The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-30

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gerry, and as soon as II was brought to his
attention he sent notice TO the New York
Post Office, which caused all subsequent pack
ages bearing his name to be retained. From
that time II is said that about fifty packages
bearing the forged frank were forwarded to
him every day, having been dropped in the
New York Post Office under the belief that
they would reach their destination. The
authorities have recently captured the fraudu-
lent stamp, and this particular abuse of the
frankiDg privilege is therefore at an end. But
this is not the only attempt which has been
made Of late to forge the printed frank of
members Of Congress--tbat Of Senator Nor
gan having also been Oounterfeited and extern
sively used by New York and Eastern esta-
blishments.
In explanation of a charge brought against
the Hon. John Lynch, Representative from
Maine, to the effect that his frank was being
extensively used by New York publisher,
that gentleman makes a statement that he
ordered large number Of copies of a certain
journal which had published one of his
speeches on the finances, and distributed them
over the country from the New York Post
Office, under his frank, Of course. This was
not very reprehensble proceeding, according
to the strctest code of franking morals, for it
is a common thing for members of Congress to
deluge the country with their financial and
other lucubrations. Mr.. Lynch Is q member
of the Post Office Committee of the House, and
claims to have always voted in favor of doing
away with the franking privilege. But, as
the Washington correspondent of the New
York Tribune remarks, Mr.. Lynch does all
that he can to render the system odious as
long as it remains lawful. Among the efforts
of Mr.. Lynch in this particular line we re-
member having received, q few months ago,
under his frank, large duodeoimo volume
entitled "The Water Power of Maine," which
amounted to nothing more nor less than an
advertisement Of certain riparian rights which
have not yet attained marketable value. 1t
is all very we'll for the State of Maine to do
what it can to develop its manufacturing in
terests, but we cannot conceive the justice of
requiring the whole country to foot its post,
age bill.
These exposures will tend to bring the
frankipg privilege into still greater disrepute
than it now enjoys, and should cause Con-
gress to give the subject immediate attention.
If the franking privilege with all its possible
abuses, is not to be abolished, law should
certainly be passed prohibiting the use of
stamps in all cases, and requiring members of
Congress to take the trouble to write their
talismanio names on such mail matter as they
desire to scatter over the country. 1t would,
undoubtedly, be best to do away with the
system altogether, for it seems that it cannot
be used except to be- abused. There is
but one objection to doing away
with the system, and that is
the expense that would attend the distribution
of legitimate "public documents" issued by
the different departments of the Government.
Tens OF thousands of volumes are yearly sent
forth from the Government printing Office at
Washington which are absolutely worthless:
but there are great many Government publ
cations which are quite valuable and worth
the cost of distribution. Congress should also
devote a small share of their time to this ex-
pensive abuse of the rights of the people, by
prohibiting the printing of tons of useless mat
ter. Ana for the sake of letting the people
have, without cost, such documents as they
will take the trouble to read when they once
possess them, the franking privilege could be
bestowed upon the Government printer, to
whom the names of persons who are to receive
the documents could be furnished by the mem
bers of Congress. By thus abolishing the
franking privilege, with this one exception,
all its gross abuses could be remedied, and the
public at the same time would sustain no in
convenience.