Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1845-1851, 1848-12-28
From the Erening Post
The Franlking PriviIcgc--lts Uses mud


he OBJ els i"r Which governments are Instituted
are the proieriIon + perons. their characters and
property. In tins country we hay" natural govern
ment to attend TO all external affairs and certain
great internal interests committed To us curge While
We have State, county and town governments having
charge ot all other nuttcrs concerning our welfare
Zach of these governments, withln a. legitimate
sphere exercises the powers within It's jurisdiction IN
the manner 1t deems conducive To the objects IN
view. lie SUBJECTS within the limited powers of ma
tlonal government really few and simple. We
have grea, depart with numerous officers subor
dnae Ia the head the army, navy and judiciary.
These perform the functions necessary the working
of the machine of government. Through the treasu-
~ and post office department the funds necessary 10
NEE, It's expenses are collected. Not dollar is ra,s-
cd but what is in way paid by the people Some
contribute by purchasing and paying fJr the public
lands. Others do by consuming merchandise pay
ING duties imported from ab-oud On coca
sions direct taxes have been levied upon certain de-
scrIpons of property. In some form the millions
consuTed IN the carrying on OF the government are
drawn from the pockets of the people. We, as peo-
pie recognize equality of rights. On this theory,
when money unnecessarily expended to benefit only
portion positive wrong committed upon the res
idue of the people. If privilege Is conferred on
portion of the people, which is withheld from the
others, the rule of equal rights is violated. This
Is quite clear when this privilege is enjoyed at the
expense Of others. We npprehend that these Propo-
sitons viii not be disputed Nor will it be denied
that the public agents of the people are in no respect
entitled to privileges beyond the people themselves
1t will he conceded that they entitled to fair re-
muneration for their This should be clearly
declared by law, and equally enjoyed by all occupying
the station, and only to be increased or diminish
ed by open public law. Let apply these rules
TO the ranking privilege.
The Pos-OfIce establishment is supported by charges
upon letters, papers and pamphlets, or by direct
charge upon the national treasury In either lis
expense is borne by the people. Heretofore it has
been the policy to make those interested IN sending
by mall sustain the expense of It's transporia-
ton and delivery. 1t has not been deemed right or
just require others contribute 10 these Objects
because those who send the only persons benefited
by it, others having 10 interest in the mater Hence
postages have been graduated with reference to
ing sufficient to meet the expenses Of the
mail establishment Those who pay n tax 10 the gov
eminent in the shape of hostages. are interested IN
having it as low as possible A gratifying reduction
on postages have already been made. A further and
greater one is sought by the people and claimed on
strong and lncontrovertible grounds. This could be
easily accomplished but for the ranking privilege.
If the matter sent free charged with hostages,
the department could sustain itself with uniform
rate of two cents each single letter sent by mail.
Now these free letters and papers the govern
two cents each, which is paid 10 the receiving
postmaster for delivery and keeping the accounts, and
consequently severe tax upon the mail moneys re-
ceiyed from paying pnir)nzers OF the mall.
The frank ing privilege the great obstacle To the
speedy reduction of passages the irfng of two
cents on all pre- paid letters and the great sImplfca
ton of post office From the first Of Decem-
Der last to this time, the free matter passing under
the frank of Members of Congress through the mails
exceeded in weight all other matter transmitted
through it, Before the close of the last session, on
measuring the matter franked by members through
| the Washington Office, for successive days, II
was found 10 exceed 1900 bushels, being about 2Ss
bushels per day. weighing, in the whole, ID o5O lbs.
or 707S lbs, (hree tons and haif) per day
thoo .ltA,rp mo f,a.
ter passing under the frank. at the office, has
RED from 90 800 bushels from 1900 TO 60Ot
pounds, averaging, probably 100 bushels or tor
and a half per day. The amount thus franked at 9th
er offices must swell the free matter to enormous
weight, costing u for It's transmission anC
! delivery.
The departments at Washington receive and trans.
nit official letters BY mail free of postage. The ex
pense Of transmitting these must be burne by the peo
pie in form. II cannot be satisfactorily establish
ed that this expense should fall exclusively upon those
who use he mail. Ii is justified, however, the
ground that the mail establishment has been occasions
ally in part at least, charged the Treasury, anC
that the other of the government have erect
cd the department at Washington and paid lts expcn
ses, including clerks and contingencies, while in va
rous ways (thc steamships for instunce II occasions
charge upon the general revenues Of the treasury
1t is worthy of remark that with the exception of the
President, no executive officer can, by law, frank o
letter except on official business.
The ranking privilege originally conferred on
Members of Congress to relieve them from the tax o
paying postage on letters IN which they had no per
sOnal interest. This they could not avoid Iheil
constituents and others would through carelessness OIL
design, write on their own business without paying
postage. In many instances this occnsloned great eX
pense. 1t but reasonable 10 relieve them IRON
this burden, which justice ought 10 have been borne
by the writer's when sent on their own business From
this simple beginning the frankng privilege has grown
to enormous abuse. The transmission of free mat
ter, originally intended a small matter and
did not cucumber the mails. Now il is n large and
grevous one costing the mail establishment an enor-
nous amount If ffanking had been confined within
the limits originally intended or had not extended be-
yond the transmission Of public documents printed by
of Congress, and private written correspondence
during the session, the people would probably have
acqulesced in It's continuance But few years since
Congress conferred upon its members, without the re-
quest Of the people, and for substantial reasons,
the right frank from sixty days before they take
their seats in Congress- until the meeting OF tie next
succeeding Congress.
This extension has reference to public business
or the public wants. Each member Of Congress- though
elected for years, enjoys the privilege OF frank-
ing the period of two years and two months. During
the term of months before the first session of n
Congress, there two sets TT members favored WITH
this privilege. 1t is the matter fanked by members
which loads down and clogs the mails, producing IT.
regularities and which materially enhances the
expense of their transportation and delivery Tins
privilege is not for the benefit OF the public, and has
little connection with the public business irob-
ably not one letter IN ten received and sent by men,
bers relates To his duties member 1t Is not pre-
tended TO be justified the ground OF increasing the
compensation of members. by indirect means. us IN
the of postmasters whose commissions are below
5000 per annum Without this privilege many OF the
snaller Offices could not be filled by competent and