Sunburn mivion.
H. B. MASSER,
E. WILVERT.
Editors.
: SUNBURY, MARCH 6, 1874.
The postal bill reported by Mr. Packer,
chairman of the committee, was lost by a
majority of two votes, but came up for re
consideration on Thursday, and will no
doubt be passed. The defeat of the bill
was caused by the tactics of lien, Butler,
who is in favor of restoring the old frank
ing privilege without any restrictions.
Mr. Packer's bill permits the free circu
lation in the mails of newspapers published
in the county, and also allows the free dis
tribution of certain documents, which is a
boon claimed by the South, where few pa
pers are published. Mr. Packer's bill
guards against the abuses practiced under
the old system, aud will no doubt unite
a majority in its favor.
Forney's Press regrets very much Scu
ator Sutaner's opposition to the Centennial
at Philadelphia, which might naturally
have besn expected from a man not only
inpracticable but selfish, envious and vain
glorious in the extreme. His dislike of
Gt-n. Catnerou alone would have been
enough to excite his opposition to the State
he represents, to s.iy nothing of General
Grant's recommendation of that enterprise.
The postal telegraph is gaining friends
in Congress. Its introduction is only a
question of time. We are surprised to Cud
a few country editors, tak'1115 their cue
from city papers, opposed to it It is of
course the interest of city papers to mo
nopolize the news, hence we find them all
favoring the monopoly of the Western
Union Telegraph Company. The postal
telegraph and letter system are almost one
and the same in principle, and should both
bo in the hands of the government.
The Gibbons-Sanders Bask .Swin
dle, The committee appointed to exam
ine into the authorship of the circular at
tempting to levy blackmail n the banks of
the State, made a report to the House of
Representatives on Wednesday. A great
deal of evidence has been taken on the
subject, all of which has been properly re
ferred to in their report. The committee
declare most emphatically that William II.
Dimmick, late a member of the House,
Lewis B. Richtmyer and J. M. Kreiter, of
Ilarrisburg, have bceu guilty of attempting
lo extort monev from the banks. The
committee say that so far as they can as
certain Win. II. Dimmick is the originator
of the scheme, and that the E. L. Sauders
is a lady said to reside in New York, aud
who had been frequently stopping at the
house of W. II. Dimmick.
Since the Court House Ring was broken
un we notice everv once in a while some
poor pet howling through their favorite or
gan, the Democrat. Last week we had
another specimen in a communication in
that paper. The writer evidently roust
have been a pet of the Ring clerk, and in
his delirium imagines that somebody has
an interest in running the Treasurer's
office. We would advise Mr. McEliece to
hunt up the correspondent, for if he did
not steal from him he will make an excel
lent witness, provided he is willing to tell
the truth. Judging, however, from his
assertion that the blank registry books had
been ordered from us by the clerk, we are
inclined to think he exaggerates, for we.
know that no orders have been given for
the prinliug of them by anybody, and that
none are yet being printed.
Pennsylvania Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The sixth annual report of this society
has been issued and exhibits very favora
ble results from the society during the past
year. The membership is also rapidly on
the increase. At a monthly meeting held
in Philadelphia on the 20th ult., the secre
tary reported receipts for the month,
$1, 424.5') ; membership subscriptions col
lected, $1,055 ; life membership, $100 ; do
nations, $230 ; Hues $39.50 ; expenditures,
salaries, rewards, aud other expenses inci
dent to the enforcement of the laws, 426.41;
publication, $140.3(5; number of complaints
registered at the office, 117; arrested and
fined, 4 ; acquitted, 3 ; held to answer, 1 ;
new members, 15.
A drawing of a patent horseshoe for icy
weather, with caulks to be screwed in or
out, was exhibited.
The secretary reported the forwarding of
documents to Richmond, Ind., with a view
to organizing a State society.
Numerous letters were received in oppo
sition to the proposed extension of time for
the confinement of cattle in trausil.
Reports having been made tif the use of
iron clamps or fetters on cattle which are
driven to market, the secretary issued a
warning against the practice.
Some steps have been taken towards or
ganizing a branch society in Luzerne
oounty.
The increasing number of articles in the
Sunday school papers on the humane treat
ment of animals was referred to as an en
couraging evidence of the increasing influ
ence of the society.
The annual report, which lias been dis
tributed to members and others, gives a
list of CI honorary vice presidents and 157
representatives in various portions of the
Stale.
The annual report of the Quebec S. P. C.
A. was received.
.1 protest was received from the Brandy-
wine Farmers1 Club against the practice of
bleeding calves before slaughtering, accom
panied by a recommendation to refuse to
sell calves to batchers who pursue the ob
jectionable practice.
At a meeting of the Board of Managers
lield on the 10th ult., Em'l Wilvert was
appointed an Honorary Vice President for
Northumberland county. Any informa
tion in regard to cruelty to cattle, &c, if
communicated to him, will receive prompt
attention. Farmers and others are also
solicited to give us tlieir views upon acts
of cruelty to animals, which will be reported
to the society.
The temperance crusade is approaching
lis with the steady advance of fate. From
Ohio, the starting point, it is inarching on
ward East, West and South. Kentucky,
Tennessee and other States in that diiec
tion are now feeling the force of women's
prayers; and in New York and Philadel
phia there are indications that the cam
paign is opening. In the latter city, on
Friday, a female meeting numbering about
m thousand, was held iu a Baptist church,
corner of Susquehauna avenue and Seventh
street, aud forming in line visited some of
the saloons in the vicinity. "In nearly
every case," says the Ledger, "the keepers
of the saloons closed their windows and
promised to cease selling liquors from their
lra "
The entire amount of railroad taxation
a the State is $16,229,5J3, of whjob. more
than one-third is made by the united rail
road and canal companies leased ly the
5 VnnlonM .Railroad company.
Daring Jail Delivery. A few weeks
since four notorious villains werecouvictcd
at New Castle, Delaware, of an attempt to
rob a bank at Wilmington, aud were pil
loried and whipped, and sentenced to prison
for a term f year. On Tuesday night of
last week, three unknown outside friends
of the convicts appeared at the prison,
scaled the wails by means of a ladder and
reached the yard. The warden, healing a
uoi&e in the yard, unwisely opened the
prison door to investigate the disturbance,
(the YV ilmingtou Commercial intimites
that the warden was in the sc heme for lib
erating the prisoners,) when ho was seized
by the iutruders, gagged and bound, aud
laid to one side, while the keys of the prison
were taken from him, the four bank rob
bers released from then cells, and with
another prisoner, who was serving out a
life sentence for murder, the whole part'
left, and the rest of the world was in ignor
ance of what had transpired until morning,
when some of the officials discovered the
prison open aud the prisoners gone. Noth
ing has since been heard of any of the es
caped prisoners except one "Big Frauk."
On Thursday of last week, a gentleman
from Delaware, who had been present at
the trial of the bank robbcis, was riding iu
a street car ou Master street, Philadelphia,
when he recognized "Big Frank" walking
on the pavement. He alighted, got au offi
cer, and followed his game. Frank en
tered a beer saloon, when he was ap
proached aud arrested. He declined to
give any information in regard to the
others, and altogether was very reticent
relative to the escape. On Friday officers
came on from New Castle aud conducted
Frank back to his old quarters.
. . . , -
A legislative reunion of the members
and officers of the Assembly prior to 1850
was held at Ilarrisburg on Thursday of
last week. Sixty-three persons were pres
ent. Letters were received from twenty
others between the ages of SO and 00 years
who were unable to attend. Also a letter
from Walter Craig, who was a member iu
1817 and is now 15 years old. II. B.
Wright, of Luzerne, was President, aud D.
Fleming, of Dauphin, Vice President ; S.
Shcrk, of Columbia, chief clerk, aud D.
Kane, J. Zcigler, A. L. Russell and W.
Jack, assistants ; J. Pratt was sergeant-at-arms,
aud J. Crousc doorkeeper, George
II. Morgan, messenger, aud J. A. Small,
page.
The proceedings were opened with a
prayer by Rev. O. II. Miller, Slate Libra
rian, and sjieeches were delivered by
Wright, of Luzerne ; T. J. Bigham, of Al
legheny ; J. Williams, of Huntingdon ; S.
P. Oliphaut, of Washington ; J. Pearson,
of Dauphin ; A. V. Parsons, of Philadel
phia, and T. Cochran, of York.
A resolution was adopted to meet again
on February 22, 1870, and to invite all
officers and members of the Assembly prior
to 1852. A reception was held at the
Kirkwood House, in the evening, termi
nating with a reunion supper. The only
invited guest who was present at the meet
ing was Governor Ilartranft, who was
seated at the post of honor on the riiht
hand of the Speaker.
Ox Tuesday last Mr. Rutan, from the
Legislate Appropriation Committee, in
the Senate at Ilarrisburg, reported a bill to
apportion the. State into Senatorial and
Representative districts, as provided in the
new Constitution. The Twenty-seventh
Senatorial District is composed of the coun
ties of Union, Snyder and Northumber
land. Two Representatives arj allotted to
Northumberland county.
TriE national debt was decreased Two
million ani a half last month, not
withstanding the bowlings of the opposi
tion press about the straightened condition
of the Treasury. And besides the Secre
tary of the Treasury declares his ability to
meet all demands without further use of
the legal tender reserve.
The Ilarrisburg Teleyrojik made its ap
pearance last week In an entire new dress,
and now looks neat and tast'ful. The
Tthgro.jih is a good and interesting news
paper. It is an invaluable vehicle for news
during the sessions of the Legislature, and
stands up manfully for Republican princi
ples. ;i:.m:kai, m:v.n items.
Chief Justice Waite is being banqueted
by admirers, whose appreciation of him
has been wonderfully enlarged since his ele
vation to the head of the Supreme Bench.
During the past four years the Metho
dists have built and enlarged twenty-two
churchs within the bounds of Williameport
district, and there have bceu over 4,000
conversions during the same period. Dur
ing the conference year, just about to close,
1,400 conversions are reported, of which
over 200 have been in the city of Williams
port. A lecture on "Brains and Mouey" is to
be delivered at Jlarriaurg on the evening
of March 12. The members of the Legisla
ture, familiar with the last half of the
theme, ought to attend in a body aud see
how the other may be obtained.
Nine women were chosen as school direc
tors at the township elections recently held
in Chester county, and several were elected
in Delaware county. In the interior of
the State the nunilx r was small.
The Catholics of Philadelphia made a
grand temperance demonstration in that
city on Wednesday evening last. The
gathering assembled at the Academy of
Music, and the streets adjacent thereto
were crowded. Many Catholic dignitaries
participated. There seems to lc a very
earnest movement iu the Catholic Church
on the side of temperance.
The present Legislature contemplates
submitting to the people, for their consid
eration, a numl)er of amendments to the
new Constitution.
Tlui New Jersey House of Representa
tives has passed the hill appropriating
$100,000 to the Centennial Expoesiii'in by
a vote of 40 to 20.
In his will the late l". S. District At
torney, II. Bucher Swoope, requested,
among other things, that his wife should
not marry again, he haviug always enter
tained strong convictions against second
marriages. He bequeathed all his property
to his wife, and appointed hercxecutiix.
The imports of pig iron from England dup
ing January last were 1J275 tons, one-third
less than such imports for January, 187.",
and the imports of railroad iron of all kinds
were only about one-fourth as much last
January, as in January, 1873.
There are probably a hundred or more
persons in this and neighboring towns, who
daily suffer from the distressing effects of
kidney troubles, who do not know that
Johnoou's Anodyne Liniment is almost a
cerlaiu cure. In severe caees, great relief
may be obtained, if not a perfect cure.
We notice that the Agricultural papers
all over Uu country recommend the use of
Sheridan's Cavalry Cosdi,'n' Powders.
Exchange.
Farmers and others iu this section have
long known and appreciated the advantage
of ttipso powder over aH tiling.
SPF.I.4 EI OF IIOX. J. It. l'ACKEIt
2ii the House of IleprcucntKthr.i, Wednesday,
February 18, 1S74.
Con tin tied from I"iis.t I'agi'.
Indian inspectors, 4 superintendents of lu
diun a Hairs, and 77 Indian agents.
In letteis written to persons not con
nected with t!io Bureau, asking for infor
mation, it is customary to inclose official
stamps for return postage.
In the Bureau of Education the chief
clerk has charge of all matters pcrtaiuing
to postage and the sending ut of official
mail. Iu this Bureau it is customary,
when the correspondence renders a reply
important for the information of the office,
to inclose official stamps for return postage.
In tho Patent Office the liuancial clerk
has custody Of the official stamps, but is not
allowed to use them himself. A lady clerk
has charge of stamping all the official mail,
with the exception of letters written and
mailed after office hours, which are stamped
by either the Commissioner, Assistant
Commissioner, or chief clerk.
In the General I And Office one clerk has
the eutire charge of the official stamps,
and, for the stamping of the official mail,
they are issued by him daily to the chief
niesseuger of the Bureau, who affixes them
to said mail. The clerk referred to also
furnishes stamps quarterly to the follow iug
officers, upon their requisition : To 17 surveyors-general
; 10 registers of the local
land offices, and 00 receivers of the local
land offices.
The deputy commissioner of pensions in
the Pension Office is the custodian of the
official stamps. They are issued by him
to one clerk in the office, whose duty it is
to stamp all official mail. The deputy
commissioner of pensions also issues official
stamps to 1,400 examining surgeons for
the payment of postage of certificates of
examination of pensioners.
It is the custom of this Bureau, when
official letters are addressed to persons not
interested in the contents thereof, to iu
close official stamps for return postage.
Mr. Albright. Will my colleague from
Pennsylvania allow me tu ask him a ques
tion ?
Mr. Parker. t'ertniniv.
Mr. AU'iiulit. What I wish li know is,
whether itii th perst'ii w)m are Mipi'liod with
offieitil stamps, nnd authorized to nsu them :ie
cordhiK lo tin' pMitleinun'g statement, were en
dowed wit li the frankinz privilege prior to the
Ifllthof.Tuiie, mar
Mr. Packer. No, tir. The franking privi
lege was limited to the President, the Vice
President, the chief of the several Kxec-u-tire
Departments, Senator, Representative,!,
and Delegatus in Conjjiees, and the Secretary of
the Senate and Clerk of the House, of Representa
tives, to cover their corie.-poiidence, all printed
malttr issued by t tie authority of Congress, and
all speeches, proceedings, and debates in Con
irres ; 6uch principal officers of tiie Executive
Departments, bi iiiK heads of Bureaus or chief
clerks, as the Postmaster Uenrral tnitjlit by regu
lation prescribe, to cover official communica
tions only ; poi-tmstcrs, to cover official com
munications to other postmasters only, anil as
sessors and collectors and tlieir assistants and
deputies, for the interchange of official communi
Tatioiif only.
And then it was exjiresslv provided, by the
revised act ol as a protection uirainst fraud,
and as a guarantee of the official character of
the paper or correspondence sent, that
No itt-rsoii eiitilK-d t.y liiv.- to til- fronting jirivil'-jre
hall iwi'ciMt K.id lrr lieo iMbri-wis! thau l.y bin wri:
teu u:jU'1j biUa:ut'e uu tli Metier lr.u:k-d.
Thus, Mr. Speaker, it will lie seen that under
i the present system ii bus hi-en found necessary,
iu fie operation e-1 the cxieusivcar.d complicated
machinery ol the (iovcrnmetit, to sc;ittrr the
olliciai stamps almost broadcast, in every; quar
ter, and J - ''unit. sir. if all thesn thousands of
officers, Hiid lens of thousands of clerks and
subordinates all over the country, can lie and
are entrusted with the custody and use of tle se
stamps, (and I do not for a moment believe they
make an improper or unauthorized useoftliem.)
why may we not entru-t l he Secretary oi the
Senate and the l.'ierk of the House with the care
and use of the stamp or stamped envelope for
public documents ;is provide! for and auMioiir.ed !
by this bill I
Several Mi-m .eis. Why tic-.t ciw the stamps
to the member themselves I
Mr. Packer. I w'iii tell l!ie irentVmeii why I
would not hate tin in furnish'.',! liireet'y to the
Senators and member themselves. F.vei v un'tn
ber recciviniT them would expose himself to the
charge of making su improper Use of them, just
as we hear staled now, tli.it I he official postage
stamps of the Pep iitment are applied to private
or unofficial mail matter, a:id ja-t as member
of Congress were charged, over and ovr anain,
without the slie'iiieM evidence, with mak'niir an
illegal use ol the ir frank under I he old syem.
The old chaises of ii re'iihii it ies and ahi:cs
would be revived, and a it would be difficult to
prove a negative it minht be impossible to meet
the charge. These stamp and wrappers aie in
tended for the iiem-lit of our constituent and
not ourselves ; and our best and surest protec
tion against all ucrusations am; assaults will br,
not to take them into our custody or posies-ion.
but leave llicm iu the bauds of the. officer d"H.r
11.it l-J, whose duty it will be to attach them only
to such public documents, or printed matter, or
seeds, as tuny be authorized to be distributed by
congressional enact mint.
In view also of the object ion frequently utged
again! the former nystem of flunking, whether
well-founded or not. that oilier parlies could
counterfeit or fraudulently u-e the frank of a
member of Congress, more especially in former
years wlieu (he use of engravediir iiUe stamps
or dies was permitted, the connviitee have placed
around the plan submitted by them such checks
am! guards air must, it is believed, cllectua'ly
and certainly prevent every attempt to abuse it.
And it may be it la. uk d, iu passing, sir, that a
great, if not the major, part of the opposition to
the franking privilege, grew out of its supposed
or alleged abuse ; tor the privilege, when proper
ly and honestly and legally exercised, wa un
doubtedly the piivilcge of the. people themselves,
iate'ided for their betielil. in facilitating their
communications with their agents nr representa
tives Um the questions coining before Congress
alfectuig their rights and interest, or the wel
fare and prospeiity o! tin- country.
liy the second section of tl.is hill is provided
Tint ile Seere:.'i i-l il.s Seu't1 mitt l"k if tee
Hells? (.f M c 'Hi." r. s t f llir I'mle-l We shnll
c nsf 1 l ere)i::el lor tlieir isi-IAv Houses, a
HJ Ol'li 1 or -1 envfjoj-e or wrj;; ev, i.f MltrU
form iiel -e.r:i .. sli ill 1 ;liree'eil tud roved ly
th l"OH".l!ii s.l I' lit-Lie:.:!, Iu lie null tiie h.illl SiTlc-
tiiry a.'-! r I ;.' s..e'i . cs'-t: i.ls 11: ty 1-e Hj oinl-
rri iy e:ii;.T e l';ir 'heir ij e-';iw iio'ise, only
uj-ou such i rii.;.'.l ei ite- or il.-t .uh uIk or ji. ek-
utf of seeilp. CJltiTI.e, li)'.-!, slat sej..lH 1 111'- l-l'ltl,
as 111:- V.re i'l ci.ieat, tin Si-j i!.'-!. Ke; tel. -...- !n "-, mal
Iele:.lel! :i: 'ni- tli riiVH;iry o! t lie Senile ul.'I
Cieikof lli Jl 'If' ol Kt aeeu:n:i;eM ul ty, ly the:r
rcii-c'.iv,- witu-.i :. it - r.: i i iiitu.-H, lmlarscil iq.ii
the wrhi-J'C-s .T.i'i'jj -s t.'ierr"!, i':ec. to I; so sl.t
by lniii1, i.1- i.i-o.:e.t hi tjif lorcei-g ".ecilon of this
act.
Thus the matter lliat may bo sent free of
charge is, in the tht place, limited to the public
documents published by direction of Congress,
aud to tiie seeds, A;e., furnished by the Agricul
tural Department, under authority of law, as
before stated, and doe-; not include the official,
much less the private, correspondence- of mem
bers. In the nexl place, it can o:ily b sent un
der a special stamp, or stamped envelope, or
wrapper, of such form and design us shall be ap
proved by the. Podmaster deneral. to be at
tached, or used, only by thi proper offieer of the
Iloune.
Aud then, us an additional measure of protec
tion, and to prevent the officer designated, or
anyone else, from making an impiopcr or un
authorized use of lb-' stamp, it is required that
the person aut horized to send the package, the
Vice President, Senator, He preventative, or Dele
gate hi Congress, or the Secretary of the Senate,
or the Clerk of the II.hul, shall also indorse his
signature upor. the wrapper or envelope, in his
own handwriting.
Again, as a further security against Improper
practices, the committee have provided in the
fourth section of the hill
1'iiat any ijKon who stiall kr.ouii.gli, -n ,1 wirh In
tent to defraud ll; liuverlilliei.t of IhPl'uitrl Sfutis,
use, or onus t I uid, way ol the siod stani) s,
staijii'fd eiivil'.qpy, or raj -J fit-, herein roeltoiied to
1 I'rej artsl and used, for ou o'her n,-- 4,;. i)r in any
other tnumier than up is lieieitti-e.-oie :.ti:J'oii.cd, or
who shall cou!iteriit the nam1 i.r "ice tin-e ol h'iv er
ou herein uuthoi 17-J to iu(j:i-r lus iojU.ih; li sjjrti:i
ture uj ou the wrjiij ers or e-.veloj ulore. i'i, or who
ahull wililully utler or use tiny sucii c-mi;criV't inl-TH'--meitt,
with tiie intent to avoid tne ) ; iuerit oi' os'i'pe,
hall, ou conviction thereof. Ii (' iind u:i;y ot n h,.k
denieanor, and lie T'Hiiishe 1 hy :i tie.- of not lr th .11
$l(jo nor uioie thau JlJiMt. or l.y imj j-lsontnt'iii nui lers
thau three mouths nor inorfl lli-in twi Ive uionihs, t r l.y
liotli Mae trid iniprisoiirneat, in ihe d;se:i t.oi' of tiie
rouil.
J o Hicci also lilts uppioiir.ijiui, 01 l lie iciy u;;ie,
energetic and vigilant head of the Post Oilice 1
Department, who hus inaugurated so many ac- I
knowledged improvements, and. willi the aid of
bis faithful ami intelligent assistant, has sue- 1
ceeded in establishing and maintaining the most !
complete, efficient, and admirable postal system )
iu the world, and recognizing the force of hi
objection that there might, at times, he difficulty
In providing immediate means for the expedi
tious transmission of these official documents,
along with, tin; oilier mall matter, upon a few of
the trunk lines, ami particularly thoioi leading
from the city of Washington, the cnioiuilti e
have inserted in the bill a provision autlioiizing
the Postmaster General, if the welfare or exigen
cies of the service shall require, 10 make rub s
and regulations delaying in whole or in part the
transmission of these documents and packages
for any jieriod not exceeding thirty days from
the time of delivery for mailing.
Mr. Ilurlbut. If the gentleman will allow me,
I desire to ask him wheth'-r the contracts of the
Post Oilice Department for carrying the mail6
have been in any respect reduced by the abolition
of the franking privilege 1
Mr. Packer. I n m not aware that any of the
rates of compensation have been reduced up to
this time; whether a reduction shall be made
iu the future, 011 this account, cannot tic abso
lutely determined, but I shall presently submit
eome statistics from. ivLieh gentlemen can have
no difficulty In drawing their ow n coiieltisioi6.
Mr. Kasson With the leave of the gentleman
from Pennsylvania I will answer the gentleman.
No new contract have been made since the
franhti.a privilege, was abolished. But the Post
master Ceneriil huajrins rqe that there has been
a reduction in the cost on peenutii of Hie mails
heiDir carried by yeighi.
Mr. Packer. That, I fear, u rather the ex
pie.aiuu of a hope than a realization spon tin
part of the Department. Upon at least three
fourths of the 'J."irt,000 miles of mail service, and
upon .1 very large proportion of the Gli,457 miles
of transportation by railroad, the difference in
the amount of mail matter would be small, and
scarcely uppr. eiablc, ami i: is only upou the lead
ing lines o railway that ii is claimed there will
be lower i:.'e upon account u!' t);e absence of
public documents from the mails. On these
there has mi yet 1 cell any reduction from the
maximum rates bereloi'oie claimed aud allowed,
and I venture tin; opinion that any saviug there
may tic in the future wii! eo:ne from competi
tion between rival lines, and will uot be ill conse
quenee oft'.e exclusion of these documents from
the mail, in looking through the official esti
mates ot the probable future expenditures I do
not Hud any place hi which this claimed reduc
tion asserts itself.
Without troubling the house with a reference,
nt this moment, to the gross amount of the re
ceipts am! expenditure of the Department, I
prefer lo call alien! ion to what seems to me a
more legitimatc.subp-pi of inqtiirv in this eon-
liection the cost of
the mails.
It amounted in the
June 'SO, IMS, to ....
June oO, 18(111, to
llie inland transport ion of
fiscal vear ending
." :.1-,C47.UW (il
13,4S;i,4u( 15
13,a.r0,2)t So
ll,52,..:;,.i5 00
12,.rti.wa ou
June o'J, 1S,j, to
June :;o, 1871, to
June MO, 1S72, to
June o0, 1.S7U, to
For the cm rent fiscal year ending
June o'J, 1S74, there were appio
priated, on official estimates
And fer readjustment of pay on
railroad routes, tinder act of Hi
March, is;;!
Making total amount appro
priated for current year..
In llu estimate for thy De
partment sets do'-vn the estima
li(,(i:ir.3ll w
M.sb'.'-.' ) Oil
.VHUKV oil
l.i.l.l'l.dlj . (Hi
ted cost, of this service at..
.. l.i.s7N,X.'l 00
Aud the increase of e:mei:"a;ion
ou railroad routes, under act of
March S. 1S7H
."iiMi.t.ioO 00
Making the estimated cost for
the li.cal vear
16,413.n'.M Oil
The whole cost, t hen, it will be seen, of inland
transportation of the mails ior the year ended
June SO, 1S:1 the iast year of the franking
privilege, and iiielu ling the unusual -.mount of
free matter thrown 11; on the mails during the
last three mouths of its existence was l:t,
635,311, while the sum appropriated for the
current fiscal year ending on the 30th day of
June next, npon the estimates of the Depart
ment, and including the $." MI.OOO appropriated
for readjustment of pay on railroul routes under
the act of March, lS7li, amounted to $l",340,0'Jil.
Aud the amount Congress is now aked to appro
priate for the next tiseai vear for the .ame pur
pose is ? l(,413,y.'1 .
Of course a very large proportion of this in
crease is chargeable to the establishment of new
post offices, ihe extension of mail route, and of
the improved mail facilities afforded, and no one
who will take the trouble to examine the subject.
wi:h any degree of care can doubt it is entirely
legitimate and proper. But it is just as evident,
that the abolition of the franking ,'rivilege has
not produced the benefits predicted by the frien Is
of the measure, and that the increased revenue
which was expected I.) result from it repeal has
not been sufficient to dispense with or diminish
the usual appropriations lor the deficiencies in
the levenues of the Department.
And I an: entirely free to admit, sir, that I
cannot comprehend the line of argument, which
taking the w hole number of documents formerly
sent to the people of the country under the frank
of members of Congress, -i. computing the
total amount of the postage that would be
chargeable upon tluui if sent by mail a! tic
present rates. asuiii"s that such snm reprcrr.t
the amount the Post OOiee Department would
Sjain by tin-, aboliti an of the privilege. If the
same numbi r of books and documents should be
sent by the mail, nt the same rate, of course
the Conclusion would be correct, and the teve
nucs weiild be increased by the amount paid
thereon : but if they are not put in the mail, ami
are forwarded by express, it is difficult to under
stand how the receipt of the Depai tmenl wiil
be augmented, or how any person will fie bene
fited, but tiie stockholders of the express com
panies. It was not, sir, because I believed the Govern
ment would derive any very substauti.il pecuni
ary advantage from the abolition ol the franking
privilege that I uniformly vote ! as 1 did in the
last Congress in favor of its repeal, but because,
many persons hail come to regard It as a pei-oua:
privilege of members of Co::grer, and b -litvcd,
whether properly or not, thai il wit rot only
liable lo abuse, but that it was abused l.y those
entitle.', to its exercise, as well as by others. For
the same le-ison 1 should now vol- uLM'nst it
re-enactmcot. iu its original objection aide fona.
and w 011 id opp.c its n-t. nation -.ilih a-r. lec
ture that colli, 1 i.gaihd an eoulei r.ng a
privilege ina.o:ia! to the member hi:;. veil', ia any
sense or deri e. or as graining pr'niieges which
could in any manuei be abused or pertcrl'.'-l to
iniMoj" r 01 nu aiuiea 17. d pin pose-.
Mr. Miiaii. Will th" gentleman jieeiton.e
for a question ?
Mr. Packer. Certainly.
Mr. Small. 1 desire to ak the gcnl'eman
from Pennsylvania whether the estimate which
has been submitted for the expense of carrying
the mail for the next year includes the expense
of carrying so much of it by c press us the De
partment chooses to cany by express, and
w hether that was done last year f
Mr. Packer. I feel very confident the Post
Office Department does uot m ii I the mails or
mailable mutter by exprc. it is said soni" of
the other Department , Jo -end matter by ex
press which they formerly sent in the mails Un
der the frank, but to what extent I am not ad
vised. Mr. Small. You have 110 account, then, of
the expenses that have been incurred incinyii.g
by express during last year?
Mr. Packer. No, sir ; I have no reliable data
from the other Departments. It mav be proper
forme to explain, iu thi connection, however,
that although the Post Office Department ie
not send by express, it doc send free in the
mails without Ihe use of the official pcstal
stamp, such articles as are regarded in the na
ture of 'supplies" for the Department ilself ;
such as wrapping paper, twine, mail hag, locks
and keys, marking-stamps, blanks, stamped en
velopes, ice. the daily average of which is. 1
understand, in the neighborhood of half a ton in
weight. If postal stamps were put upon these,
the apparent revenues of the Department would
be increased by that amount, but whether the
country would be any richer by the opvration is
a problem I leave to others mote skilled in such
mysteries to explain.
Now, sir, having referred to the 'deficiency''
iu the Post Office Department, permit me to say
that I do not thinK il will be difficult to show
Alienee it coir.es, nor to de uoustrale to tiie
House and the country w hy the expenditures iu
this Deparinxiit are iu excess of the receipt.
In the forty-eight State and Teriitories. in
cluding Alaska and the District of Columbia, the
expenditures for the iiscal year ended June 30,
1873, exclusive of the amount pai l for foreign
mails, mail bags, postage stamps, uud items of
a gencial nature, and including a small amount
of miscellaneous items, were f-26,lii,.l,l(i3.,.3.
And the receipts, exclusive of money-order busi
ness, fines, dead letters, fcc, were. $J2,'.l'.i5,li.V.4S
leaving a total deficit on thin account of
?3,704.3i5 45.
In only Sclen of the States did the receipt ex
ceed the expenditures, namciy :
New Hampshire ":i,'.S3 S3
Massachusetts. fill.SOO ,,'7
Khode Island 101..VJ3 0
Connecticut IL'-J.m-,' .7
New York l.o!-',."ii 5.
New Jersey -'.05S i-ii
Pcnusvlvatiu 3'.'S,44S 54
Total cM-t ssof receipt
While, in all th'' other State
toiies, the expenditures were in
2,692,113 30
and in ihe Terri
excess of the re
. largely, as fol
eeitifs, and pome of them verv
lows :
Maine
Vermont
I"iaiiirLV
Maryland
Virginia.
West Virginia
Noilh Carolina
South Carolina
Gengia
Flotilla ...
Ohio
Michigan
Indiana
Illinois
Wiscon-in
Iowa
Missouri
Kentucky
Tennessee
Alabama
M jssissippi
Aikan&a
Louisiana ,
'leva
California ..
Oregon
Minnesota
Kansas
Nebraska
Nevada
Colorado
Ctah
New Mexico
Washington
Rikola
A rizona
Idaho .
Wyoming
Montana
Alaska
Ilistrict of Columbia
18.274 31
30,954 90
2,300 37
I0j.8a8 00
18,718 81
6O.070 91
117,043 53
79,993 74
84.242 90
100.059 60
224.719 11
112.203 65
145.504 83
20O,s,s2 59
77,7a8 70
230.024 59
204.753 50
129.052 52
130,430 81
173,7.1s Oil
155.587 9S
272.3.i) 01
145.! 83 21
47.8,V2;, 10
587.513 28
06,400 30
126.002 63
249.107 09
3t;'.l,325 79
145.047 4 4
141.590 59
340.588 05
312.911 22
102.712 36
00.401 11
;o.4'.!8 07
100,552 G'l
4.753 27
116.743 31
2. Hi 38
62.313 01
Total exees 6,452,277 72
In the eleven States of Virginia, North Caro
lina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Tennes
see, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana,
and Texas, there was an excess of expenditure
over receipts of f 2,029,034.29. nnd in I'tali and
New Mexico the excess waf 059,529.87.
It is manifest, therefore, even from ihe hur
ried reference I have made to the dlici.il records,
that these detieieticics are occasioned principally
bv the extended line ai d additional service upon
oiir mail routes, and licit by an increased volume
or bulk or mail matter transported. In the
older and more thickly settled Slates, with their
larger population greater commercial activity,
and more fully developed tesources, and where
the. mails are heavier, the receipts, it will be ob
serve:!, a'e much in cxres? of ilie expenses.
while in the more sparsely populated districts,
where the mails are lighter, und the distances
greater, the expenses not only exceed the re
ceipts iu their own sections of the country, bnt
absorb the balances in favor of the service in
the other States, and swell the deficiencies to the
proportions I have already stated.
It is possible, I believe, sir, that some of- these
expenditures, especially in the Territories, may
toe reduced without detriment to the service or
(serious inconvenience to the inhabitants, by lim
iting t lie amount of service upon some of the
outes ; aud at the proper time I shall, in the ln
erest of economy aud retrenchment, call the
ttenliou of the bouse to that subject. But
fhile I hold it to be the duty of Congress to
conotuize and reduce expenditures in every form
nd iu every direction in which the burdens of
he people may be lightened, and while I shall
ontinue to give in the future, as I have in the
ust, my earnest support to every juft measure
f economy, yet I do not wish to be understood
e advocating the policy of abridging the proper
lail facilities of the public, or of crippling the
tistal service and depriving the people of the in
ojculable benefits and advantages enjoyed by
tiem. merdy because the Post Office Dcpart
ncnt is not, in this age of improvement and de
elopment to which it contributes so largely, a
living or se'f-snstainii g institution. The War
aid Navy Departments do not exhibit a cash
hlanee in their favor upon the ledger of the
(ovcrntucnt, and yet, useful and necessary as
ley are justly admitted to be, it is doubtful
Wn-ihcr both of them combined can be regarded
a so potent an agtnt of civilization as this.
Let but half a dozen of our enterprising citi
zus plunge into the w ilderness and commence
inlay a settlement far bryond the boundaries
o civilized life, and before the smoke shall have
I cried a fortnight above tlieir humble dwellings,
' tl-y will be asking for the establishment of a
pst olhce and a post route to reach it. And it
i.-right and proper that it should be so. The
nlliotisof acres of our public lands awaiting
dvclopment will remain unoccupied and unim
pnved and will pay 110 taxes and furnish no
recnues to aid in the support of the Govern
unt, un!es the hardy pioneer, braving the
rw ils and enduring the privations of frontie?
liK is advised that the Government will treat
bin like the rest of his fellow-citizens, and will
no regard him as an exile from the old home
anl friends he has left behind.
have referred to these statements, Mr.
Spakcr, to show why it is we are having these
"dficiencies," and why we have had them, from
ycir to year, every year, I believe, with the ex
cepion of one,since 1 S51 ; but I do not believe, sir,
thel the most searching examination of the de
ta'Jt of these expenditures will furnish any, even
th slightest, ground for adverse criticism of the
Department whose officers have honestly, econ--omi-ally,
and faithfully performed tlieir whole
dut; to the Government, and have so success
full" met the highest expectations of the people.
Tie attention of the House was called, a few
j Staement showing the number of post-offices and length of post-roads in the
j United States, ozc.
c
o
I 1 a " - S - ' "5 '- .'S'-i S '
y. ' j -; - . ' c u
VM 75 1,875 22,0S1 00 ! 37.935 00 32,140 00
Vl 453 1 3.207 1 75,359 00 j ltjil,620 00 117,S'J3 00
1D0 1(03 20,817 128,044 00 280.804 00 231.iiu4 00
H'." 1,558 31.070; , 231,t35 00 j 421.373 00 377,3C7 00
1W 2,300' :;ti.4i;(i : 3J7,U0 DO ' 551,GS4 00 4'J5,ln;if 00
lSJa :vO0 4 3,748 487,779 00 1 1,043,0(15 00! 748.121 00
lHtti 4,500 72,492 782,425 00 i 1.111.927 00' 1,160.920 00
18:-, 5,1177 94,052 7S5.1UG 00 j 1,305,525 00 1,229,043 00
IS!:) 8,450 115.176 l,272,15t 00 1,919.300 00 1,959. 109 00
1830 10,770 112,774: 1,553,222 00 ! 3,152,37G 00 1 2,585,108 00
is 13.468 155,739 3,213.042 01 $595,353 4,543.521 02i 4,718.235 64
184. 13,778 155,026 3,034.813 91 485,843 4,407.726 27! 4,449,527 01
184; 13,733' 149,732 3,091 ! i 4,192.196 W 432,568 5,029.506 65 5,674,751 76
141 13,814 142.295 3.714 1 2,982,512 47 531,752 4.296,225 4 3 4,374,753 71
1SI-- 14.103 144,687 ! 2,912,946 78 8ol.2o6 4,237,2S7 S3 4,296,512 70
m, 14,183 143.910 4,092 2,808.63.1 48 562,141 4.439.841 80 4,320,731 99
Ihji, 14,601 149,670 4.4U2' 2,597,454 66 587,769 4,089,089 97 4,084,332 42
184V 15,146 153.818 4,735 2,476,455 68 597,923 4,013,447 14 3,971.275 12
Jh4s 16.159 163,208 4,957 1 2,545,232 12; 587,204 4,161,077 85 4,326,850 27
lsly 16,747 167.703 5,497 ! 2,577,407 71 635.740 4.705.170 23 4,479,(49 13
is.") 18.417! 178,672 6,780 2,9(.5,7'G 3Gi 818,227 5,499.980 80 5.212.953 43
I8.'i 19,790 192,026 8,255 .: 3.538 0G3 54 ' 95,019 6.410,604 33 6.278.401 03
185- 20,901: 210,020 10,146 3,939.971 U01 1,275,520 C.925.97I 28 7,108.459 04
1S."; 22.320 217,743 12,415 ! 4,495,963 00 1.0j1,329 5.9411,724 70 7,982,75'i 59
ISi, 23,548 218.935 14,440 : 4.61.0.676 00 1,758 610 C.955,580 22 8,557.424 12
ls. 24.410' 227,903 18,333 : 5,345.233 00 2,073,089 7,352.11.6 13 9,963,342 29
1S5 25,565 239,642 20.323 6,035,374 00 2,310,3S9 7.620.821 66 10,407,868 13
5V 20,586 242,601 22,5:l 1 0,622,040 00 2,559,317 8,053,951 70 11.507.670 18
15$ 27.9771 200,6(.3 24,431 ' 7,795.418 00. 2,828.3ol 8.180,792 80 12,721,G3G 5G
15.11 28,539 200.053 20,010 9,408,757 00! 3,243,974 7.968,484 07 14,904,493 33
lt..j 28.498 240,594 27,129 ! 8,808,710 00 3,349.662 9.218,067 40 14,874,772 89
18(11 23.530: fl40,399 $22,013 ........ '15,309,454 00 t2,543,7oll 9,049.290 40 13,606,759 11
1VI-1 23.575! j 134,01 3 21,338 t"e35".34 00 2,493,115 9.012.549 50 il, 125,304 13
is(;s 29,047j tl"f.;,,Js 22, 152 1 f5,740.57( 00: 2,538,517 11,163,789 59 11,314,200 84
1804 23,878 139,171 22.616 ' 5,818,469 00! 2.567,044 12.4HS.253 78 12.644.780 20
180- 20,550 142,340 23.401 0.240.84 00 ' 2,707,421 14,550,158 70 13,091,728 28
im 23.828 180.921 32,092 7,630;474 00 3,391 .592 1 t,33.SMi 21 15,352,079 30
1-0' 25103 203,245 34,(1:5 4.43V 9,330,286 00: 3.812,000 10.137,020 87 19.235,483 46
INoV 20,481 210.928 30,J!3 7,019 10,200.056 00; 4.177,120 16,292,000 80 22,730.592 05
V. 27.100 223,731 39.537 7,201 10.406,501 00 ' 4,723,080 18.344.510 72 23.093,131 50
187i 28 492 231,232 43,727 8,252 10,834.053 00 5.128,901 19.772,220 65 23,998.837 63
1371 30,045 238,359 49,834 11,208 11,529,395 00 5,7-4,979 20.037,045 42 24,390, 104 08
3l,!-G3 251.398 57,911 14,117 12,572,264 00 6.502,771 21.915,420 37 26.058,192 31
liTi; 33.21 250,210 63,457 11,800 13,635.341 00 7,257,190 22.990. 741 57 29.981,945 67
Iiici'miiiig suspended offices in rebellious Status,
ffciclusive of routes in rebellious Males.
s.it thousand eight hundred and eighty-six mile in length, and J973.910 in cost, discontinued
In nh'llioiis States.
Uii'.road and steamboat service combined.
! I ke third section of the bill will, if passed, be
' swh- aiitially but a re-enactment of the law
! iuth.-izi-i!; the free exchange of newspapets,
periapicals and magazines between publishers,
I and Hie free circulation of new-papers to actual
1 subsviil ers residing or receiving the same within
the oiiiuty of publication, as it stood prior to the
I 1st a of July last.
! lniriciiig the origin of this provision it is re
markable at how early a date the fathers of the
Kepihiic recognized the value aud importance of
j thia ncans for the dissemination of intelligence
' anf iiformatiou among the people.
I Ihe men who believed tint governments de
rive! their just powers from the consent of the
gowned, and who were seeking to establish
justi-e, to insure domestic tranquility, provide
lor he common defense, promote the generul
welhr--, '""I to secure the blessings of liberty to
thani's'lvcs and their posterity, could not long
rcua'ii indifferent to this most powerful agency
fort lie education and enlightenment of those iu
white kecpiug the new government was to be
inlru-Jed, and therefore we rind that the second
Coniyess under the Constitution, at its first ses
sion, ;iiade full provision for the free exchange
of nevs'aapers through the mails.
In ?(le tirst general ordinance for regulating
tie p'lst-ollice of the United States of America,
aler i be declaration of independence, and passed
otithe 13th day of October, 1782, it was ordained
by 1 lie United States iu Congress assembled
TIM l'tte;s, i'i:rk-!s :ind dial al-chi ., to and from the
meait and secretary 01 Tokkii'sh, wuile actui'hy at-ti-utlu
(iijrt--fi ; 10 :ind Hum tui 1'uuiiuaiidi-r-ii.-rliiel'
,f the armies ef llii'se l iii'til Siut-j, or com-uiiale-ol
a si-j-arai iinny ; 10 autl Iruiu the heads of
In lieHrinieiiiH ol' lin oiia-, ul' war, mid of loreigu al
laj.a, u me' Cuitt-d but a, ou ubhc eervier, aiiall
j. ss h-tun it-'.l :icr ot I'sifge.
t the first session under the Constitution
Congress, by an Act approved September 22,
178i, nacted that the regulations of the post
ollice'bould be the same as they were uuder the
resolutions and ordin inces of the late Congress,
and tiii provision was continued and re-enacted
from linie to time, until February 20, 1792, when
il tb tirst biw passed by the Congress of the
Uriteil Slates "to establish the post-office and
post. roads" within the United States, containing
geueii'.I rules aud regulations for the govern
ment thereof, it was enacted
Ttt.it ihe follnwhiK letters and packets, and 110 other,
b.'i.h ti rce.-:wd uud conveyed hy Jos', Hoe of j ost.iue,
uieU-r aaeh r"trieUoim a are hereiniifirr provided,
tu-it isto say : All li-:tiira aud packets to or lroin Ihe
iVi-sid til or Vice I'rt-Hidfut ol the United auatt-a, and
all l.-icers and packet, not exceeding two ounces an
wt-nt, to or lroni any member of the Heaate or House
of lu-iieii'.Htiverft tne Secretary of the Senate or (llerit
of tne boils.- id Kt'i rvHi'iitativeR, during tLeir actual at-tend.iit-e
in " seiM.ie.il ol Con(ires, and twenty diya
alter iucu at'srtioii. All letteis to and from the decre
tal v 1.: Ifca Treasniy, aud liia asaiatant, Comptroller,
ItelJiHter, and Audiior of the Treasury, the Tieaaurer,
llf rvfr''OJ "l , l ii:i.uii ' nai, 1 nr u'lu-
iiiisaavxT lor scttliiiK the accounts lietweeu the I' iiiied
SiMtt iid ii'dividui'l Suites, the Pos-mastur (leueral
ami liii' assistant,
And by the twcnty-nr.t section of the same
act it was provided
T.nt eveiy primer of newspapeis nicy send one paper
to - en and ev.-ry other prim r of newspapers within
tne t'nited States tree of postage, uuder aucii reirala
tiois 1 h the I'os.niuster lener.il niittll provide.
ud that privilege was continued, in some
for. 11. from that date until the passage of the
net of March 3, 1873, when, hy a sweepiug pro
v i f i 011, inndverlctitly inserted as a proviso to the
third section of the act making appropriation
for fJi sol vice of the I'ol OUiee Department,
and passed without sufficient, or perhaps any
consideration, iu the confusion attendant upon
the la-t hours of the session, all laws permitting
tin, transmission by mail of any free matter aflei
J'ine3'), 1873, were repealed, and this privilege,
wricl had bceu enjoyed for a period of eighty
one ytr.rs, nearly as lotij; as the franking privi
lege if members of Congress, heads of Depart
ment.', and other officers of the government, waB
taken away. '
TIib action of Congress having been made the
ubje'l of iniiiib adverse criticism, it may bo in
teresting, at luast, to slate briefly its history, as
shown by the oflicial records.
By Ihe act approved January 31, 1873, entitled
"An act lo abolish the franking privilege,"
wli'iet originated in the House of representa
tives, it was enacted
That the. franking privilege lie, and (he same hereby
is, als-lisned from and alter the lat day of July, Anno
Doniuii 173. and that 1 henceforth ail ottii'inl corres
pomlei.ee, of whatever nature, and other mailable mat
ter t-ul from or addressed to any officer of the llovorn
HMit or person now authorized lo frank such matter,
sadl lie clmigeibie with the same rates of postage as
ne.y lie lawfully imposed upon like matter sent by or
adiicssed to other persons: J'lovided, That no coin
pens.,tiou or allowance shall now or hereafter be mada
loS.aalore. Mcmbeis, and Delegates of the IIoubk of
IteprciientativeB on account of postage.
This, it will be observed, did not reach or affect
the f-ee transmission ol newspapers or ex
cliangts, but only took the franking privilege
from members of Congress and the officers of the
Government. At a later period in tiie Session,
boweTcr, and after the annual post-olllce appro
priation bill had passed the House and had gone
to the Senate, without any provision in rahttioQ
to that, subject, the gentile Committee 011 Appro
days since, by the distinguished gentleman from
Massachusetts, Mr. Dawes, to the increase in
the gross expenditures of the post-office from
1S37 to the present time, but he omitted to give
us, along with his general statement of the ex
penses, any information in relation to the in
creased receipt of the Department during the
same period, aud, what was far more important,
in my opiuioi , be failed to make any reference
to the wonderful development of the country
which has so largely and imperatively demanded
a corresponding increase iu our postal accommo
dations and facilities.
At the commencement of the period he has
seen proper to select we had a population of less
thau $15,000,000, who were accommodated with
about 11,000 post-offices, supplied by 1'-I5,000
miles of post-roads, not one mile of which was
recognized as railroad tervice. At the end of
the second period (1355) our population did uot
exceed 27,0x0,000, and we had but 24,410 post
offices, employing about 2-8,000 miles of post
roads ; while, at the termination of the next
period indicated by him, (1S06,) with a popula
tion of about 34.000,000, we had 23,828 post-offices,
using 180,021 miles of post-roads ; and at
the close of the last fiscal year, (1873.) with a
population of at least 40,000,000, we had 33,244
post-ollices, with 25(5,210 miles of post-routes,
03,457 miles of which were upon the railroads of
the country.
With post-offices more than treble In number,
with a population much more than double, with
postal service twice and thrice a day iu place of
weekly mails, and with post-routes more than
twice as long as they were thirty-seven years
ago, it is not surprising that there should be ihe
increase spokun of iu the amount of the expendi
tures of the Department.
A comparison with the expenses of the "post"
established by tiie United Colonics on the 2dth
of July, 1775, when Benjamin Franklin was
chosen tiie first Postmaster General, to hold hi
office at Philadelphia, with a salary of f 1,000
per annum for himself, with power to appoint a
secretary, if necessary, at an annual salary of
?340, and directing '"the establishment of a line
of posts from Falmouth, in New F.nglanu, to
Savannah, in Georgia, with as many cioss-posts
as the Postmaster General should think fit,"
would show more astonishing increase, and yet
it would but serve to prove the still m.re aston
ishing progress and advancement of the country.
That the question of the postal revenues, and
expenditures may be more fully understood, I
also ask atteulion to a statement made from the
records of the Department, showing the number
of post-offices and length of post-roads in the
Uuited States, the annual amount paid for mail
transportation, and the amounts of postal reve
nues and expenditures, at periods of five years,
from 17110 to 1840, inclusive, and in each year
from 1840 to 1873, iuclusive, with the length of
the railroad portion of the post-roads, the length
of railway post-office lines, and the cost of the
railroad portion of the transportation, from the
date of the commencement thereof.
c
s 2
priations leported tin amendment to the bill as
follows :
1'iovi.ted. That all Lins and parts ol laws 1 ei-niitting
the tiansia.asioii ty mail of any free matter whatever
be, and the Same are hereby, repealed, from and alter
J.liie M, 1H7U.
And the Senate, on February 21, 1873, agreed
to the provision ayes 24, noes not counted.
The bill having been returned lo the House on
February 24, 1373, Hon. Frank Palmer asked
and obtained unanimous consent from tire House
to have the bill taken from the Speaker's table
and referred to the Committee on Appropria
tions. On March 2, 1373, Mr. Palmer reported the
bill buck, aud asked and obtained a non-concurrence
in the Senate amendments, and a com
mittee of conference was ordered.
So that it will be seen the House refused to
adopt this amendment of the Senate.
Upon the 3d of March, 1873, the last day of
the session, the committee ot conference, ap
pointed as before stated, made report as follow s,
(see Congressional Globe, pase 2094 :
Til committee of conference on the distgraeing vote
of the two Houses on a bl.l (41. 1.. No. 343) eutiil' d
'An act making appropriations for Ihe :-iuv of tne
Post-office Department tor the yenr audits Joue 10,
174, would rt-sj ec-1 ully report laat havii.K met, i.fo'r
full and free conference thereon, have agreed to lecol'l
mend, and do recommend, that the Ho'ib'. recede noia
their disaK1 tenieht to the amendment ot tne Senate,
numbered 1, li, 4, ti, 7 and 10, and agree lo the s-me.
Tuat the Senate recede fiom iia amendments num
bered a and
Tuat tiie House recede from its dis-.trr-ement to the
amendment of lle Senate unuibered !, with au amend
ment, aa follow a :
lane 4, p:;ge 5, etriie out ail alter the words 'io wit,
down to word 'li;t,' la line G, and njree to the
e..iue.
Tne previous quearion waft necoudr-d and ihe maiu
question ordered; tud uuder the operatiou thereot the
report w.js adopted.
Thus, under the. operation of the previous
question, without a word of explanation of the
nature, of the amendments, in the closing hours
of the session, this important amendment ""as
adopted, adding another to the long list of un
wise laws mat have been passed through legisla
tive bodies upon the eve of an adjournment when
sufficient time could not be taken for their con
sideration. That this Congress will correct the error by
the passage ot this bill 1 have no doubt. There
never was any good reason for the enactment of
the law it proposes to repeal, which could only
be regarded as imposing an iiujusi tax upon in
telligence ; and 1 am glad to find that the t'osl-
1 master General, 111 a recent communication,
' takes Oceanian In express hU approval of thi
proposition os the commit te, and gives ihe pow
erful aid of bis oflicial position and iulliieiice in
: its support.
At the dawa of the Revolution there were but
i thirty-six newspapers published in all the land.
1 In New Hampshire, one ; Massachusetts, six :
1 Khode Island, two ; Connecticut, four ; New
j York, four ; Pennsylvania, nine ; Maryland,
I two; Virgiuia, two; North Carolina, two;
. South Carolina, three ; und in Georgia, one.
! In 1870 we had 4,295 weekly newspapers, with
a circuiatiou ol 10,591,043. e Had, tit the
same time, 574 daily papers, with a circulation
of 2,001,517; 107 tii-weckiy. and 115 semi-weekly
newspapers, making, with the mouthly and
quarterly publication, a grand total of 5,871,
with a cil dilation or 20.842,475, and the enor
mous aggregate of 1,503,548,250 copies issued
annually.
The history of the newspaper press iu llii
country, and of its steady advancement and
magnificent success, would be but the hi-toiy of
the country ilself. Defending, educating, or
leading public opinion, it has, as a rule, been
found in the advance in all measures of progress
and reform, and who so bold as to venture to
conjecture how much this country is to-day in
debted to this agency, fostered, encouraged and
protected by the people and the Government as
it has been iu tho past, for our national great
ness, prosperity and renown.
These weekly newspapers, let me add, reach
ing as they do every fireside, every workshop,
every abode of civilized life, aud shedding their
rays of intelligence even in tbe remote aud waste
places not penetrated by other means or agencies
of education and information, exert an influence
nt once too powerful to be neglected, und of far
too much national importance not to command
and receive the respectful consideration of the
representatives of the American people.
Congress is being petitioned for the pas
sage of a constitutional amendment pro
viding that Inauguration Day shall be
changed from March 4 to t,he second Wed
nesday iq May,
Senator Cameron presented a petition,
on Monday, signed by a large number of
citizens of Lebanon county, asking for frco
banking under lh6 national banking system.
OI K XE W YOKH LETTER.
FEMALE BARBERS TWO PLUCKY GIRLS
A YOUNG MAN'S EXPENSES DISTRESS
ONE CASE DRESS REFORM BUSINESS
A CONVERSATION THE TEMPERANCE
MOVEMENT.
New York, March :i, 1874.
FEMALE BARBERS.
Two women, at least, have secured their
rights, and have now all the privileges that
men enjoy. Two very pretty young girls,
age respectively 18 and 20, had a papa who
was rich, and who lived in grand style on
Fifth avenue. Papa got into the hands of
the Philistines last autumn, and busted.
The girls were genuine girls, notwithstand
ing the fact that they had been fashionably
educated, and they lelt their poor father's
distress keenly. The old gentleman's trou
ble so weighed upon Ids ruiud that he sicken
ed and took to his bed, and got into a bad
way generally. The house in which he lived
was fortunately in hi3 wife's name, so they
could not be turned out of doors, but as the
old gentleman had sunk every dollar he had
iu the world, the question ol bread and but
ter became an imminent one.
One morning the old gentleman's barber
did not come around to shave him, and
Ella, the eldest girl, 6aid she could do it.
She took her father's implements and
shaved him as nicely aud neatly as any
tonsorial artist could do it, aud dressed his
hair and trimmed his whiskers, and
propped him up in bed aa comfortable as
you please. An idea struck Mary, the
younger.
'"Ella, if you can shave papa, you can
shave any other man.'
"True," said Ella.
''If you can shave a man I can shave a
man."
"True, once more. But what has that
to do with us ?"
"Ella, do you want to starve ?"
"No, my child."
"Papa can't get out Mamma is selling
olf the plate to get what we eat each day.
Let us stop all this by starting a barber
shop." Ella saw the point. The two girls rigged
up an extempore chair they took their
coachman, whom they had not yet dis
missed, because he wouldn't go, and they
shaved him for practice, and dressed his
hair, and trimmed his beard every day.
To accommodate thtm he brought his
friends in, aud in a week's time the girls
were accomplished aud expert workmen, or
rather work-women.
Then they sold the horses and carriages,
and taking the proceeds fitted up a modest,
but very neat shop in Union Square and
went at it. The first customers they had
were young swells who had knowu them
"in society," and great was their astonish
ment. "Miss Mawy," said one of them, "by
Jove, what led you to this ?"
"Papa failed you know Charles, and we
had to do this or worse,".
"Worse I worse ! Why, what could you
do that would be worse V"
"Marry a niau like you ?" replied Mary,
dabbing her shaving brush in his mouth.
It is an encouraging fact that the girls
have all they can do, at good prices, and
are not only supporting their parents in
comfort, but are laying up a handsome sum
besides.
Why should not women be barbers?
Imagine the deft, soft, warm fingers of a
pretty girl on your face I A man would
submit willingly to have his nose sliced off
by one of them. I caunot say that it is in
auy ay-out of the way. If men are cm
ployed in lady's shoe stores, where they
put on and take off lady's boots, why is it
not just as proper for women to be employ
ed as barbers and lo shave men ? They do
it better and more pleasantly than the men
barbers, and customers would never be
j afraid that a drunken women-barber would
! cut their throats.
iVIlY TIIE BOYS DON'T GET ON.
A great man youns; men who come from
the country to New York, and get tolerably
good salaries, find themselves at the end of
the year in debt, and they wonder why it
is. The young gentleman is, we will say,
a book-keeper on a salary of S2,000. He
pays 12 per week for board, which leaves
him about $1,400, and he calculates to lay
by something of that. But he don't, aud
this is why:
Board pT j er JS24.00
Clothes
w.oo
Total 4.U0
Then comes his little expenses as follows :
BlaekiUK boots, 10 cents xcr duy J 116 oil
Morning and uteruoou isipei 3i lo
Turee dunks ei day, 15 cents e.ich lt4
Four cigttru l.er day at 10 cents euck 14t (W
SiniviiiK twic per wet-k, 15 cents euea 15 60
Attfmitr.K tiieater twice a wet-k, seasou of 9
mimt'lis 72 00
Feur faults of billiards ir witk 3s UU
Strret car imv, 10 cents euca dy 3rt 50
Total $570 75
He gets into "society." Society de
mands a dress suit, which costs $125, and
society demands that when he attends a
party or a dinner that he put on white neck
ties, and light kid gloves, at t?2.50 a pair.
And society, inexorable mistress that the
is, demands that he shall taku Aratninta to
the opera otice in a while, which means
gloves, neck-ties, boquets and carriage,
which, with seats at 4 00 each, means
$30 for the night's amusement. And so
Augustus discovers at the end of the ear
that his 2,000 are all gone, that he has
overdrawn $."500 or $1,000, and he com
mences peculation or speculation the same
thing so far as results go and Augustus
drinks to drown his trouble, and finally he
lauds in the Tombs and comes out a poor,
miserable wretch. This is what happens
to a great many Augustuses. Society is
what does it for them.
DISTRESS.
The distress among the sick unemployed
people in New York at this time is terrible.
Much has beer, done by the charitable to
relieve il, but not one dollar has been given
where ten should be. Young James Gor
don Bennett, of the Herald, established
soup houses to the extent of $30,000, and
others have done the same thing, which is
good as far as it goes, but it does not go
far enough. The people who can come to
the soup houses can, generally, get ou with
out it, for they are able to do something.
But the worst cases arc knowu only in the
houses where they live. Many prefer star
vation to beggary, and shrink from allow
ing their distress to be made public.
A case of this character was brought to
my attention yesterday by a child who was
begging for money with which to putchase
food and fuel. In reply to questious he said
that his mother had just been confined ;
that his father had bceu out of work since
autumn, and that he was
DYING FOR TIIE FOOD
which he was too proud to beg. I accom
panied him to the house in Canal street,
where the family lived. The house was
small, but was occupied by a number of
families. The boy led the way up a flight of
rickety stairs, which threatened to give way
at every step. The room presented the
appearance of the utmost squalor and pov
erty. Every article of furniture which
could be sold had been parted with, and
nothing remained but a bed, a table, and
two chairs with broken backs. Upon the
bed lay a woman whose face told the sad
story of disease and hunger. The child,
which was but three days old, was at the
point of death. The husband-father sat
with his face between his hands, and seem
ed entirely unconscious that any one was
in the room. The boy said that he had
been too sick to work that he had had for
a week just strength to drag himself out to
beg, but that for two days past he had ob
tained nothing. The attention of charita
ble persons was called to the case, and
measures were taken to provide for the
needs of the starving family, and medical
attendance was secured for the mother,
whose child was too far gone with starva
tion to be saved.
There are thousands upon thousanda of
such cases in the city. There is work
enough for the strong and healthy to live
upon, but not enough to enable them to
help the unfortuuatc, of whom they alone
knojv. Thank Heaven ! the spring is near
at hand.
white KIDS.
Speaking of dress and things, the Brook
lyn Woman's Club has made a discovery,
no less than that the costliness of social life
has been due to the wearing of kid gloves
men and women have felt that they must
"dress up" to kids. Therefore the club
have inaugurated a reform by banishing
the iuischevious kids from their receptions.
This will last two weeks. Dress will rule
so long as the poor devotees can stand it.
A movement has been made by crippled,
people in Boston, to simplify woman's
dress. The dry goods dealers and mo
distes have not been consulted in connec
tion with the movement, and they exclaim
as with one voice, "What a horrible idea !"
And the rich will all echo, "What a horri
ble idea !"
BUSINESS
is not as brisk as it was. The season has
advanced so far that tbe country merchants
have put off their buying till the spring, and
our merchants languish. The crash, so
pleasant ttheir ear?, is not heard their
clerks and salesmen idle upon boxes and
bales, for the country merchant, he. in
whom they delight, cometh not. But he
will be here in April with his plethoric
purse, or what is the same thing, his A 1
credit, and the way they will sell him goods
will be a caution. Money, :s t ;:ht. and then
is a stringency and closeness in everything
that is exceedingly uncomfortable. Tht
Grancers have disturbed Railroad securi
ties, stocks have changed values, and then
is a general derangement, so that the aver
age New Yorker hasn't any idea where h'
stands'. Even goods in a store have n
fixed value, for, behold you, a man's nex
door neighbor may be in a position tha
compels him to raise money, and to rais
money he must slaughter goods to the de
moralization of the market for days. Ob
my bucolic friends, you don't know hot
well you are off. The man who has a farr
of 160 acres of fat land, paid for and we'
stocked, is in as good a shape as any ma
in the world can be. Such a man doesn
know what trouble is.
Think of a man worth a million of do
la rs of dry good in I113 store, on which 1
owes $(500,000. Now the man is wort
$400,000. But he can't sell his -goods-nobody
is buying anything and his pap
is maturing. To meet his paper he for
his goods ou the market, he sells atasao
See, expenses are enormous, and when ti
thing pans out he finds hi salable goo
all gone, and he, poor fellow, owes S25(
000 and hasn't a dollar to bless him
with.
But there is a bright side to it, son
times. If the poor fellow ought honest
to fail tor $250,000, he fails for $b00,0(
the odd S350,0o0 being invested in the pi
chase of real estate in his wife's name, ai
out of the reach of his creditors. 1 heai
yesterday a conversation this wise :
Simpson Brown has failed.
Jones Has he indeed ! Well, I'm gl
of it. He's worked hard for a good ma
years aud it's time he began to lay off a
take things easy. I suppose he will set
a carriage now. Won't he ?
This explains it all. One merchant w
failed for a million has GOO acres of land
the Hudson in his wife's name, that is grc
ing in value, so that it is now worth ore
million. Iut this is no, tbe case with
of them. The high-minded merchant, n
fails because he cannot help it, and
takes a clerkship, has a hard and bit
life of it God help him ! he never cor
up again, but he grows old and gray-bai
in a hopeless, helpless way, and fin:
tumbles into his grave, unwept, unhon
ed and unsung. His old clerks even for
him.
TIIE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT
in its western form, has not struck us b
yet, but nevertheless, there is great acth
among the temperance and religious f
pie. Organizations are being perfec
in every ward to make head against
monster, and the work that has been d
has not been fruitless. The reformers t
have not demonstrated against the rc
seller, but they have confined their wor
the rum driuker. They are cstablis
leading rooms, and pleasant resorts as
stitutes for the saloon, and tea aud ct
as substitutes for rum. And though I
have but commenced, they have wontl
sands from their ruin, and in one neigh
hood have compelled several rum-mills
close for want of custoai. Is not thi
pretty good way ?
PlETTtt
110. 1$
PAIN. KILLER,
TIIE GREAT
Family Medicine orthe Age.
Taken Internally, It Cures
"Dysentary, Cholera. Dianhea, Cn
and Pain in the Stomach, Bowel C
plaints, Painters' Colic, Liver, Compla
Dyspeps:a, Inuigestiou, Sore Throat, I
den Colds, Coughs, &c, &c.
Used Externally, it Cures
Boils, Fel ns, Cuts, Bruises, Br
Scalds, Oid Sores, Sprains. Toothact
Pain in the lace, Neuralgia,
Uheumatism, Frosted Feet,
&C..&C, &c.
PAIN-KILLER,
after a thorough trial by inumerahle Ii
witnesses, has proved itself the Medici
the Age. It 19 an internal and ext
remedy. One positive proof of its effi
is, that its sales have constantly meres
and wholly upon its own merits. Th
feet of the
PAIN-KILLER
upon the patient when taken intcrnall
case of Cold, Cough, Bowel Compli
Cholera, Dysentery, and other atrlictio
the system, has been truly wonderful,
has won for it a name among medical
paratiims that can never he forgotten,
success in removing pain, as an ext
remedy, in cases of Burns, Bn
Sprains, Cuts, Stings of Insects, and
causes of suffering has secured for it
a host of testimony, as an infallible ret
that it will be handed down to postcri
one of the greatest medical discover!
the nineteenth century.
THE PAIN-KILLER
derives much of its popularity from th
plicity attending its use, which gives
peculiar value in a family. The T.
diseases which may be reached by it
in their incipient stages eradicate
among those which are peculiarly
suffered to run ; but the curative ir
this preparation at once disarms fii
their terrors. In all respects it fuld
conditions of a popular medicine.
Be sure you call for and get the g
Pain-Killer, as many worthless no
are attempted to be sold on the grea
tation of this valuable medicine.
(Directions accompany each be
Price 25 cents, 50 cents, and $1
Bottle.
Sold by all Medicine Dealers.
March 6, 1874. lm.