collectors of internal revenue, 2G
revenue agents, 10 supervisors of in
ternal revenue t a total of 078 of
ficers receiving them directly from
the Pepartment t but of the number
of clerks and assistants of these of
fleers to whom they are thusiutruutvd
we are not ad vim L
The State Department furnishes
them to tho Secretary of Stato, the
Assistant Secretary of Hale, the
fecond Assistant Secretary, t,he chief
clerk of the Department, tho examiner
of claims, the dispatch agent at New
lork, and the diHpaUh agent at
Boston.
The Attorney General repot la that
tlie .Department of Justice
11.. 1.,. .I...I ..IA. . ...I... .1... i.
una who bat been supplied with then'
lamp fur the purpoat of paying pottage
on official oorrri.nndence, Hi mure are
on official correspondence. Hl.mp. are
Hf'?i 1."? y,?'?? 'VTvT'
of line office and Iheollioa of tbe Holicitnr
of Ih. Tr.aaury. Is a ftw in.tai.ee. b.-re
letter hart been wrlite lo per.on. nut
miuiii
ol fleer, or employe, of lb Departnirn',
aaklng Ivf liiformalloa poft.g. atampi
D.T.oee...c....eiopyio. return pom-
thetn to thp eight bureaus of the!
Navy department, including the
Naval Observatory, Hydographic
Office. Nautical Almanac Office. Siu-
nal Uftiee, naval liospitala the com-
mandants ti( the several navy-vards
and rendezvous, receiving ships, and
offices connected therewith 1 the
Superintendent of the naval Academy;
('"ii """T- "ii iriK nun ino enure cnargo oi me
i.'l?. . dl"'r'!,1 ''opy. '"''official stamps, and for the stamping
Intted Uiale marekale, and 02 rniirl, of . ', .... ',,
the United Hlat... niakius Iu all 17J Per- ! '! ,.,.rtu'ml nro 1HH""1 ".v
r.l iT' "l , ,. ' "'"."""'Isiol.sin tU lVnsiot. ollico is the ens- '"""-I " l'"''''" d- ume.its publish !'r IH,,W ft,,.v P'""'" H be benefited. Y . ""cupieu
in thai branch of the Department relaluifi V . 1 1 " ," l"' , ed bv ,br...'i i., ,.f i 1 but t he stock liol.!...u ..fit " and tintiiiprov.id. and wi i.av l.
.h.Cu,.r,ofC1alme.whcr. ,h. r.p.ro todian of ho o.hcul alatnps T hey ' ' J '" ;r,,ll:c1 ,p ,ies ' ''aUH w( l,,u wl''- taxes nmlVutiiisI, no revenue's 1, ai,
paper vers voluminous. are issui'd by hun to oiiim' ei k iti the 1 1 .' ' ' 1 1L" !'i ..' . . . i ., , ,,f 1 ,
lie also states that-. office, whoso dutv it. is to stamp all 11 , V" nU nude,' ,,-1 It . vas not, (;,r, brca-tsn I l.-liryoil ' L 4 1 V, o1 ur.K ,, "
About one-fcalf ih. tiui of a rl.ls. official mail. The .1. H't v coiiiitiis-l -v ' v' w f-ro Haled, and ' (.iwrmnriit would derive anv; ,S ' l"'"'-. b.aMitf
ekrk U empWed in kee g aa acco.n.t f , si. , -r , e ,vi 2. iv.t.es l -ial "t M MUcial. Iiltl-h X"? lr advantage'!"' H'n mi'' ' "lri l" ''t
lb. . pW,.g. .amp, a.d .r.n.mtiting th.,' , ",( ,, 1 "x "' , . less the private, correspondence of '":!- li.io,, of tlie frankilT'. i"";. ' ' ""'"T hf', W
lo the officer. entitled to them, and s t mi-. """"r" l" ' aiiiimiif, miiihhih i 1 .;. (i , . , . , ; , t ue I mvi rtiliieii t ill treat htm hko
.iderabl. portion fth. time of on. me,..,,. I the p.iytnelit of poatage of certif, " "'-'.." I the net .l:,ce, it eat. J -U .Uiformly voted as I ! ,,, f , . f , 1 1 ' 1 Jrt
get i. now oec,,Pi,d la d.liv.ripg cntes of examinuli..,, of pensioi.eia. "" 1,0 h,,t "" n speed alsmp. .''' t' nat( ongrcss in favor of ; " , ". 1 "f'
matter lath. city. It is th Cston, of this liurenu w he,, 1 "' ? ''"I""1 ' ' wrapper, of '.nT '
m, . ix , ............ .. . . uncli f.,i-,, .,,,.1 . 1. ... .1... 11 1.1: : I. Hit I'OIMO lil 1-, ,i, .1 ;i 1 1 11.' OHI uoilll' UUil li ll'llilrl no Itil I .0-
ine ravy I'epartmeni iitmislies oiuciat leiters are aililressed to Per-. ", """" " 1 . . " " inwumi
the Admiral of the Navy; tho governor correspondence, all prititi d matter
nf tl.A Na.Tfll Asvllimt thH t1111'fllllul'lwMHH.10ll bv till, Htltl1n1.il V tf I '.iiiii,...!..
paymasters at Portsmouth, Nw
llampsliire, Boston. New York, I'hila
delpbia. Isnlliiuore, asIijngton. Nor
folk, and San Francisco 1 naval sta
tions at League Island, New Ijondon,
Mound City, aud New Orleans s pa
val examining and retiring board ;
and such of the vessels of tho United
States Navy aa may be in our potts,
Iu the War Department tho stamps
are fnruistiea to the Adjutant ticti
eral, the chief clerk of tho office, and.
iu his absence, another clerk, de
signated bv the Adjutant General,
aud a clerk who affixes the stumps to
tho letters aud packages to be mail
ed 1 Inspector-General H. It. Marcy;
Inspector-Ucneral K. behriver j em
ployes Inspector-General's oflleo :
clerk InsiMHitor.Geucrai'a office t to
lite cuter clerk of thp bureau of
Military Justice
In the Quarter master General s
offine a ulerk is designated to take
charge of nnd account f r the official j
Stamps, Ac, and eiyht clerks are
supplied with thetn.
lathe ollioe of Commissary-licn-
eral of Subsistence the stumps re
quired for the use of the orlico are
lacpd in charge of ono clerk of class
wo.
In the Surgeon General's Otlico
the Bureau of Medical Statistics, the
Paymaster General's Office, and tho
office of the Chief of Engineers, the
stamps are placed in the hands of
clerks, while the uunpVr of oth ers
. . . "".'"!.." t 4.. a o ..1. r 41
the Signal umco, at tlie vanoun strv
tions pf ohnervatiou throughout the
country who are furnished with offi
cial postage stamps, for the purpose
of paying postago on official corres
pondence, is 112.
Jn the 4'ost Umea Department
they are issued to tho following olU
cers aud employees 1 1 Postmaster-
General, 3 assistant postmasters-
general, 1 Assistant Attorney Gen
eral for the l'ost Umce Depart nient,
I superintendent of foreign mails, 1
Superintendent of Money-Order Sys
tem, 1 chief clerk of Department, 1
chief of division of mail depredations,
1 postage stomp agent at New York,
1 postal-card agent at Springfield,
Massachusetts, 73 special agents, 3-13
railway post office head clerks, 917
route agents, 193 mail route uicshcu
gars, and 83.7SQ postmasters a to
tal of 35,317,
In the Department of the Interior,
in the Secretary's office tho official
postage-stamps are in the custody of
the ppperintendept of documents,
who lat'iea them, on the reijuisition
of the chief clerk of the Department,
to rhe chjef messenger and t the
clerk in immediate charge of tho document-room,
who stamp all official
mail mattpr leaving tbe Pepartment.
Omcial stamps are also issued by
the superintendent of documents to
the following bureaus, on requisition
of their respectjvp heads: The Du
reau of lndiun Affairs, tbe liurenu of
Education, the ' Patent Office, the
General Land Office, the Pension
Office, the Census Office, and the
National Museum.
In the Bureau of Indian Affairs
the official stamps are in the keepinc
of a plerk of the first class, whose
duty t i to stamp all official mail.
stamps are also iurntsitea by tins
liureau to the following officers t To
5 Indian inspectors. 4 superintend
ents of Indian ofl'aifs, and 77 Iudiun
agents.
In letters written to persons not
ponneoted with the Bureau, asking
for information, it u customary, to
iucloae official stamps for return
.
r
SNYDER COUNTY, PA.,
In the Hurentt of Education the! undoubtedly thwjuivil. goof tlie poo -
chief clerk has charge of all matters Iple themselves, uitended for their
pertaing to postage and tho sending ' lem fit, in facilitating their 'oniinti
out of official mail. In this Uurean
ii in ciiHioiiiiiry, w uen vno correspon
dence renders a reply important for
the information of the oflce, to in
close official stamps for return pes
tatje. In the Patent Office the financial
clerk has custody of the official
t:iinps, but is not allowed to lit-c
them himself. A ladv clerk has i-harirr
of stumping all tho oltleial i.inil, v.ilh
the exception of letters written and
mailed after office hours, which are
stumped by cither the Commissioner,
Assistant (.oUillilMollf r, or chief
Clerk.
I.. Il.n f l.,,.l T...l rirtt
..1 ul. I . 1 . ... , .,
..... . - - itrini m ,11,1, t iie ,',-
' daily to the chief of t lie Him ail.
j who alliea tliem to said mail. The
clerk referred In luo fiii.iiiu),..u
clerk referred In uUr, ln.niwl,,.-
"""1 lHiUrlv to the following
,v.' .. ' ., . . ... n.
j ""''. "1"" their reijuisition , 1
1 17 surveyors-general 111 regtstera
1 1 1 no vevors ucneiai : lit reetsieis
f tho local laud oITiccm, and 'Ml re
ci ivels of tho local land offices.
... ...". ..." - .
1 he dumf v commissioner of Men
f I
sons not interested in tho contents!1,0''11'1' "1 Tv-l I'.v Hie I'ost -
thereof, to inclose official stamps for
return posture.
Tho fruitkimr rrivilerre was limited
; iitu a 1 v ."tin 11 1, 1 it ill.'" a 1 1 m1 H ll It
to tho President, the ice rresi lent.
Senators, lieineseiilativi s. i.nd Dl
. gates in Congress, and the Secretary i
of the Senate and Clerk of the House'
of ISepreaeiitatives, to cover their
and nil speeches, iiioccedings, and
ili'ltfiti-R in f'ntiffouj 1.11. Ii nn'iiioi
officers of the" i:ecutive J), art-
11 Mil
ments. king litads ol r.itre.nis or i
chief clerks, as the rostmaster- ( !. n-1
era! might bv ngulatiou prescribe,!
to cover i. eta comn.nii cat .una on v:
post masters, to coven. Ilicial commu -
ideations to other postmasters onlv
and niwssora and collctdors and
their nssilants and deputies, for the
interchange of otllcia! communica-
tlul.H (tlllv.
And then it was expressly provid -1
ed, by the revised te't of 1'iiJ. ns a
protection ngainst fruud, anda guar
antee of the official character of the.
paper or correspondence sunt,
that
No per.on enllili'.l by l.iw lo the frr.nk
ii'g ptivili'(! al.i.ll vxriL'i- .nul rl v i lejrr
olhi-rni.e I bun by bin nrition uutngrail.
eignature on the iinuier franked
'J hits, Air Speaker, it w ill be seen
that under tho present system it
has Peen found necessary, m
in tl e
ml
,. ,.
.iiit. 111
operation of the ev!i'iHi.' mi
plicated riacl.incrv of tho
nieiit, b, st alter IIhkd orfieial siampr
llll,l,.ut 1. 1', .Ml-I ,,, I. ..
and I submit, sir, if all these tho". '-i
sands of uliiecr and tens of tl 0.1-'
sands of clerks and subordinates all
il. . 1 t
trusted with the etndodv and use of:
thesn HtiimoH tiiiid T .l' f.. .....
tluseBtatnps, and 1 lo for 'w -
nient believe they make an improper
or unauthorized use of them!) why I
,.,.. i,. ,1. f ,,
.... ....n ti.e ...i.t-taij 01
V"."1 7 ' u luu . t lH. m:iill u xxouuu.u nnthouyAw, fh lt'
IfnilflA witli 1in nn'A i.n.1 i.un if flit
KlltMl) or 8tU!U)0tl VMM lopo for pub-
lia documents as provided
fur
. .
'"
authorized by this lull f
T will I ,.11 ulif I 1
11 is n H 1 ""ill'l Illl iH4J.
iiii,,liiin.-. timi t1 ti.tT.ii, llll, l.N tU'
In...,, it Tte.l ..on- II...I ,t. m..;,,t
., " : .i" ..i:..i i .... i . ..:
"iu uui.iii, n.iiitiiib inu niiLliiichV ut l
dene., of making an illepd use of
their frank under the old syhtetn
Tho old charges of irregularities and
abuses would bo revived, and as it
would bo difficult to provo a nega
tive it might be impuHtiihlu to uieet
tljo charge- Tlieso stamps or winj
pors aro intended or tho benclit of
our conntituepta and not of ourselves;
and our Lest aud surest protection
against all accusations and assaults
will be, not to take them into our
custody or possession, but leave them
iu the hands of tho ofiicera designat
ed, whoso duty it will be to attach
them only to such public documents,
or printed matter, or seeds, as may
bo authorized to bo distributed by
congressional enactment.
In view ulso of tho objection fre
quently urged against tho former sys
tem of franking, whether well-founded
or not, that other parties could
counterfeit or fraudulently use the
frank of a number of Congress, more
especially iu former years when the
use of engraved far-i, mile stamps or
dies was permitted, tho committee
have placed around tho plan submit
ted by them such checks and guards
as jmifd, jt is believed, cflisclually and
certainly prevent evory attempt to
abuse it Ami if, may bo remarked,
iu passing, sir, that a great, if not
the major, part of the opposition to
the franking piiyilegp, grew out of
its supposod or alleged abuso i for
the privilege, wheu properly and
hopebtly aud legally excrcisou, was
7
thcin furuiHhed directly to Ll.o S. ua , incKe iiociiuieuis ami pacKu t.ry tuijioiy. - .
U.rs and members tl.ciHelveM. l '.vc. y ,f,, s(f,,r. m,'V, 1' ".l ,,.fc exceeilmg in the eleven Male-1 of irr?.,,.,,,
member receiving then, would evp.mc ! hn l' , U'VB froV tl0 t"no of vi-ry . ".'. Nitl Oarohna.,
himself to tho elmrgo of inalutig n..:for '.''i'i ','ff, n it i, I ! B v;u ' 7!n"tHWM
; i ti...... l ... U ithotit tcottblii.g thelfottHO with'bama, JliHJiKHippi, Arlitinsas. Lonis-
pof,tago-(,tamp8 of tho Apartments K,UB '"" uu"1 "V"" 11 ! '"' ,,,1 .V,', " " ,V"'r "l""
arc allied to private or 'utiollleial WlH'n.ltu. . the Depart uiuiit, I.'- '-A ' tluh uii.l New
mail tnatter, and just as members of l r to '""'t" what seems !j Jeucu ho excpi was Vlj.V.l.fi2!.S7.
Cnmress were ehar.red. nv.,r and .!V l'Kl'"ato subject of .U in inauifest, thereforo, even from
APRIL 29, 1874.
i ideations with their agents or repfi
seiiiaiives upon me ipicNtion com
l'lg liefore t (ingress aflei tiiig their
iu,'iu ami vni",r iiucvcmih, nr ine
welfaro nud prosperity of the conn
....
J.y the n cond sictun of this bill
it is provided
aud
Tint tbe frrrrtnrv of tbe fondle nml
I li'rk nf the lli"i-i'
of U yrw v
iuiI r nine lit ho tfp
roM-r-iv, ii,.-.'..
he l oi'F'l rli
pared, fur llirir
.pi'Pinl Mnnip, or fi Ht.if. .--I rnvcbipa or
wripper, i.f m oh fnnn nn I di'tipn s I , 1 1
bo directed nnd R prov.-.l hy the Punt.
i ni.i"lcr (it-nernl. In be i I l.y
I ii,.,-.,-, iruinni, iu lip il-,'. iy uf j,
...,.in-f'.k i , , ... .
i.-rcriMurr anil i irm. or 'y
"" " i"y be sproliiKd
nub i.t-
'd bv eP.ber ...
o lliii.., ..nij
llii'.H. fi r liirir rr. i relit
I -in ii priiiirii iiiniier iir (I. nMI lnoli I il
tinrti n nt .....ild ..,iiii... , ...
. " : . ' "-. '
: v. r..1 r,!,,; "r -
I pie ill t'onsro", the (rrrlnry ft the
.--.. - m. hi ,., nil. i I'vu
; . .. .. . -
'te
it,
.
. ,
lire.. In. In. nr. I 11. mi
.i. 1 - .. ,
. n,, ur riiTrii .r. Ilil-rimi, 11111(71,, . . , "'il
in be .put in-nii.ii 1. ....i.L.i 1. .... 1 l.iev ate not nut in ibu ii.ml
mr naiuir cni.ii.in nf llita
' , .......v.. m,,, , ,. 1 n.
ir going cci'iinn uf this a.-t.
...a .. ..
1 huh the matter that mav be sent
. '
irec 01 cnargo is, m the lu st iiiaee,
' citerui. to l.u attached, or
lused. only by tho proper ofli. or 'f
1,0 1 ",s,, An" l" "' ns " ''
And thi n, us
tiotial ineaaurc of protection, and to
Jr,','v,,lt ofltccrs desigm-.t, .!, on""- i'r tlie sanjo reatton I sin.nld
i ..' . '
- v "1" ,1"" ""Vr ' impro
I"? or ""''"''"'"z.-'l useoftheslami).
ll is leipured that tho person ail
thoriid to send the ml 1 litre, the
Vice
President, Senator. IN nicKciim.
'!vo' ',l' j),,pdi' in Congress, or the
"'""""J 'l UH- ill llllll', III' 1111! V II IK
"f ,!u' """sc. shrill also indorse It.
"-""re "r"" "' wrapper or uive
'"P"- ".' '"" 'wn liandwrilin.f.
. A"1""' nH a further security against
.""l"1 T" " " " , M' cominiuic
i ,'!' '.'".V.
IN lilt' I tli
I In! any ...ron w,.n .,al tiinwlni'tv, .ml will,
itii, ,,i 1.. .1.1. 1 .......
Nl' t.m.b .,.1.. ,,i,My r' t 'i'
lX
i)'Uf... r In tin r iimiiM. r thin n.'i-. h.r,
mi
I .Til
.in. in,-, , ,,r h.tli Miniit r.. .1 iitf
ll....r. hi. ;i.it ., r..i Ii -i .n.li.i.. in ih w, ...
!;;:v:T,;:,;liy-::,:i;r;::;ie:;;;-::!, e:
iih the iiu. ht ... a. i.i.i ii, i t i..ik.., i vi lopes, ,vc, tho daily avcrai'o of
ll:;;::.:;:::;:;!;:;,,.:::Tn;:ir.;l,,::n'.'' ;;:.':;, ;.;! wii-ii . i iinderst.u,,t:i the m-igh-i:r!:r:x,::.,r.:;';,;,,vr
ltir,:;T.,b,jibjriK5,H',,f U(,h ; woit-
II..U .H. ivi iii..i.iIim, ,t liv ii.i.u nun ui.t liuiiri.uu. l,i,r oil StaillpM, paid for by ll.o fiov-
...... .. I, .,. .i1Wa.i u.r.rt
1 ll lllf ."'I IllUll I lilt ft tltll'l lldllCIl 111 .f
the very able, energetic, and vigilant
I'lvin iirii'ti in
head of the l'ost Otlico Department
1) liui tiiiciit
1 . , . '
w.iui.im iiiiiiiuraiuti so many ae
1 'it 1 hi 1 '. 1 , ei i n u 1 1, ici.i, vtiiii
com'-i'1"'."''1 "f l'iH ''"'''f"1 iiilclligi-nl
!hk 'slants, has succeeded in estab -
ii 1: ...1.
MIOlMciereit llnprovellieiils, (l, . 1
iisluiig and inaiiitaiiiiiig tlm nent
i'oiiii!cte, efficient.
and 111 ii 1 1 i in I .)
world, and ri
'"'Htul .K-Vhl.",,a tho
.""'" '" " 'j"''!"
"r u""?' 1,0
1 llll I 111 l'lll IIIIIIL' I II I I II l'( I 111 I 1 1 Illl ItllH
l, .. ,' '''.' , ' ""'i.m of
'"eso ollicial documents, lllolig With
,i10l)ther mail matter, upon n few of
'., ,. 1 , r "! , '! 'w
ho h!in PHrt'cularly those
.eiKiinif 110111 i.iocny 01 l asnilltrioll.
t uie ouMiiniino nuvo niHt-itrtl m i
:,,.... I....... : .1...
I JIIOMSlt
i a . . I ; 1
" - 7. """;v
1 iiMiiciiii ni inn uni'vinn uimii iii.iii.e.i
I.. b ..!.. 1 ,l..i: I ...
I ' ' 'II l IIVIIII-
wi"MO or 111 1U11X UK) I lIlliHUUK
.1 , 1 . 1 .
, , . ,.
"1 n fereiice, at this moment, to tho
.IH'lUiry
- , , . ...
'f 1 10 ,uluml tutwu of the
mails.
It amounted in tho fiscal year end
ing 17:1 to Jjlo.IHO.UliO (10.
Jn tho estimates for 1875 tho
Deiiartmcnt sets down the esti
mated cost of this service at &15,
H7S.b2l, 00.
Aud tho increase of compensation
on railroad routes, under uct of
March 3, lh73, at SfiM.OOO 00.
Tho wholo cost, then, it will lie
seen, of inland transportation of the
mails for tho year ended Juno 1 10,
1S73 tho last yenr of tho franking
privih go, and including tho uimmial
amount of freo matter thrown upon
tho muilsduriiig the last three mouths
of its pxiatfuco was SslU.fWrj.atl,
whilo the sum appropriated for the
current fiscal year ending ou tho
30th day of J une next, upon tho es
timates of tho Department, and in
cluding the 500,000 appropriated
for readjustment of pay ou railroad
routes uuder act of 3d March, 1873,
amounted to gl5,310,0J0. Ami tho
amount Congress is now asked to
appropriate for the next fiscal year
for the same purpowo is $10,413,821.
Of course a very large proportion of
this increase is chargeable to the
establishment of new post offices, tlie
extension of mail routes, aud to tho
improved mail facilities afforded, and
no one will take tha trouble (o examine
the subject wito any degree; of card
can doubt it is entirely legitimate
and proper. But it in just as evidout
tbat the abolition of tho franking
II 1 I. ' . . . ( . .f ... ....... I . .... .....
in this connection tho cost t'ie liurne.l reference 1 have made to
A
I 4
NO. 5.
1 privilege has not produced the Ix-n
efits predicted by tho friends of the
iiieaniiie, and that the increaHed rev-
entto which was expected to result
from ita repeal has tint been sufficient
to dispense with or diminish the
usvuil appropriations for tho defi-
eieneies in the revenues of tho Do -
I"""t- And 1 ant eiitiilv free to
admit, sir, that I cannot comprehend
the lino of argument which, ti'l.iiiL.
. the whol
nu.iibir of iWumi'iilft
fortllMly Hclit to
I . . i '
!,;:,u",i'v
tho peoplo of the
flunk of nini,il...,a ..r
Congres!!. and compulin iiu, total
amoiitit ot the pout ago thit votild
be elurjeablo npou hp ' sent by
.i V , 1 '"VJ'i "'.Hiinus
I " ""' lcpreaentif lU aniounl
l ". "Ht 0fl"' 1)l pnrfmeiit would
ii. no ui, inn ,u eseiii rati a. itMimu.
',.uii' i no it iiom ion OI tUO pl'tvi-
1...... ttti .... . I
" 11 ii".' same iiltnuier
of books
!t,,,, - t,", hImmim
io
sent bv
ie mail, at tho Hiimo rates, of course
. mi ,-..., .1 ,,e coirw('
and I
" iiui b noiuii ie increase.! I,v
.1 .. . .. 1 llIM 'i
I li increase.
.IUII!
ainolllil paid thereon l..,f ir
--., .1
mnvnnioa iy oMittH, it in tiftiMitt
I lorwni'ileil liv
1 1 ... ' ..
1 '"''" "iaun now ihe. receipts of
41... It........l ..a 'is
1 . ' " t'"' imi'iii win no augmented.
; !"'vncg.. ,-t niembers of Congr.'ss
'"'" '! ,u wm tiier pr..perlyi.rnot.
' "'.,H ll,,t 0,1,.v 1i'i''l' to abitsn.
! . . V'"1. 11 ",ls n""H'l ly those cnti
1 t,(''' i,H exercise as well as bv oth-
- -
! re enactment, 111
'"!'I'hI object i.itmt form, and
; """''l oppose its restoration with
' !'" f 'Vures that eot.ld bo rpfa.de, I
: "H 'onfcri ing a privilege nen..'.iiid to
, II . I
in.! mi imiii i iiunseit, 111 any sense or
degree, or ns granting' privileges
which corld in any manner beabn'si'd
01 pei vi t ied to improper or unau
thorized purposes.
It tuny bo proper for me to explain
in this connection, however, tlmt id.
i ...1..... 1 - "
fourth htLtiou:,,l0llr,' the Tost Office Department
1 1 Iocs not send by express, it does
relld II I II til till, lllailrf, without tile
. , .....
l1"1,01 ,"l,'ml posti,f!o Htamp,
i . 11 H"lilllt tllO I'ljUUt
nil til iihi-ii hiiiii nu .
, I" lllo, lleill-liagS. locks 1111,1 I:
i .. :.. mi . 1 1 . ' ' '
erntuent, were put upon these the!
' .. .,H......t U. . . . I
lllllillll'lll ri.VIIIIIIIIU M Mm ll..i.ul
,1 ,. ,
1 i:icsc 1 ne
mi nt would be increased bv il,i
in" '-.'iii 1-
i,iii,t i. .. i...n n. .
i niii.itiiit
in. ii-iinril iv
" "in.iiii r 1110 eounit'v
' would bo any richer bv
ttio opera-
I i, ... u oi-. l.l,,,,, 1
lion is a pn l.leiu I h ave
more skilled in such n.ytc,
1 j.lain.
luive toothers
ci iea to es-
.ow, sir,
"ikticielicy''
haviti'' referred to the
ill tlie 1'ot t Office Do-
parliiieiit, K
i-mit me to say that I do
! t.r.l think it will hfiicult to Jt
j hi.( 0 it cot,
1 . . , .
WIM'I.CO It rtHtH. utr lo iU-iikiIikI rili
ow
I., tl,.. II,.... .... 1 ll i
, oX,end.tues in thij Department
nr.. In a teen, m it, riinelpu.
1 ""'"-"" "'" " Torrit ,n,,. i.
yi "i ni.iri. 1 .,1 11.1,1,1,1.1,,,
; HZZ Z LXVILi'tS:
.Or ,., .11 .i,,..,. ..
.m1'' :,,u ,n' '""'"'I'nf m Mimii nillllllt
1 noi.r.l nr.n.-.. . I. i .,n 1 " "
I tin ilnti! It 1 1 nr K n
t "ing t-.lul ilvnoltua lliljHi-cnufit of W.TUI. -
wt'A.a.M is-
:iur r. -
In nly leveu ol I lie
Slnlnn ill I the rci!ulitii
PIWB I IIiB DI If ,1 Urft. la I, Ita 1.. ..II at
tin' 1 the 1
inn
" '".,"' J" . . "r"' riw' " lliiinm
t.w n. ui iu rVUL'imft, Blltl UUI ui tin in .
i ; , '.,
!"'. d lexas, there was an i xcchs
t'tu official records, that these do
ueietieies aro occasioned prineijvilly
by tho cxtt.ii.led lines and additional
senieo upon our mail routes, aud
not by an increased volume or bulk
of mail matter transported. In the
older and tuoro thickly settled States
with their larger population, greater
commercial activity, aud more fully
develojied resources, aud where the
mails ftip heavier, the receipts, it will
be observed, are niueli in excess of
tho expenees, while in tho wore
sparsely populated districts, where
the mails are hgh ter, and the distances
greater, the expenses notouly exceed
tho receipts in their own sections of
the country, but absorb the balances
in tavor of tho sorvieo in tho other
tutcn, and swell the deficiencies
tho proportions I have already stated.
It is possible, I bdieve, sir, that
some of these expenditures, especially
in the Territories, may bo reduced
without detriment to the senieo or
sorjous inconvenience to the inhab
itant, by limiting tho amount of
sorvieo upon some of tho routes j
and at the proper time I shall, jn the
interest of eeouomy and retrenchment
call the atteution of ' tho Honoo to
tUat subject. But vuil I hold it to
bo tho duty of Congress toeoonoiuizo
and reduce the expenditures in every
foiia. and in every direction in which
too burdens of tho peoplo may L;t
lightened, aud while J Email con'tinuo
to give iu tho future, au I have in tl)o
past, my earnest support to every
just measure of economy, yep I do
One column one year,
(mo-half, eoliinin, one year,
(liie-fiitirtli column, one year
One siiuire (10 lines) 1 uiht.
Kvery adilitioual Insertion,
i'rofe.4sioualainM!iisines ennl
lint more than !i lines, per year,
Auditor. Ktecutor, AilmiiiLstrator
an AisiKliee Notices, 2..V)
Kditorial notices per line, 1.1
All mKcrti.,cnu'iits f,,r a shorter pe
riod than one year nre payable at tlm
lime they am onlered, and if not paid
the person orderuiK them will be held
refponiil'le for the money.
not wish to be understood as advo
cating the policy of abri'ing tha
proper p-.ail facilities of the public, or
of clipping the postal service and
depriving the people of the incalcula
bio benefits and advantnfcH enjoyed
by thetn. merely becauso the l'Jst
Offlco Department is not, in this ago,
of iniprovehicut and developement
to which it contributes so largely, a
paying or nt l'-snntaining institution.
The War and Navy Departments d i
nottxliibita cash balaui o in tlieir
favor upon the ledger of tho (b.vcrti
tnetit, aud yet, useful and necessary
as they are justly admitted to be, it
is doubtful whctiiur both of thetn
combined can b regarded as so
potent an agent of civilizalioiiaa thin.
Let but half Wc.li of ot;r enter
jirising citizens plunge int . tho wi!
deriiei.s and commence to dav a set
tli tneut far beyond the boiind.u it a
of civilized life, and bt fore thcsiunkft
shall have curled a fortnight abovo
thuir hu'iible dwellings, they wid bo
asking for tho establishment of n
post oflleo and a post-route tn reicli
it. And it is right aud proper tlmt
it should bo so. '1 ho luillioliH of
lacrisofotir liublie lands a.iaitite'
bind.
I have it ferred tothcsest.itrtuerits,
Mr. Speaker, to show why it, is wo
are having thesn "deficiencies " and
why we have had them, from year i
year, every year, J believe, with tho
exception of one, since IS ,1 but I
do not believe, sir, that tho most
searching examination of the details
of thcHo expenditures will furnish
any, even the nlighti '.t. ground for
a lveixii criticism of tho Department
whoso officers have honestly, eco
nomically, ami faithfully pet Inline I
their whole duty to tho Government,
and have so successfully met the
highest) xpectations of the peoplo.
The attention t.f tho House :is
called, a few days scince, l.y the dis
tiuguishi'd gentleman from Mass.i.
ehiisetta. Mr. Dvwis. to the inereasn
in tho gross expenditures of the post
oftit'o from 1H.'!7 to the present timo,
but he omitted to give uh along with
his general statement of tho expenses,
any information in relation to tho
increased receipt a of HiQ Department
dating the sumo period, and, what
was far more important, in my
opinion, ho failed to make any refer,
ence to tho wonderful development
of the ci, ui. try whii.li has so largely
... . . . . . . "
iiitul i.nperauveiy ilciuanilo.l 11 cor
....I.,... .... : ,
I
W'"l'""l"ff i" i n:;c in our postal ae
itronniHiilatioim nnl facilities.
t(-)MT t l I't, 'H ll.l't (I e'Mli.,H I't ti ,',M tlil(
1 f.tl 1,1-le.l. A tl 1 IM II. 'Ill til I t.'. I WI! It!. 1. 'It
1 1. i ''.-lltt 'pi, sii i iicl l.v Ijimm mitt-M
-r. . 1 nut mr) iui I lii t. tvm r 'i ; 4
h r aiirow i it e. At ih fti.l f 1 1 . - s . mi
I ." C"! ( l 'j, ur .i.ui;iii .1, ilnl tin (.! . j !
ti .Hi.., mi. I f'S'l I 'll 2,4 1 1 ....t . -Ml , ..4
1. 1 . vine tt""ii .", m null 1 ni ji -it r."4'N ; wiul.i
ut titi'tcriniiiiil n ftjHi ti vt 1 .-ii 1 1 ii. ll it I
ty Li'ii, (li' ;,) m it tt 1 jMii ti. t'i nf -ut ai.'t-Hi,.
IHH', W-i litnl .;i H h.bI i'M..m iisln-f N'i( t' Miil'4
il i ! fiiii.li i-tiiil 41 tlii i'iit I., iln- U 1 tiil
fit iph' 1 I'lllllli 11 ctlti lil M lilt' rii.U l I, Him' D
1 vt'ar, ( 11.1. 'With .i p.'innitf lmi r ' ut 4 1., i t". -1
In.1 x ill ..m ..... w,n. l-moh m, ...
, j IM"! full!. Ii 1,1. ii till It W H HitliWl W' liii 111 H.w
iftllrith nf lhj rO'll.trv.
Willi iit n.ut't iu-16 Mivi (niil- l'i tnipii.fr,
Willi a t uUtwii ii u-Ii iimtH limit iI.miMo, wtlli
Ki-tti m r to.- iwtw 'i l tbiii'i" iUy m -l ,.i (
ni't'lt!y tn vI'n, binl iwili I rmiti-M m-if.t ttn't
wii-n rj an tlcy H.tr Ihirtv ,t. v.-n y.un 4'
til lmi ii iritiiu I'm tin.ru lioiil. Iiu t'i In
.ri...- n
.,.r... ..f 11,
n if in l.u-am Mint nf tin 1 .
It rutin, 'lit.
A -."). 4rti 'i hHIi tliorxpMi-na rif n n'f
fluiilUhi ti I'V H e rntti' l (IflntiiKii .ui th . 1 ..r
j'liy. 1,..
WlltMl .!..,l, t r..ll l lit, WAM .'., n.
1 VV "TV1 i--r-l-Mif-rl, t- I 1.1 ..in . t
i i'iiiriii' iri..a with tk taiiivnf ii.ikhi . ..
f.,r liin.ii.'lr, Willi i..iv-r tn npi .liit 4 t, ir-. tl
)ci-iiry, a. ii .i,tiii.il ,il4i- ..fin hr.t-
In. '-tin' i Ml.il .Ii, ,il nf . lint, ,,f , ..(. (r.. .i
l'.t,li...iltll. hi Ni-w Kll..'l,i.ht. I.i Sivjnn.'i. ...
liM.T,;ii, U!i a . ui.ny 1-1... h,.'s .M n, ,.,4
iii..-r li. -iii-ral .l, .ul 1 II, ink n'," won!, I !,... ,
t.i'.r. n.lui.l Itnik' In. ii'... , .inl ir. 11 w .,:. .. .
rti. .., .r,ti. tlii .till iiii.t'..HNi'.ii,.iiir,) iiruirc.
ttii't .ilvtii,..i.iiii iit i.r Hi,. i-,'U,i.iy.
Tlmt the .pie.nioii of tlie postal rev
enues and expenditures 111:1 1- he nimn
fully im.li-ist'ind, I also iili at ti it j, r.
to a statement made I'mm tlm 1 v.i
of the liepartinetit, showing the niim
l.erof posl-otlice.-i nnd leti.jth ,f
roilds in the I'nite.l Klates, lliu iiiiViu.il
amount paid for mail ti'atispnil:.iioii,
and llio itiiioimM of postal reteum
and expi.tidiiiues, at periods o ti
yeat-i iVoni 1 st .1 to 1 In, iiirlii-ive, and
in each year iVoi.i lsn t, .r;J. in. In.
site, with the length of tlm nnlioad
ioition of the post-roads, tho length of
r.iihvay pol:i,llii e lines, and the ro.f.
of the railroad i rtioti ,f thq Iriin-por-
lalloll, U'oiH tiiu tlatt) ol il.e couiiueiii'O
1 1 it-lit Ihei'cof ; I
Hce Ti.l, nbr st.m nient..
The third hih:Iioii of the hill, if imh-
e,, he bulistanlially hula le-en icluieiit
t the law aullir ii.iuu the free e-
change of newspapers, periodicals, nnd
iinK!.iic . i-iui'i n piinusuei's, aiel lint
free 1 ireillntioii of liesiapi't's , iii t'l
ni huhsi ril cr. rc.-i.liiis; or net ivinj; the
saute within the county of p.il,lii c.doit,
as il sloiid prior tu tini 1st dav of .nly
In tracing tho origin of this provision
it is rciniirkal.l.i how c;t!y a
diitu the lathers of tho Kcp'ihlic 11, 0
ui.cd the value and importance of tlii
iuei.ua for tho dU.:cuiiiialioii of intelli
gence and information allium; the nn-
pie.
The men who believed tlmt govern
ments derived thpii: just powers frui)
tho coir-mil of the governed, aud win')
were seekiuijc lo tstlilw,!) justice, to in.
sure tloiiicstin tiatifpuliiy, provido for
tho common defense, promote Ih. i.t).
era! welfare, and to' sueurfi thp 'bless,
inns (if liberty to themselves nnd their
posterity, eotili) nut Ioiijj remain indif
ferent to this most powerful aucn.y
for tha edi'eation and cnliylitiiu iit of
thiwe in tthooe keepiun tho ucty fov;
1 rniuunt w.u to be intrusted, and tlieres
fore wo llnd that tho Second (', ,nic
iihiler thet:oiiBtiii,tion, at itj flitt ses
sion, made full provision lor l;ii f;ee
exchangg of uewsjiupors thruuyli tint
mails.' .J
1 Otntinunl on Ulf jpyp, '
.1 1.. ..1 ... II r..
' -m-- wmH int'f