, 1872-12-06

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mite consideration during the present session OF
Congress. Its partisans will scarcely be able to
put the question OF, since series Of circum-
atances has brought it pointedly before Con-
gress. At the last session, the House passed
bill for the unconditional repeal Of the privi-
1ege by q vote Of 139 to 49, but the bill did not
reach the Senate in time for action be-
fore adjournment. During the recess, the
Philadelphia Convention, representing the
majority in Congress, gave IN unqualified in
dorsement Of the project Of repeal. And now
the Postmaster General, for the third time, ur-
gently recommends an immediate and uncondi-
tional repeal. This has been sort of oumula-
ting process, showing the House Of Represnta-
tives, the people, and the Administration to be
in favor Of repealing the privilege, and the Sem
ate cannot overlook these instructions from all
sides without notably increasing it's present rep
utation for Indifference to the popular inter-
osts, from which it feels itself so far removed.
The arguments which the Postmaster General
makes against the franking privilege are ma
terial]y the same as those which have been urged
before, strengthened and confirmed by the ex-
porienceB Of the late campaign. The actual cost
of free matter transmitted through the mails
during the year 1871 would, if charged at regu-
lar rates, have amounted to 81, 543, ,327.72; the
Postmaster General has found that the quantity
OF such matter was increased SO largely during
the Presidential canvass that the amount for the
present year will be swollen to fully three and q
half millions Of dollars-a sum larger than the
entire deficiency Of the year. While it is not
accurate to say that there is IN actual
loss Of this amount to the revenue, for the rea-
son that so FREQ use Of the mails would not be
made if it had to be paid for, the loss to the
Government is represented by the cost OF hand
ling and transmitting this large quantity Of mat
ter. The Postmaster General also claims that
the frankng privilege is responsible for frequent
and serious delays in the regular and prompt
have become more frequent and general during
the past year than ever before. Ills conclusion
is that the first step toward an equalization Of
the receipts and expenses Of the Post Office De-
partment, which is the only practical means for
any further reduction in the rates Of postage, is
in tho absolute repeal Of the privilege.
There can scarcely be q compromise between
an absolute repeal and the continuance Of the
privilege in the shape Of limitation, that would
satisfy the popular demand It would be next
to impossible to establish any rules OF usage
that would not be abused. So far as the neces-
sary use Of the mails by the Government is con-
cerned, it can make but little difference whether
the sum is paid by making up deficiency in the
Post Office Department or by direct appro-
priation. The difference would be that an actual
appropriation would be more carefully guarded;
and limitation in tho present promiacuous
distribution Of public documents would also
make 9 great saving in the printing expenses.
1t would probably be found, however, that the
greatest saving would result from looping off
Congressional abuses. This is shown by the
difference Of nearly one million dollars between
the cost Of free matter during the present year
and that of last year,-a difference that is to be
accounted for almost entirely by the distribution
Of political documents by the two parties during
tho Presidential campaign. 1t is needless to say
that the people have no interest in paying for
political propagandisn out OF the general fund,
but will look forward to decrease of g couple Of
million dollars OF expense without regret for
any individual losses in the way Of Congressional
speeches and partisan documents.