The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-30
POsT-oFFIcE DEPARTMENT.

The Post-Othce Department, has COM
menced in earnest retrenchment, and
adopted measures we feel assured that
will please the people and benefit the
country at large. Our readers will rec
ollect that proposition was introduced
20 the attention of the last Congress TO
effect certain reforms in the Post Office
Department, in order that the Treasury
Department might hereafter be relieved
from the burden now imposed upon it of
making up the deficiency that occurs from
year to year in the postal service. Among
these proposed changes was one abolish
ing the ranking privilege; second
that exchanges among publishers of news
papers should be subject to postage; and
third that single letters for n greater
distance than three hundred miles should
be charged five cents in place of three
cents as now fixed by law.
But few have desire to oppose the
adoption Of the proposed change first
stated-that of abolishing the franking
privilege. To know the full extent of the
burden imposed upon the Post Office
Department by the ranking privilege
one needs 10 be conyersant with the mat
ter that arrives and departs daily at some
Of the principal distributing Offices in our
larger cities. where Tons Of Congressional
documents, speeches Of members innumer-
able, that are seldom or never read, heavily
tax the government for their transporta-
ton. The second item Of charge as sta
ted, that Of charging postage upon ex-
changes, we opine, would meet with lit
tie favor with those whose duty it is to
chronicle faithfully passing events, and
post their readers on all the items of
foreign and domestic intelligence of in
terest. The adoption of such law
would add much to the expense Of pub
fishing reliable newspaper, and hence
would be a direct tax upon chat kind of
intelligence which from the circumstances
of the case, has become absolutely essen
tial TO our well being as individuals and
as members Of one great body polite
The publisher must have his Eek
changes" else his paper would be divest-
ed Of much; indeed Of interest and profit
transpiring without the circle in which
its patrons chance 10 move, and would
only be valuable for its local intelligence
and if the publisher must pay the postage
on those exchanges, he must necessarily
look 10 his patrons for its reimbursement;
to ensure which he must raise the sub
scription price Of his paper. Thus kuowl-
edge which exalts the nation is taxed,
and, as a consequence, greatly diminish
ed in the amount aud extent Of its bene-
fetal influence.
The third change as stated, that of
raising the rate Of postage ON letters sent
to greater distance than three hundred
miles, will be opposed on much the same
grousd as stated above; TO wit: The
news and general intelligence that passes
from friend in our locality 10 another in
a remote position, is unduly taxed and
consequently diminished, from the fact
that very many who thus socially enter
tain absent friends are lily prepared to
suffer the imposition Of higher tax than
now paid for privilege which is Of tho
greatest interest and value 10 them social
ly and relatively considered. But all
these proposed changes in our postal laws
failed to receive the sanction Of Congress,
as also did the bill for making necessary
appropriation for sustaining the postal