New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07

NEW-YOR
PostofBce from the 18th 70 The slst January 1889,
as Officially reported TO the department. BY this
return it appears that the weight OF free etters Sent was
1885 pounds and letters received 1928 pounds,
making for 20 DAYS 80 pounds Hence an estimate for
one month is $3.50 p9unds ana an sggegt9 LOT one
of public documents FOR 90 days was 2Os9l pounds,
making for one month 81 7 pounds and an aggregate
for one wear OF pounds IT, therefore, the postage
value OF this matter be computed at the minimum
estimates 81 Is pound for letters and 10 cents per
Mound for documents we have postage value for Tree
letters of S3S5O aud for public documents g627, being
made at period tie mails almost entirely re-
hcved OF the burden OF the heavy departmental reports
All this from the Washington CITY Post Once alone ,
There is sound reason for believing that, estimating
by weight the present basis Of the postage rates. INC pro-
portion free matter really less than 30 per cenfu as
Of te Rritisb Parliament but even IL we adopt tho
suits Of the imperfect information attainabc IN tine
country and assume 25 per cent OF the ordinary ANNUAL
expenditures as the Just equivalent for the unpaid SER
vices of the Post-Once Department, II VIII appear that
the Government Is bound ~ honor and nsce 10 appro
pirate S. 100000 instead Of 100000. for tins service
But the most potential reason OF all for the abolition OF
the ranking privilege is found in tho ncurabe abuses
ana frauds which seem to be lnsepAIDie TON s itb
else. When the number OF persons who are ciothed VIII
the frankng privilege and o. JUDGES VINO ara ~
pass upon the gennneness OF traRs rs S
porunity for boundess frauds viii appear 70 De ens
Infinite The following statement, made MP from olcaI
will show how far the privilege extended uuer
STATEMENT OF OFFICIALS EXERCISING THE rRASKno
PRIVILEGE.
President of the United States and his Secretary.
Members Of the Cabinet 81
United States Senator's
Secretary Of senate and Clerk Of House OF Repre-
Assisiaa Secretaries, Chief Clerk &c. state De-
Assistant Attorney and Chef Clerk
Assistant Secretary Commissioners, Chiei Clerk .,
Chiefs Of Bureaus. Chief Clerk, &o.. OF Navy De.
chefs Of Bureaus Chief Clerk, &c. oiwar Depart
Assistant SECRETARIES, Chief Clerks &C.. of the
Assistant PostmastersG eneral, superintendents OF
Foreign Mails and Money Order System nud
Chief Clerks ''''0H'' Department -'''-''''''' 40
Add Internal Revenue Officers assessors and AS
istanColecOrs aud Deputies tn9
Postmasters on LIST November
ro,o, 1913
In bs Statement alone is an army Of $685. who, gen
orally speaking, load the mails at Will win whatever
mattef they please. Some OF thc TO he sure are granted
are no longer operative TO these should ne added tho
countless host who address communications TO memDers
scuatyes the Secretary Of the Senate heads OF depart.
mcuts, heads Of bureaus, chief clerks ana an otIeTs
authorized 10 frank official matter. How is IL possible
o oa Tt' n priyiIece 40 widely extendedi
But The dGicGliics Increase when it IS further
sdcrod that the Judges who decide upon the genuneness
of franks are the entire corps OF ISIS postmasers
scattered all over the country none Of whom with the
utmost diligence hope 10 acquire tOleiable fanil
prlyeged In tne larger offices, where hour Is tho
longest time that can be allowed FOR making up the na
and where It Is necessary 10 receive ana manipulate
thousands OF letters daily It Is impossible, even II tho
genuine signatures were known, 10 max a s1s,Tnu'C
attempt exclude matter improperly ranked what Is
the RESULT Bouudlcs frauds OF course without posi-
tnciT further increase In fact every frank, counterfeit
genuine, Is equally effective ana Tue extent OF e ts
limited Only by tho wants Of IAoSo VINO desire u '
The objection that Congress may desire to print and
disseminate public documents snOud not avail against
tie appeal Of the department for deYeIance from inc
frauds That are fast overwhelming H. ~ Tue p[pegG
Hoa 1rG
I'm the mails Ii Is only asked that they, Ike all private
matCr may be charceable with postage II Il DO urged
that his Would prevent or impede diffusion of the
knowledge Of public alrs among tAe people len Al
may be said In reply that ~ IL b. the purpose OF Con-
gress TO give information 10 the people, far more telling
eXPedicut may DO resOrted 10 An uhDuIueheI press,
managed aud directed by private enterprise can do more
than Congress 10 enghten the MASSES Better Tar tbGt
fraukiug privilege should be abolished ana that an
from known office OF publication should be carried free
without regard 10 weight thio1saOut nc N d d TIs
Ised The receipts Of the department for tho ast year
from newspapers aud pamphlets amounted 10 eos
go "a Thu portion OF IT'S receipts the department can
forego provided II can be projected against ING itaus
than three times IL amount 4hsoP"IaOlo 0Hi 'Ho
IL is not proposed or desired that Government officials
should be personally taxed for the transmission OF Their
pubc correspondence IL Is Asked on tho other hama,
that every Department every member OF Congress hnd
stamps for hostages, subject TO proper aeeo4hI
bity, and that the sum necessary therefor hhal Do
appropriated out Of the general Treasury
should Congress conform to my recommendatons IN
saved annually the Government, that the Department
viii be AT once redeemed from it present condition Of
chronic bankruptcy, and that the postal service will
speedily become the potent coaGutor OF the people IN
developing aud adjoining our great country
POSTAL TELEGRAPH.
Ny predecessor addressed 10 the Speaker OF the House
OF Reresentatiyes letter under date Of 9th of January
LAST relation to the postal telegraph inclosng an eiab-
orte communication the same subject FROM Gardiner
4; Hubbard esq Of Boston. Ths is subject ~ great
Importance and deserves the most careful considerations
Several European nations have adopted the System with
apparent success shall defer making any iec0mmen-
dtilOn concerning II until greater degree OF efficiency
can attained IN the service as at present constituted
PENALTIES.
Regarding the present as a favorable opportunity,
call the attention Of Congress TO the penal laws providing
punishment of Oenses against the postal service.
The penalties prescribed IN many too severe,
and by OF their apparent hafshness have tended
u create sympathy In the minds Of jurors and others In
behalf Of this OF offenders. Experience has shown
that certainty OF punishment more than lls seventy
d.ter5 from crime recommend that the terms OF I'M
pisOument in most be shortened and graduated,
with more careful regard 10 the nature and character
OF the Oenses which trainers or tue laws Designed 10
pIuish and prevent. -.
have the honor be. with great respect, your obc
dent servant JEU a. J. CKEswELL,
The PresIaCut POSInastCI OeheTal'