Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-01-26
VERMONT PHOENIX.
Brattleboro, Friday, Jan. 20, lSl9.
Newspaper Postage.


Mt Miles has introduced a bill into the U. S.
Senate, providing that postage upon newspapers
Of one ounce weight shall be one cent over fifty
miles, and half cent for less. This is certainly
less unjust than the former rates, though 1t is
very far from placing the city and country pub
fishers on an equality Much Of the diPropor-
ton still, remains. There is Post Office two
miles from this place what Justice is there in
requiring half as much postage on our paper to
that Office, as upon paper from New York,
New Orleans, or Oregon?
1t is to be observed that the injurious effect
of this disproportionate eSacion Of postage, is
chiefly felt by the local papcrs Of the country,
whose circulation Is mostly confined 10 their own
county, or, ii published on The lordcr of q coun-
ty, within thirty miles Of the place Of publication
aud a provision which should place the circula-
ton of papers in their own county, or within
thirty miles Of the place Of publication, upon m
equality with those from the cities, would leave
nothing to complain Of Beyond these limits,
few papers circulate, except those whose ioca-
ton and character adapt them to general circu.
laion, and therefore there is no need Of discrim.
mating in postagc' farther than to protect tho
circulation Of local papers within the county, or
within thirty miles Of the place of publication.
Outside Of this circumference, the application Of
uniform rate of postage for all distances would
work no injury to local newspapers; but within
it, there ought, in our opinion, to lie discrimi-
nation in their fdror, 80 thnt the rate Of postage
upon beE for the shortest distance, shall be pro-
portioned, as near rs Is practicable, 10 that upon
other papers for the greatest distance. This is
not accomplished by the proposed bill, and be.
sides, the adoption Of = certain number Of mile.
for the discrimination Of postage, does not ex-
press, or correctly mark, the line OF discrimina.
ton which the reasons in its favor discloses. II
is the circulation Of country newspapers within
their respective counties, or within twenty OF
thirty miles around them, which is unjustly at
fecied by the discrimination Of postage in favor
Of the city papers. II, instead OF the proposed
rate, the bill imposed five cents per year foi
weekly papers within the limit, shove described
and at that rate for daily, iri.wcckly, or semi
weekly papers, il paid in advance, and one cent
each for single papers, ii would come much near
er to fairness and equality. Aud there is n,
doub, that such provision would ensure larg
or nett revenue from the circulation OF local 20
pers than the rate now proposed. II the post
nee Was reduced to that sum, mast Of the loca
/ papers would go in the mails. without addiiona
COS, OF transportation, for the ordinary mails il
the country are light; whereas under the pro
posed rate, they would chiefly be sent, a, the,
now are, by private conveyance, or outside til,
mails, and little revenue gained from newspa
pcrs, except upon those from the cities, which !
is conceded do not pay for transportation. !
would be wisdom in Congress rather to encour
age and protect the circulation Of country locr
papers, whose circulation is profitable at ID
smallest rate of postage, because their transport
alton does not add to the yzpcnse. Of the De
J partment.
SMALL Pox.-No new cnse of lhi. di.easc O
Narioloid has come to our knowledge. Their
is therefore no existing case Of either diseast
except the one mentioned BY us last week.