New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-02-24
CHANGES IN THE POSTAL LAWS.

THE POsT-OFFICE APPROPRIATIONS BILL PASSED
BY THE sENATE-ALL FREE TRANsPoRrA-
TION OF MATTER PROHIBITED-sENAT0R
CARPENTERS APPREHENSION OF A NEWS
PAPER DICTATORSHIP.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUER1
WASHINGTON, Feb 23.-Ihe POst-0flice APP
preparations bill was finished in the Senate before the
adjournment yesterday afternoon and several amend
ments Of the Committee which, while they would have
relieved the Post Office Department some in its work
ings would have been especially onerous to the people,
were defeated One Of these that requiring every
person receiving his mail by ctter-carrer to provide
box in which it may he left by the carrier Mr. Buck
ingham and others showed how oppressive this require
ment would be in many and the Senators OF the
Committee, who said that II the whole country was
taxed to sustain the eterearrer system for the benefit
of q few cities, it was nothing more than
fair that the people who received the benefit
should do something to reduce its cost were brought up
with round turn when reminded that the Postohice
Department had always held that the carrier system
was an economical one and that 1t saved the Govern
ment more than it cost Another amendment proposed
by Mr. Ramsey of the Post-Oace Committee, and also
defeated was as follows That all mail matter Of the
first class shall fully prepaid. The operation Of this
amendment is apparent at If any one by mistake
or otherwise puts hreecent stamp letter when
two are required the letter would not be sent but
would be advertised held for postage sent to the
Dead Letter Office. The absurdity of such provision
is il is stated.
Later in the debate Mr.. Ramsey attempted to intro
duce the foowing That all mail matter of the first class
when prepaid least full letter rate, shall be for
warded to destination subject to charge Of double the
unpaid postage. The Postmaster General decided, few
months ago. that under the present law he had the
power make such regulation this, and for several
months double postage collected. Recently, the
matter was referred to the Attorney General and he
gave an opinion adverse to the position held by Mr..
Creswell. The Amendment ruled as out of order.
The bill as finally passed. contains the following pro-
yiso That all laws and parts Of laws permitting the
transmission by mail Of any free matter whatever, be
and the same hereby repealed from and after June
30 1879 If this is agreed to by the House 1t will stop
the free ransnissonof documents which through
the mails without franks, such as The Congressional
Globe &c. the free exchange between newspapers, and
the free circulation Of weekly journals within the county
where they printed. When this amendment was I'M
der consideration Mr.. Carpenter said that he in
favor of putting TO fair test the theory OF the Postas
ter-General that II all matter passing through the
mails paid postage there would be no deficiency,
Though he believed within two years the people would
be demanding the repeal of the law abOshng the frank
ing privilege with far greater unanmity than they are
ever supposed 10 have demanded that it should be abol
isbed He in favor Of allowing public documents 10
20 through the mails. without this original source OF
TRIBUNE Herald aud World could become the dctators
of public opinion disappearing everything that was
done and making breaking the reputation OF any pub
lie man at their pleasure.