Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-02-25
THE FRANKING PRIVILEGE.
Speech of Senator Morrill, of Ner-
mont.
IN THE SENATE, FEB. 16, 1870,

Grafton of the franking privilege bill.
Mr.. WILSON, will give way to that.
Mr.. RAMSEY move to tase up for
consideration the bill abolishing the
franking privilege.
The motion was agreed to and the
Senate, as in committee Of the whole, re-
sumed the consideration of the bill Oh.
r. No. $3.50 to abolish the ranking priv
ilege; the pending question being ON the
amendment of Mr.. Drake to the amend
ment of Mr.. Sherman.
The amendment of Mr. Sherman was
to add to the bi the following;
But nothing herein contained shall be
construed to repeal or affect the existing
laws allowing the publishers Of weekly
newspapers to send to each actual sub
scriber, within the county where their pa
pers are printed and published, one copy
thereof free of postage.
The amendment to the amendment was
to strike out all after the word but
and insert:
This shall not be construed as repeal
ing the provisions in favor of publishers
of newspapers and periodicals, contained
in the second section of the act of Au-
gust 80, 1852, entitled " An act to reduce
and modify the rates of postage in the
United States, and for other purposes,
passed March 3, 1851"
| Mr.. NYE.-Tbe Senator who moved
that amendment is not in his seat.
Mr. TRUMBULL-W can vote it down.
Mr.. NYE.-I think it is quite as well,
if the bill is to pass at all, to let these
country papers kiss the rod that afflicts
them a little. They have prayed for a
king.
! Mr.. MORRILL, of Vermont should
like to speak on this bill about twenty
minutes.
SEVERAL SENAToRs.-Go on.
4 Mr. MORRILL, of Vermont.-M Pres
ideat The bill for the abolition of the
franking privilege comes to us from the
Holse evidently having been pushed
through in some haste if not heat. II
! Will be a great personal relief to Sena
tors, and there is, think, no doubt Of
the concurrence of the Senate now, or q
month hence, in taking away this privi
lege from deputy postmasters and mem
bers of Congress; but there is no reason
why it should be done in passion. II
is crude and disjointed legislation that
does one thing to-day which will prove q
positive nuisance unless something elst
be done to morrow. The prudent mar
does not tear down his old dwelling unit
he has provided a new place of shelter
1t is unstatesmanlike to repeal an impor
tant law which is to change an importan
and long standing usage of the Govern
ment and people before you have evei
considered as to what shall be substituted
f i that law. The house may have actet
upon the plan of giving the Postmaste
General an overdose of his own medi
cine; | do not say they did but wheth
Yer they did or not, it is the duty of tn
Senate to treat both the subject and TIL
Postmaster General fairly. He is a liv
officer, aiming at some reforms, and, s
far as our judgment can follow, We ough
to aid him, even though he may hav
committed some mistakes. 1t is not be
coming in the Senate 10 act in any cas-
without that cool deliberation whic
t. shows they fully comprehend what re
suits are to flow from their action. Th
House seems to have designed to strik
the law stunning blow, scattering il
brains in all directions, regardless of a
injuries. 1t seems to me the work ca
be done with less dash and in way lei
likely to offend the public conscience
We cannot afford To effect even what
called great reform in the same wa,
The programme of the Postmaster Gen
raj included something more than I'll
mere abolition of franks; it contempla
ed wholesome provisions, at least prov
:, sions of so e sort, as to the necessities
bis own and all the other Executive ID
partments. Let us, then, treat the SUI
ject literally, comprehensively.
1t has been my purpose to vote for al
bill that may be finally agreed upen, n
because | expect that it will of itse
save any large amount to the Treasur
for | do not see how it can, but becau
| believe we can afterward better effect
sautary reform as to the printing al
distribution of public documents svt
measure as that proposed by the res
luton introduced by myself year az
and which the honorable chairman
the Committee on Printing has alrea,
indicated his purpose to bring forward
an early day. If these documents CT
be limited 10 the actual wants of {
Government and such extra copies
may be called for by those who desi
them at the prime cost of printing al
paper, we shall relieve the Treasury of