The New York herald., 1870-03-01
NEW HERALD TUESDAY. MARCH l. lso-TRIPLE SHEET.


resident In the circuit for which appointed. The
case Is getting exceedingly muddled. and II was wen
observed To-day that It would be hard to tell what
the Senate is driving at. The Senate adjourned
without coming to decision. The case VIII be fur
ther discussed
What the FrnDling Privilege Cost Monthly.
The Postmaster General TO. day transmitted TO the
senate communication IN reply to resolution
OF that body requesting information relative the
blank petitions &C., recently sent from that de.
partment asking the abolition OF the ranking
privilege and In regard TO the transportation OF
nee mail matter. lie states that the number OF
blank petitions sent out was 49, 900 ana the number
OF accompanying circulars was q, 900. The total
cost Of both circulars ana petitions was $4o9 60,
which was betrayed by the once OF the Congress
sl0na Printer. No part Of the expense was charged
against any fund appropr lated for the use OF the
Post Once Department. The petitions aud circulars
wero prepared under the direction OF the POST
master General, In accordance with the views ex-
pressed by the President In his late message ana In
response to what was believed to be very general
wish OF the people, tnat the franklng privilege
should be abolished. No attempt was made on the
part OF the Department to influence the views OF
postmaslers respecting the abolition or the privi-
lege. They were simply requested to give citizens
to 30 express themselves. The Postmaster General
states that the returns OF the transportation or free
mall matter are yet too incomplete to furnish the
data called for by the resolution. He submits how
ever, statement based upon such returns as have
been received embracing most OF the principal
Cities These returns are imperfect In many re-.
spects, but exhibit the following results reported
from 454 post Offices for the month OF January
Number Of free letters SENT 6s690l postage thereon
at the regular rates, $ll7 800 70; weight OF free
printed matter sent 34e, 1874 pounds; postage thereon
at regular rates, s42,S34 &c. Total cost OF free
matter sent from 454 post ofnces $l6s, 73l 09 The
Postmaster General says that considering this exhibit
It 10 safe to estimate that II full returns
had been received from all the of1ces for the month
Of January the aggregate amount would have ex-
ceeded $200000 or At the rate or S. 400 900 per
num- In response to the request TO communicate to
the Senate the facts on which the allegations Of
fraud and .abuse In the exercise Of the frank
Ing privilege were founded In the petitions sent
out by the Department the Postmaster General
Says
It is impossible to give precise information upon
tnis point OWING TO the fact that franked matter
always sealed, and the law does not authorize the
breaking Of seal for the purpose Of examinations;
matter now returned TO the Dead Letter ONCE dis
closes many cases OF abuse where books papers,
and circulars not printed by order OF Congress- and
even business and social circulars have been trans
mitted under cover OF frank lie concludes as
iollows:.a x =. the facts Of each particular case
would then only be necessary to reform the FRANK
ing privilege Inc system itself must be denounced
because 1t invites TO fraud with promise OF mpuntty;
and hence l repeat. what have already sHId, IN
the language OF another there is no middle ground
Although unable to give facts in detail, ,it Is YET
notorious that the frauds winch have been per-
pe.rated under cover Of the franking privilege have
been enormous. Besides the cases mentioned above
winch are constantly occurring l hope may bc
permitted without offence to state that IN umes VI
excited political campaigns the various parties nave
not hesitated to employ 1t TO transmit whatever OF
printed matter they may have wished to dlsseme-
maze This practice has grown into q pad custom
which only be abolished by repeating the prl.
Vilege under which 1t finds shelter.
The Postmaster General says further that the rcceut
agitation for the repeal OF the privilege has resulted
In large increase in the sale Of stamped envelopes
for the month OF January, 1870 over the same
month In 1862 This gain amounts to S3l1, 1872 so.
He then reiterates his views favor Of the imme-
date and total repeal OF the franKng privilege. In
his Judgment no system can be devised, consistent
with the rights and interest OF the people, that can
tolerate lis longer continuance. lie contrasts the
postal revenue OF Great Britain at the two cent rate
and without the iranking privilege with the three
cent rate OF the United States franking priv
ilege, shown. that much larger relative revenue
Is derived by the former government He closes as
follows:-
| believe sincerely that the time has come to
vice worthy OF our country and people. l believe
with equal sincerity, that these reforms cannot be
made while the franking privilege IS allowed to
tnue. Hence | most earnestly renew my recon-
mendatons for Its repeal. Doubtless measure OF
80 mnch Importance may be safely committed 10 an
enlightened and patriotic Congress.
Lecture by DIR. HALL the Arctic Explorer.
President Grant. Vice President Colfax, all the
members OF the Cabinet General Sherman, Admiral
Porter. General Rosecrans, large number OF Sena-
tors and Representatives aud other distinguished
gentlemen have united In a letter to c. r. Hall, the
Arctic explorer, speaking In very complimentary
terms OF his services heretofore the polar regions
expressing great interest IL the problem connected
with his labors and asking MIN to deliver lecture
and develop his plans for a third voyage. He
has responded In grateful terms, saying he win
speak In on OF the public halls OF this city next
Saturday evening. The proceeds OF the lecture are
to be given Tor the benefit OF the poor.
Public Debt Statement.
The public debt statement VIII be issued to-mor-
row, as usual. At present 1t IL impossible to soy
what Will be the showing. The expenditures on ac-
count OF pensions within the past few days have
been very heavy but the general indications favor
slight decrease.
Contested Election Cases.
The chairman OF the Committee on Elections has
made the following assignment OF the various con-
tested election cases before the committee to
the members Of the committee for Investigations
To Messrs. Paine. Heaton and Potter-Beden vs..
Bradford, Colorado; Cameron vs. Roots First dis
trcJ, Arkansas; Kinds vs. Sherrod, Sixth district,
Alabama.
TO Messrs. Churchill Butler and Burr-SwitZler
VS.. Dyer, Ninth district Missouri; Zeiger Rice,
Ninth district, Kentucky; Shields vs. Van Horn.
Sixth district Missouri; Whittlesey vs. Mckenzie,
Seventh district, Virginia.
To Messrs. Cessna, Randall and Hae-Taylor vs.
Reading, Flf.h district pennsylyana; EggesIon vs..
Sirader, FIRST district Ono; Reid Julien Fourth
district Indiana; Hoge w. Reed, Third district,
South Carolina; Wallace vs.. Simpson, Fourth dis
trict South Carolina
TO Messrs. Stevenson, Burdett, and Kerr--Sypher
vs.. St Martin, First district, Louisiana; Hunt vs..
sheldon. Second district, Louisiana; darrell VS..
Bailey, Third district Louisiana: Newsiam Ryan,
Fourth district Louisiana; Morey vs. McCrane, Fifth
district louisiana.
To Messrs. Brooks, Dox. and McCrary--Sheafe vs.
Tiliman, Fourth district, tennessee; Leftwicn vs..
Smith, Eighth district Tennessee; Boyden vs. Sho-
Der, Sixth district, North Carolina; Tucker vs..
Booker, Fourth district Virginia. Barnes vs.. Adams
Ltvafh Giatr pky