Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-21

Postage on NeWSDaDerS.

We have intended for some time, to call
attention to the absurdities Of the new pos
tage law, so far as it relates, to transient
newspapers and periodicals, but our eyehas
lighted on an article in the New York
Courier and Enquirer. upon the subject,
which is SO complete in its exposure of the
Objectionable feature, that we adopt it as
our own. The Courier INDUCES in
some excellent remarks upon the manner
in which much of the Legislation of Con-
gress is effected. A more crude, disioint-
ed, and absurd enactment than the late act
reducing postage. never worked its way
through Legislative body. Would it be
believed, that, whilst the principle Of uni
form rates of postage as to letters, irrespcc-
tive of distance, is recognized, there are no
less than th;rty-eight different rates estab-
hshed as TO newspapers. To understand
them all, requires an amount oftme and at
tcntion, which the majority of Post Masters
arc not disposedto bestow, and the conse.
quenceis, we suspect, that the department
receives less now than it did formerly
from, the postage on transient papers.
We have many subscribers, who after
reading the Virginian, have been in the
habit of sending it to friends at distance.
Our paper, weighing 2 ounces, cannot be
sent to the nearest office, without the pre-
payment oftwo cents-nor to point more
than 500 miles distant, without like pay
ment four ccnts-being fifty per cent in
the one case and one hundred in the other.
on the subscription price. And this in the
era of cheap postage! But this is not all.
The Post Master is bound not to send any
newspaper. not mailed from the publica-
ton office, without cxacting prepayment
at the rate of one cent per o., for
any distance short of 500 miles and two
cents for any distance over 500 miles, and
so on. But, should the paper, escaping
his vigilance, arrive at its destination, the
Post Master there is to exact just double
these rates, in order to make amends for
the neglect Of the Post Master at the mail
ing office.
Since the policy Of the cheap postage has been
satisfactorily tested by actual experiment the A.
merican people have earnestly demanded of their
servants at Washington, complete and faith
ful application Of the principle. The call became
so imperious that during the last session action
was absolutely necessary. bill was drafted, and
after much debate, passed in the House, OBJ |
in Of its features but acceptable
in the main. 1t went to the Senate and there got
a speedy quietus. Its place filed with anoth |
er Bill emanating from the Post Office Committee |
OF the Senate, and claiming the especial paternity |
OF Sem RusK of Texas, and especial god-fathership
Of Postmaster General HALL. Among many other
important particulars in which this production diff
fered from that Of the House, was the heavy clog
which, laid upon all printed matter. Instead of
uniform rate Of one cent for all distances on every
newspaper entering the mail, IS regulated by the
House bill, this bill of the Senate established for
papers regularly subscribed for, Miry-eighf differ
emf rates, (many Of them fractional surns) fixed in
reference TO the frequency of the publication and
the length of the conveyance. This complicated
visitation of Senatorial wisdom is now the daily
torment of every Bodybuilding" post-oiicer in the
and Upon transient matter the burden is more
iirect. and far heavier. The House perhaps too
he Senate loaded large portion of it with a tax
Utmost Prohibitory. Transient newspapers, as de
erinined by the BILL all newspapers for which
subscription is made, and which arc sent through
he mail to the same destination for "A less period
han three months. BY this law a transient news
'aper weighing over two ounces, Of our CT
daiiics do is charged three cents for all distanc
IS not over 500 miles, six for distances over
,O0 miles and not 1.500 miles, nine cents for
distances over 1,500 miles and not over $780,
we've cents for distances 500 miles and not
ver $500 miles, and fifteen cents for all distances
n the United States over 1900 miles. To 20 from
New York to Brooklyn, then il pays three cents !;
whereas both the domestic md the foreign postage
o St Petersburg, by steamer, would be only -four
cnts. To 20 to Cairo it docs not pay half much
$ to go to Galveston. To go TO Bombay, but one
bird much to 90 to Dcseret; and to go 10 Ccy-
IN, but about one-quarter much as to go to San
Irancisco- Do not such postal arrangements !
5 these set all reason at dc6ancel What is
here in the character Of paper sent for a I,
ess period than three months a mail route Of }
he United States, that should call down upon it {
UGH peculiar burdcnsi Why should the poor man
e Obliged to pay two and half times as much for
he letter he sends his friend in California Why
houd the gentleman who leaves the city for the wa
ering place fifty miles distant, TO be six ten weeks
bsent. be forced to pay the Post Office Department
$ much for each Of his regular city dailies for
ach Of his city letters? Can law that prcscribes
his be styled even BY any legal fiction a cheap Pos
age Law! Is il entitled, BY any stretch Of courtesy,