The Northern galaxy, and Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1843-1844, 1844-01-31
T HE G AL A Y.
MIDDLEBURY:
Wednesday Jan. 81, 1874.
MIDDLEBURY:
THE POST OFFICE REPORT.

THE POST OFFICE REPORT.
Mr.. Myrrick from the Post Office Commit
tee has reported Bill to the Senate. Sim
gle letters are to pay 5 cents if under 100
| miles, and 10 cents is the highest rate. With
in the county where published newspapers
| are TO be sent free of postage; out Of the coun-
| ty half cent, and cent over 100 miles, if they
do not exceed 1915 square inches. Two and a
Islf cents-per ounce for pamphlets and 9TH
err priutedpatter, The Thanking privilege to
extends only ao the President, heads Of de-
partment and members of Congress. This
bill is doubtless a vast improvement in the
present Post Office regulations. But in one
important respect, in neglecting to make a
proper discrimination as to postage on large
and small newspaper sheets, it is still materi-
ally defective. In contributing to the expen-
ses of the post Office, why should the country
paper Of the size Of the Rutland Herald pay
at the same rate as the Express, comprising
the double number of inches. Let the gov
eminent charge, and let the publisher and
subscriber pay in proportion to the amount
of benefit conferred by the other.-But
according to this bill there is no grada-
ton between a small country paper and city
sheet of the size of the Tribune or Express
neither Of which will exceed the I3 hundred
inches.
This extraordinary disregard to the prin-
ciple of equalization in relation to the differ
ent dimension of lesser newspaper pnblica-
tons so carefully observed in relation to the
New Worlds and Brother Jonathans, we fear
indicates something not little rotten in Ben
mark. We know well that several editors of
large city Journals have visited Washington
during the present session of Congress, and
while acting as the champions of reform it
would not be a very unreasonable conjecture
that self interest might impart tinge to the
views they might present to Congress on this
subject. Is it not enough to justify some Sigh
suspicion of a want of perfect disinterested-
ness at least, that while we hear these advo-
Gates of reform prating loud against high pos
tages on letters, and furious for an increase
of postage upon the real Leviathans, they
should have never lisped a syllable about the
difference between six hundred and 13
hundred inch sheet, and suggested the JUS
tice and propriety of discriminating rates Of
postage between them. The same rule of
discrimination which raised the hostages on
the highest sized journals should have been
applied to the next in dime nsion This neg
lected as it is, nothing could be so well de-
vised TO enable certain class of city pub
fishes to monopolize the whole newspaper
circulation than that now reported by the
committee. Poor Park Benjamin is handed
over to the highest rate of duties, while the
Expresses, Observers and Dollar Weeklies,
pay no more than the Dayspring, or Youths
Companion. What will great body ofvery
useful publishers in the cities say to this cry
ing inequality! And does it not become the
country editors to arouse themselves to an in
justice which threaten their existence other
Wise than IN a very starveling con dition.-
Even with view to revenue this report
should be corrected so that the larger city
papers will come charged with higher, and
the smaller with less rate of duties than at
present. The attention of our country MEM
bers Of Congress must be called to this sub
ject, and especially to the danger to be ap-
pretended from investing the mighty power
OF the press over public sentiment political,
moral and religious, exclusively in city jour
mails Reform is greatly desirable. But
while revenue is at the foundation let it be
equal and just in its operations upou individ-
uals, and so discriminate as TO secure the
most conservative influences upon the public
sentiment OF the nation through the instru-
mentality of the press.