The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-08-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

i
WASHINGTON, d. c., July IS, 1879.
EDIToR CHIEF:
The abuse Of the franking privilege
caused its abolition and is replace.
ment by q system requiring postage
to be paid on all classes of mail mat.
ter. 70 carry out the provisions o.
the news postal law the Post Office
Department has been furnishing post
masters every where with the stamps
necessary to carry on their official
business. It now appears that the
new system is equally liable to abuse
with the old. Reports are constantly
being received Of postmasters selling
their official stamps to unofficial per-
sons. It is feared that this may be-
come 2 serious matter. Though all
postnasters are required to account
for all stamps furnished them it is i'm
possible to know whether or not their
ACCOUNTS arc correct. 1t is altogether
impossible to trace letters so stamped
to ascertain if they are official. Occa-
sionally such petty frauds may be dis
covered, but the department can not
hope to ascertain the facts in one case
gut of hundred, or perhaps one out
OF thousand.
1t is to be earnestly hoped that the
ranking privilege may never again
be restored, especially in the form in
which it once existed, but it is quite
certain that, if we desire any thing
like q perfect postal system, we must
introduce some quite important mod
ifications of the laws as they now ex-
list.
1t would be we'll that no provision
be made for the carrying of letters
free, simply on the account of name
Tor frank written thereon to take the
place of a stamp, but it seems that
there can be no reasonable objection
to a provision of the law which would
permit the heads Of departments and
Of bureaus, Senators and Representa-
tives and other leading officials of the
government to receive their official
mail without either stamp or frank.
If such a provision were made, post
and minor officials would not
need to be furnished with stamps.
Thus there would be no liability to
abuse in this quarter.
There is still another consideration
in favor of n regulation permitting
the receipt of communications by de
partment officials and members of the
legislature without tho paw
ment Of postage, to-wit: that provi-
sion of the constitution which guar
antees to the people the right of petit
lion, one of the most important prin-
'ip]es underlying our institutions. |
Every letter written to member of
congress, to the President or Vice
President, to department or bureau
officer of any Of our courts of Justice,
IN any subject connected with the
business of the government is in the !
nature of a petition. The exercise of
his right should be altogether free
md untrammeled. To require pos
age on such commandments to levy
tax on this right Of petition, and
hereby to abridge the right. In mat
ers not that this tax is very slight
me. The principle is just the same
IS if q tax of three dollars were re-
Luired instead of three cents on peri-
ions to the officers of either branch
# government. The right of the peo-
ne should be guarded jealousy, and
very encroachment, however small,
made upon these rights should at once
70 resisted by the proper means.
There can be but little doubt that
ur postal laws will be modified in
ome particulars, and it is to be hoped
hat this feature will receive due con-
ld6e;ati6n. All attempts to restore
hat Brrupting feature, the Thanking
rivilege, should meet with deter
lined opposition, but any measure
to perfect our mail system,
accordance with the spirit Of our
should meet with hearty I
Perhaps it may be
ANY years, perhaps generations, be- ,
re our government will be able to SO .
improve our laws that abuses will not ,