The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-07-16
The Franlkinx Privilege.

The Franlklng Privilege.
We have received the following letter from Mr.
Brown, on the expcdiency of abo .hing the frankng
privilege enjoyed by members Of Congress. We
fully concur with the writer in thinking that the
abuses to which the privilege leads more than c0un.
terbaance the doubtful advantages derived from it,
TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Sr-Will you please publish the accompanying ad-
yertisement, and though 1t is an advertisement, viii
you have the kindness place it among your reading
natter II concerns matter In which l. in common
with, believe, most Of my countrymen lyon, hope,
vilege now enjoyed by members Of Congress Is dis
grace to our country, and Is spot (not small one)
on our national escutcheon which should be wiped
on. In democracy, exclusive privileges should not
be allowed except where absolutely necessary, and
for the very best Of reasons. Is there any good
son why members of Congress should enjoy the
Thanking privilege rather than any other citizens
| can see none. In matters purely governmental,
postage should not be paid by individuals; nor would
be worth while to pay it at alias it would but be
taking out Of one pocket to put into the other-but
for the sake Of uniformity and simplifying accounts
at the Post Office Department.
Let US look little into the affairs of members of
Congress, and see what government or public mat
tiers they have in charge on which the postage
should be free. Is the correspondence between Q
member Of Congress and his family public, that it
should be franked, any more than the correspoa-
6ence between You and your family, or me and my
family, when we are separated. Would they be vii.
ling TO have such correspondence made public? If
constituent writes to q, member Of Congress on
business, and at the same time to agent bust
ness Is there any reason why the letter to the first
should go free, end to the second be charged with
postage. Hpublic meetings are held and resolu-
iions passed, or if public spirited people choose to
get up petitions to Congress for any purpose what
ever, and find it necessary to send BY mail to a
member of Congress, malible matter, should not
pubic business e when i Is Intended to sabssr s To-
cal or private interests? If some people are SO
public spirited, can't they afford to contribute afew
cents apiece to pay postage, as well as to spend
such papers, &c. If State Legislature pass resolu-
tons Of instruction to their delegation in Congress-
should not the State pay the postage on the docu-
ments necessary to be sent to Washington, and not
Of Congress writes to friend or constituent about
matters connected with his election il not that his
private affiir, on which he should pay postage, as
you or would be compelled to do?
If he wishes to send stale copy of the Presidents
message or other document to some voter, to soft
soap him and get his vote, should he not pay the
postage on it At each session Of Congress the two
Houses generally print one hundred thousand copies
enough to supply all the voters with copy. Is that
number Of voters them to receive copy free Of post
age while all others who may wish to have are to
Wien man os Hns sf % RS Tor e Congress- res
he virtually If not in words asserts his belief that
he is competent to perform his duties in that capa
city IT, In the course Of his services he discovers
that be was mistaken, and does mot posses the ne
cessary information to enable him to do his duty,
and has to search by letters here and there and
elsewhere for the information, ID It right that the
government should be saddled with the expense of
the postage; must the government pay him for his
services, and pay for teaching or qualifying him TO
perform his dutesg / should cay not. Let him pay
for procuring the necessary knowledge, or let him
resign and make place for one who has the regulate
knowledge, or who Is willing to procure it ct his
own cost. eWa
don't know Of but one case In which member
Of Congress could receive public matter on which
the postage should be paidand that Is in receiving
the returns Of the Presidential Election, which have
TO be sent TO the President Of the Senate. Special
provision might be made for the payment Of that
and any other (f there be any, pubic POSTAGE out
Of the contingent fund OF Congress.
Members Of Congress say that If the ranking
privilege is abolished, they will be put to great ex.
pense for postage, because many persons will write
TO them and win not pay the postage. That diff
postsgein all cases to lie prepaid. Persons writing TO
members OF Congress would then have to pay the
postage their letters, and in them they could
close franks to pay the postage on the answers, II
they expected any. Public documents printed by
order Of Congress should be sent by mail on pay
| mcnt in advance Of newspaper postage, which
should be by weight. They would then be sent to
those who wished them and were willing to pay the
postage on them, which they could do by inclosing
| franks to member of Congress asking for them.
Public documents would then be sent to those who
desired them and not, as now, 70 such persons as
the members think will be tickled by compliment,
and who half the time don't want and never look In
them.
Postage on the correspondence Of the executive
departments and other governmental matters, but
not on the private correspondence Of the ofhces,
should be paid by the government and In advance,
in such manner as might be most convenient 10 the
department. All postage, except from abroad,
should be paid In advance. The mails should be
confined TO their legitimate dutythat l., the carry
ing Of letters and news. Books, reviews, maya
a. such. s6suld be excluded bv hirS postage from
the mails, and postmastexs should be required TO
refuse 10 receive all unavailable matter.
BY such regulations the mails might be 10 much
reduced In weight that there would not be &c much
difficulty as now in having them transported, and
we should not have 90 many complaints about mail
failures.
ADVERTISEMENT.
TO THE KDTT0ES OF EnwBPAPERs IN THE UNITED
STATES.
GmnuM-It has been The beast Of many Of you that
In