New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-21

additional appropriation TO deray the expenses OF
the PostOhlce Department 1t lie merely asking Con-
place the legislative and executive branches OF
the Government the same footing with the people,
and thus pay the PostOGco Department In the proper
manner the amount which otherwise would have 70 be
given it in the shape of deficiency appropriation.
PLANS FOR REvIvING THE FRANKJNG PRIV
ILEGE.
THE DESIRE OF NEW MEMBERS TO ENJOY THE
PRIvILEGE-FoUR PLANS TALKED ABOUT-THE
ADOPTION OF A PROVISION FOR TIE FREE CIR
CUIATIoN OF WEEKLY PAPERS CERTAIN.
IBI TELEGRAPH THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20.-The opponents of the
Packer Franking bill begin TO have some faint hopes
of defeating it, but they say that it is uphill work
trying to make head against the desire of new men,
bes to enjoy the privileges of sending matter free
through the mails. The real feelings of these men,
bers are not manifested in debate, and their talk
about the Importance of supplying the people with
the information printed by the Government for
their benefit is mainly humbug 1t is the perqusite
of franking that they long for. Any PLAN however
well devised, for distributing the public documents
that does not involve the ranking privilege will
not satisfy them. They imagine that the privilege
of distributing books and seeds to favored consttu
ents of their own party is an element of political
strength and they are determined TO get hold of it
if possible.
The Packer bill is skillfuly devised to suit these
gentlemen and at the same time has the appearance
of a compromise measure which does not fully re-
store the old franking system The Congressman is
to write his name on book, document, or seed pack
age Just as he did before, but the additional opera
ton of stamping the article is to be performed by a
clerk before it can be mailed. The chief objection to
the bill is that it all limit upon the printing
Of public documents and that it revives the old
abuse of enablingi Congressman to load the mails
with free matter to any extent they may fit. If
the real purpose of the measure was to make fair
distribution of such DOCUMENTS as are valuable to
| the people, there are many systems that might be
adopted that would be just efficient and far more
economical A few of these may be mentioned to
show that there is no excuse for voting for the
| pending bill for want of something better
| Fret: Mr. Kasson proposes plan that is ecOnom-
| cal, simple, and just. His bill provides that the
agricultural report and abIidgment of the Pres-
dents message and accompanying documents, which
are the only two books Congress prints that of
public interest, shall be sent to any person on pay
ment of % cents For all other public documents
the actual cost of the paper stitching and binding
is to be charged The idea is to let the Government
bear the cost of the typesetting stereotyping and
ss-work, because the book would have to be
; printed for the OF Congress. If these were to
have an element of justice heretofore lacking be-
cause any person who valued public document
enough to pay small price could have it, whereas,
as under the old system, no one could receive one
unless his member choose to send it TO him.
Second Another plan talked of is the adoption Of
what is said to be the English system of depositing
the books in the posofices of large towns and de-
livering them to all who choose to pay the actual
cost of printing and binding, the price to be
stamped on the wrapper of each book.
Third Mr. Packard of Indiana has bill proyid-
ing for supplying 10 copies of each public document
to every Congressional district TO be placed IN such
public school college library as the representa-
tive may designate. 1t also allows the following
descriptions of matter pass free through the nails
Official matter, written or printed, sent by or adj
to chief heads bureaus chief clerks other
officers OF either Of the Executive Departments, in
Guiding all blanks required by the business
OF the several Departments copyright matter to the
Librarian Of Congress- marked on the package copy
right matter" petitions to Congress II properly marked
and notices 10 the publishers OF the refusal
or neglect OF subscribers newspapers magazines
or periodicals Office TO DO sent under such
regulations the Postmaster may prescribe;
dead letters returned TO tue writers thereon; weekly
one copy each actual subscriber within
the county where the same Is puolished ana 10 the
counties Immediately adjoining
| Fourth: A plan that is not without merit IS to
| supply every Senator and member with free an-
| nual amount of postage stamps for mailing his
! quota Of documents.
According TO the figures given by Mr. Packer, in
his speech the postage all the documents printed
| by the last Congress would have been less than
$3.50 per session for each member. 1t would there
fore amount only to 100000 year to furnish stamps
| for even the extravagant quantity OF matter That
was ordered printed before ranking was abolished,
| and this would be far economical than to re-
| store the frankng abuse. Besides, If the members
| were allowed a fixed amount of stamps. they would
be certain not to print documents in excess of the
quantity they could send of with their stamp allow
ance.
| whatever may be decided upon as to the method
of distributing the public documents it is certain
that the privilege of circulating free of postage
| within the counties where published, will be re-
| stored to weekly newspapers The House is almost
| unanimous for this. the only member who has ex-
pressed himself against it being Gen. Butler, who
Jaws he wants these papers suffer the consequences
| of their advocacy of the abolition Of tho Thanking
1 privilege.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
| THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
| WASHINGTON, Friday Feb. 2o' 1874
There are some misapprehensOns concerning the
Centennial that ought to be corrected. The project
l. M lao