The New York herald., 1870-06-10
NEW YORK HERALD FRIDAY, JUNE TO- ls7o-rRIpLE SHEET

and as he wa not now prepared 20 discuss them he
asked that the bin b. laid over till next week
laid over without vote.
TIE FRANKiNG PRIVILEGE.
The BILL TO abolish the frankng privilege tnen came
up, the question being on Mr. Drake's amendment,
allowing newspaper eXchan yes 10 ptss iree, to Mr..
Sherman's amendment for the free circulation OF
weekly newspapers within the county OF their pub
Mr.. HAxLN. repl OF Me-, referred 10 the long aei-
tati0n of the subject, AM hoped II would now he
+, Mr.. RAMSEY rep.) OF Mimi. addressed the Senate
N advocacy OF the bill. He read from a Western
take care OF themselves and pay their own postage,
just % members OF Congress ought to do. laugh
ter.l he could not see any reason for the special
ter passing through the mails was printed matter.
He said the agitation Of the franklng question had
been generally attributed to Postmaster General
reform, instead OF being q new thing, had been
urged upon Congress for eighty years, as shown BY
Postmaster General Holt had asserted that II
the free mall matter In that year had been paid
Tor would nave netted nine million dollars.
According to last years. report Of the Postmaster
General the number OF officials at present enjoying
PTse ne was aoc which ~ an
portation was less than $23 600 it now ranged from
$4,000 600 to sls000,000 From 1851 to the present
cepts except In 1855, when there was All excess OF
receipts The great cost Of our mail service In
70 In da Gngand n s cost a, was much
ceipts were greater than ours. The difference in cost
was owing to different rates OF compensation for
pOstmastets and their clerks here and In England
and 70 our greater territorial extent.
Mr.. HOWARD, Uep.l OF Mch.), In reply TO state
meni ~ MI; Ramsey. based upon the report Of The
postmaster ttseneral, concerning the abuse or the
frans'ny privilege In the fOrgeres OF Congressional
iiank said he did not believe the forgerles were
extensive az alleged. He thought the only way OF
acquiring Information on that point would be 10 put
senators and Representatives OH the witness stand
TO TESTIFY. lie regarded the statement, however as
mon "A nm tgp nf hA Dnsf.
master General.
Mr.. RAMSEY replied by quoting from the report OF
Postmaster General Holt, made ten years ago,
that II was impossible TO detect prevent forging
OF FRANKS. tn re was every facility for IT, as the
postal clerks could not discriminate between forged
and genuine Franks. I4
Mr. HARLAN, lrep.) Of Iowa, mtimated that the
strength OF popular camor for dong away WIN the
lranklng privilege might he better understood II it
was known how many petitions for It's repeal had
partneDt
Mr.. KANsgy thought that in afrordng means of
expression or puDlic sentiment In Iavor OF great
reforms tue POSTMASTER General was deserving OF
much credit The fact tnat not a single remon
STRANGE mad been presented showed the unanimty
OF the people upon the question.
MI WiLLiAas, rep.) OF Oregon, said the petitions
he had received were accompanied by numerous re-
quests nom his constituents to send them public
dOcunlents
Mr.. RAMSEY said the reason OF that was the
enemies OF this reform had taught the people the
ranking privilege cost nothing therefore while 1t
existed these requests would be made. He argued
pollcy IN cneapcnlng postage and abolishng frank
ing. He Thought our present postage rates saiisac.
tory TO the people, ana maintained that Mr.. Sum-
ncrs proposition TO limit the expense OF mail trans
portaion to $500 per mile per annum would not
effect tie saving claimed for It.
number OF pctiions presented IN favor OF the bull
safe criterion Tor determining the sense OF the peo
pie IN regard 10 t. Signatures 10 petitions were not
hard to obtain, and he thought he might get ap the
same number OF petitions to hang the Senator from
Minnesota from persons who did not know that gen.
itrtfa "A
sent system 1t would be only taking money from one
pocket and putting II In another. The cost TO The
Department oi the Interior alone for sending out
documents would amount to So 900 oOO per year
MIR, DRAKE would not favor the bill unless a pro-
mise was inserted to compel Senators and Represen-
tattves ~ pay their own postage.
Mr.. RAMSAY, IN the course OF the discussion said
That Mrs. Lincoln was the only person In an unoli
cial position who now had the ranking privilege.
tanning the franklng privilege as means OF dfus-
ing political light among the people Of his State
levers ol public opinion. Lake all great privileges,
Il was subject To abuse but that was no argument
against H. Referring 10 some remarks hy his col
league tair. hAMuToNl in a former discussion. he
said the people Of Texas were not the set Of cut
throats they had been represented but they were a
hign-ioued community down there. They wanted
hge, and Il. a. In favor of giving " to them Pro-
ceedng u enlarge upon political topics,
@ Mr.. KELLoGG rep.) Of La, interposed an inquiry
whether he mad correctly understood him lMr
Flanapan) to the reDcious portion OF the people
OF Texas were entitled 10 the benents OF the frank
Ing privilege.
Mr. FLANAGAN said that he did say SO, and he re
pealed n uneqGivocay and without ceremony.
When tnai people rebe,ed rhey had permitted him
10 remain among Item. though ne voted and spoke
against them and had never syinpathIzed with them,
aud be would not have them outdo him in gener.
osits. lie would di. around and enighten them by
good republican doStrine. He was as good % repub-
hcah US any man dare be, but he did not feel called
upon 10 prove the Iaci by jumping up and psvposng
TO cut mems throats.
Messrs MORRILL,, tof VI, and FOWLER submitted
amendments 10 the bill
n n ~ tp IN n,t.. 40
the debate by advocating his proposition for the
abolition OF the ranking privilege with one cent
postage for all.
At four O'Clock the Senate went into executive ses
sion and at six O'Clock adjourned.