Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1854-06-08
Letter Postage.

The bill recently introduced by Mr. Ods, il
the Huuse Of Representatives, as substitute
for that reported by him from the 'Post-ollict
] ro.. ...:Ii L-I:. ----------I --".-.-
approval. 1t has long seemed to us that tn,
abuse of the franklin privilege demanded some
REFORM by way of RESTRICTIONS; and if that wa:
impracticable, that the system itself should be
abolished. 1t is fact well known, that at pres.
ent, it is one Of the expcdients rcsorted to by
members of Congress TO maintain their popnlari.
ty at home, who frank cart loads Of ;" documents
! to their constituents, which being received, are
for the most part, never so much as looked into.
But they serve their purpose for all that. Tho
good natured constituent is pleased ut being re.
remembered 10y his man in Congress, who, in
spite of the multitude of perplexing national
cares, still finds time to think Of him and the
! documents are credited 10 an account to be
balanced at the next election Now, this sort of
| thing is well enough any where but where we
lind 1t. Ii surely never was intended by those
! who conceived the plan, who engraftcd the
franking privilege upon the Post-ollice Depart
ment, TO cheaper and facilitate correspondence
between the representative and the people, that
this prime object should be, in great measure,
superseded by another, and that the privilege
itself should be used as grand clectionccrno
scheme. 1t, besides, cannot be doubted that the
abuse of the frauking privilege is, perhaps, the
most fruitful CAUSE ofthe dclcienryot 81 100000
reported by the Department, by burdenng the
mails with matter transported free Hence, too,
we may add, the meagree and defective postal
arrangements throughout The country, and eSpe-
cialIy in the South Any reform, therefore,
which will remedy this abuse, relieve the Govern
ment OF so large share of the clcclioncering
bills OF members, and place the department upon
self-supporling and equal basis 10 all sections
OF the country, meets our hearty approval.
Something must be done. The Department
must either continue to hobble on burden upon
the Government, and unequal in its operation
towards The different sections Of the country, as
it now is under the present aw-or the rate of
postage must 5e raiscd-or some such measure
as the one proposed by Mr.. Olds be adopted
We doubt whether, even with the rate of postage
increased. as recommended by the Committees
BILL the Department would be able TO support
ITSELF without some limit is imposed on this
extensive and still extending document" busi-
ness. Ofcourse we do not object to the frank
ing privilege being continued within reasonable
and proper limits, and we understand Mr. Ods'
to be to refrain it, but to make it il
distinct charge upon Congress, and the several |
Departments This will of course enable the |
country to see how much they pay for this priv
ilege of their congressman, in which they so
largely participate, and to ascertain the acrual
deficiency in the Post-Oilice revenue and the
cause of it. But even under this plan we shall
only approximate 10 4 correction of the evil.
For if Congress is to pay, as one of its own
expenses, the iranking bills of its members, and
20 limit be imposed upon the use of the privilege
The charge will still fail as heavily as before upon
he country. At any rate, Dir. OIds' proposition,
f adopted will enable us to Judge between the
cost and value Of the thing received We re-
,eat what we have said in former articles, that
something must be done which will place the
nail facilities upon footing of equality and
Mercury.