Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1874-03-06

The third section Of the bill will, if passed, be
subs antally but "A re-enactment of the law
uuthoiZing the free exchange of newspapers,
periLicals and magazines between publishers,
and I've free circulation of newspapers to actual
subs.iibers residing or receiving the same within
the county of publication, rs il stood prior TO the
lst sav of July last.
Intraciug the origin of this provision il is
marlable at how early date the fathers OF the
Republic recognized the value and Importance of
this means for the dissemination of Intelligence
and Information among the people.
The men who believed thu governments de
riyel their Just powers from the consent of the
goyqnci. and who were seeking to establish
iusthc to insure domestic tranquility, provide
for he common defense, promote the general
wel;rs. and TO secure the blessings of liberty to
Themselves and their posterity, could not long
remain Indifferent to this most powerful agency
forthe education and enlightenment of those in
whGse keeping the new government was to be
intrISed, and therefore We find that the second
Congyess under the Constitution, at its first
sion made full provision for the free exchange
Of ney spapers through the mails.
In .ne first general ordinance for regulating
tie post -olfce of the United States of America,
aYer The declaration of independence, and passed
On the 18th day of October, 1852, it was ordained
by the United States in Congress assembled
TIT LETTERS packets and dHi atclrs, snd from the
n.eut, aid secretary Congress, while actually at
teudug Congress; TO and tron the COMMANDMENTS
chief # armies az United States,
naEder oi separate army and from the heads OF
the departments OF fin uce, OF war; and OF foreign al
lai T. o. United States public service shall
/ p.ss and he Carl! led ne" OF postage.
It the first session under the Constitution
Congress, by an Act approved September %,
I7Ss enacted that the regulations of the post
office should be the same as they were under the
resolutions and ordin ,nces OF the late Congress,
and thiS provision Was continued and re-enacted
from time TO time, until February 20, 1892, when
in the first law passed by the Congress of the
United States ''to establish the post-office and
pos. roads, within the United States, containing
geneml rnles and regulations for the govern
meut thereof, it was enacted
That he following letters and packets. othcz
shall /. received and conveyed by post free OF postage
under such restrictions as hereinafter provided,
that is Say All letters and packets to from the
Prts:dut Vice President OF the United States, and
all letters and packets, not exceeding two ounces In
weight, TO from any member OF the Senate or House
of Representatives tine Secretary of the Senate CLERK
of house OF Representatives., during their actual at
Tendance any session Of Congress, and twenty days
after such AL letters to and from the Secre-
:ay &. ke Treasury, and his assistant, Comptroller,
Register and Auditor OF the Treasury, the Treasurer
the SECRETARY OF State the Secretary OF War; the COM
mssioyrs ior settling the accounts between the United
STATE. aud individual Sraes the Postmaster General
ANA his ASSISTANT,
And by the twcnty-Iirst section Of the same
act il was provided
and every other PRIMER Of newspapers within
tine United States free OF postage under such regula-
tiot- the Pos master General snail provide.
Aud that privilege was continued, in some
form. from that date until the passage of the
act Of March 3, 1873, when, by sweeping pro-
vision, inadvertently inserted provso to the
third section of the act making appropriations
for th2 service Of the Post OLiice Department,
and passed without sufficient, or perhaps any
consideration. in the confusion attendant upon
n hn i'm all lly finfr
the transmission by mail of any free matter after
June 30. 1873, were repealed, and this privilege,
which had been enjoyed for period of eighty
one wears, nearly as long as the frankiDg priyi-
egc Of members OF Congress, heads Of Depart
mcnts, and other officers Of the government, was
taken away.
This action Of Congress having been made the
subject Of much adverse criticism, 1t may be in
teresng al least, TO state briefly its history, as
shown by the official records.
By the act approved January 81 1873, entitled
Gan act to abolish the fraDking privilege
which originated in the House oil Representa-
tiyes, il was enacted
That the frankpg privilege be. and the hereby
is abolished from and after the LIST day of July, Ammo
Donni 1873 and that thenceforth all official cores
pon,ssLce of whatever nature and other malable mat
Ter Gent from addressed 10 any officer OF the Govern
mat person authorized to frank such matter
snli be chargeable with the same rates OF postage as
my be lawfully imposed upon like matter sent by or
addressed other persons: Provided, That no COM
penstiun or allowance shall hereafter be made
TO Seia ors Members, and Delegates of the House of
Representatives on account OF postage.
This, it will be observed, did not reach or affect
the free transmission of newspapers or ex- I
changes, but only took the frankipg privilege |
from members of Congress and the officers of the
Government. AT later period in the session, !
however and after the annual pOst-oflce appro-
priation bill had passed the House and had gone
20 the Senate, without any provision in relation
to that subject, the Senate Committee on ApprO-