The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-22

other Channels for conveying newspapers but
the mails Now there printing establish
ments IN almost every village; and railroads,
steamboats,, and other lines of communication
afford cheap and convenient channels for convey
ing newspapers and other publications, the great
| er portion Of which are distributed among the
people without the agency of the mail.
| With the view 10 remove many of the growing
evils OF the maIl establishment, and secure the
reduction OF letter postage, / respectfully pro-
pose change in the system, or the following
basis.
l. The entire abolition of the ranking pri-
vilege as an exclusive personal right, with the
exception OF the Executive and the heads of
depal tments.
2. A limitation by law of the maximum rate
ofcompensation for all the steamboats,, railroad
and coach service.
3. The equalization Of postage on newspa-
pers and other printed matter, with an advance
of one numbered per cent.
4. A revision of the tariff Of letter postage,
with reduction OF twenty-five per cent.
The effect Of the first of these changes
would be TO greatly diminish the bulk and
weight of the mails, and to increase the postage.
Probably two-thirds Of the mail now going free
would be excluded, and what remained would
be charged with postage; and the two cents
paid for the delivery of free packets would be
saved.
The newspapers received by printers in ex-
change might be exempted from postage, with
limitation by law OF the number. Letters
addressed to a postmaster exclusively on the
business of his office, it might be reasonable
to except from the postage tax; and also all
Letters written by postmssters exclusively on
| official business, provided they are unsealed,
! Except when addressed 10 another postmaster
OF agent of the DEPARTMENT. so that the office
| OF delivery may be enable to decide whether the
letter legally and properly entitled to go free
The postage Oh letters received by members of
| Congress might be paid from the contngentfund
/ OF the two Houses, and on those sent by them
| during the session, limited to certain number
| daily; or such limited number per day. suffi-
cientfor their official correspondence, might be
permitted to go free of postage; and public
documents, printed by the order of either House
OF Congress, to possess the privilege they now
do, when sent by a member with his certificate
that they were public documents.
Such a modification of their privileges would
relieve members Of Congress from much GER
respondence very burdensome to them. and, in
general, of very little public utility 1t would
tend to arrest the concentration at the seat of
Government of those influences which. for some
time past, appears TO have directed and con-
trolled the politics ofthe country, and to add TO
ments. The unlimited extent of the frankiug |
privilege is among the causes which have
produced the Capitalization of political in |
huence, by enabling it to exert its power, with |
a view 10 definite purpose, over the coun- |
try.
The effect Of the second change would be TO
reduce the expense of transportation, and on /
many routes to substitute a lower and cheaper |
grade OF service, as wagon, sulkey, or horse, |
IN the place ofstage OF coach service.
The effect Of equalizing and raising the |
postage on newspapers and other printed matter,
would be to diminish the bulk and weight of
the mails, and increase that branch of the reve.
nue. about one hundred per cent
The revision of the tariff ofletter postage on |
the basis OF a reduction of twenty-five per cent |
would increase correspondence, vet add little
TO the bulk or weight Of the mails, and the pos
tage on the additional letters conveyed would
supply, in part, the loss Of the revenue from the
reduction on the rates.
The effect Of the whole would be 10 tighten
the mails, and render their bulk and weight
more uniform; 10 cheaper the transportation.
and secure more regularity in the service. and.
by reducing the tax on correspondence, relieve
the commercial interest, and benefit the whole
community.
Inc tariff OF postage on newspapers, period
lcalS, and pamphlets, is almost as unequal and
UNJUST as the comparative rates of postage
upon letters and printed matter This ineoual-
ity and injustice have arisen from the great
changes which have taken place in the manu-
idcture OF paper, whereby the former distinc-
ton as TO dimensions have been lost, and cor
responding change in the forms of publications
introduced.
All newspapers now pay the same postage.
although some are ten times the dimensions
and weight of others. This is not only unjust
TO those who pay the tax, bnt equally so to the
publishers. 1t gives an undue advantage TO
he large establishments in the commercial I
cities over the penny pspers which are more {
removed from sinister influences, and, in gene :
al, are the most independent channels of
sound public opinion. There seems no good 9
eason for the difference in postage between !
periodical and non-periodical pamphlets. and I
he distinction, in fact, is often difficult TO de-
ermine. BY the present law, all printed mat
act, except newspapers, is taxed by the sheets;
nd, from the change IN the forms of publica- "
ons, the postage is not and cannot be collect =
with any uniformity, from the difficulty ex-
eTleneed by postmasters in chasing the vari-
US publications. Sixteen pages of octave con- Z
itute sheet, and twenty-fou duodecimo, !;
though it is often nearly impIacticabIe to dis Al
nguish between them. u'
To remove all these difficulties. and establish n
uniform rate of postage on printed matter. :
e best rule would be to tax it by weight. But
there should be objections TO so great
range, newspapers could be divided into three sh
asses, according TO their dimensions, on the
an recommended by the late Postmaster
eneral in his annual report in 1886. To tax !;
her printed matter by weight, it is believed,
ere can be no objection, Whether the other
ore approximations which have been recon- Z
ended be effected or not, the tariff or postage
l newspapers and printed matter urgently de- p.
lands radical revision. The advance on the bel
stage ofnewspapers and other printed matter, ca'
though regarded as eminently just, is not ma ma
49, nS"v.S " uie cyjeNt ~ az :" the
Iefisioh anu equahLatlon OF uhe taIih' taxing gra
sized newspaper Of $50 square inches wi
the basis, would make large addition to nae
is branch ofthe revenue of the Department.. 81, na
The tariff of letter hostage proposed in the trn