Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-01-12

bear il. Legislation should extend equal pro- |
lection and encouragement to all classes and as-
ocations Of society; but the present system of
postage upon newspapers Is oppressive and I'M
just to one classof publishers. We know i may
be said, that precise discrimination of postage
upon newspapers in proportion to distance is
impossible This is true, and for this reason, rs
the nearest approach to justice, and at the same
time to make the postage upon newspapers uni
form, We urge the free transmission of papers
within so niles Of the place of publication.
Nor is it alone in the imposition Of postage
that the law steps in to favor the city papers
1t in effect offers premium to Postmasters to
lend their active aid in promoting the circulation
of city, at the expense of country newspapers.
As people will not pay the postage on country
newspapers (Which amounts to about half the |
subscription price,, they arc usually sent by
private conveyance, outside the mail poslmas-
tiers, however, have direct interest in the post.
age on newspapers, receiving one half Of II a,
part Of their salary Of course, the greater the
number Of papers passing through the Office, the
larger their salary. Consequently they are the
active agents of foreign newspapers, which come
through the mail, and have, by the operation Of
the law, pecuniary interest in extending the
circulation Of city aud diminishing that Of coun.
try papers.
We do not charge, nor do VIC believe, that
there was any design by the passage of these
laws TO favor one portion Of the newspaper press
at the expense Of anotheri bu, such is their OPP
Grafton.
Individual and separate complaints or remon.
slrances have little effect, but if the sentiment,
of the country press on this subjcc, could be en-
bodied, they would exhibit strength which Con
gress would feel and respect. We desire to in
'iie the attention Of the country publishers to
this partial and unjust legislation in favor of the
city press. aud to ask their united and vigorous
cooperation to obtain redress. The Postage
Reform Associations Of boston and New York
are actively at work in efIeciing a reduction Of
letter postage but they do not feel, and there
I fore do not touch, the grievance We complain Of
If any thing is done effectively, ii mus, he done
by these publishers and their subscribers who
suffer from the operation Of the present law and
it mus, be done quickly or It will be too late TO
bear upon the present Congress
In order to elicit the opinions of the country
publishers, and Il possible secure united aud
/ Simultaneous action, we would suggest that each
Of them print or some blank petitions TO Con.
gress send them out among their agents and
subscribers, for signatures and have them for
warled to Congress say by the 25th January 50
as 10 he presented together on or about the Is,
! February. There is not probably an inhahitant
of the country who would no, cordially afIix bis
name TO such petition. Public senliaient is
with the country press, and all tina, they have 70
do is to collect and present it to Congress. II
the protection Of their own rights and interests
Is not sufficient to prompt them to do this, they
ought no longer to complain Of the existing laws
In accordance with the above suggestions, we
propose the following as a convenien, form of a
petition to Congress;
g. Please procure signatures, and forward to
the Hon. - -, on or before the 25ih
January instnnt-ga
TO me Hon. SeHol0rs and Representatives. ia Con-
The undersigned. citizens of the county Of
-, State Of --, respectfully represent
that the present law Of postage upon newspa-
Pers, and mode OF compromising PostmAsters.
operates unequally and oppressivcly, favoring
the city at the expense of the country newspa-
pcrs. The undersigned therefore respectfully
petition your Honorable body, to restore the law
exemp,ing newspapers from postage within the
county, and within 80 miles OF the place Of publ
cation. or graduate the posiage according to dis
lance, aud repeal the law giving 10 Posimasters
one half the tosfagp rapeixed uuon ncvrst,.rnrs
The undersigned also petition your Honorable
body to reduce the postage on letters weighing
half an ounce and less, 10 two cents for all dis
tances, IL prepaid, and double that amount, il
not pre- paid and to abolish the Thanking prisi-
! lege"