Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-05
Letter from Warrington.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Ma


For more than a week an animated de-
bate ran an in the House upon a bill TO
partially restore the ranking privilege.
aud to allow newspapers 10 go free in the
counties where published, and to exchsng-
es. Many able and witty speeches have
been made, and more statistical knowledge
was given ont than any country new spaper
could find room for in year. The divis-
ion line on the question could not be traced
all the time, but there were strong indica-
tons that 1t lay chiefly between the owners
OF city newspapers and the country press.
and between city and country populations.
Mr.. Garfield made the statement that the
act rcpsalin. the iranAins privilege had
been disastrous to country newspapers a
the postage on the great city newspapers,
or on many of them. was no more than on
the small local papers, and the dIscrimina-
ton was directly against the latter. lie
held this discrimination to be unjust. be.
cause the city reader. OF papers are better
able to pay postage according 10 quantity
of matter. and the city papers have advan-
ta.es which the country papers cannot
have. and he thought IL inpolnic to dis
courage the country press, on the ground
that they more nearly reflect the public
opinion than the city press. or course
such an opinion could not be advanced
without being challenged, aud when chal-
Hanged. the merits OF the press Of both city
and country were placed on the Congress
sional anvil for vigorous hammering. 1t
came out that city editorials are mostly
written late at might, up five or six flights
OF stairs, by people with yagabond tenden-
cies. In a frame of mind one remove from
despair In relation to their next meal. which
is always matter OF considerable uncer-
tainty; while the country editor meets and
converses with intelligent mechanics aud
farmers. whose blood flows pure and
strong from healthy hearts, aud courses
through their veins with life giving energy,
ciear and tie .s eif ttqfuy 70 eae ths-, h
ses OF duty and responsibility.
In the country the people know the
editor and know when and how much To
trust his veracity, and what confidence TO
place In his statements; but the city scrib-
bier may be a clandestine individual. vino
approaches the Office through back alley
after dark. never seen OF men. and who
comes in contact with humanity only in
its low estates. and most unhealthy moral
conditions. He prepares his mind for writ
in. the fash editorials by reading the sick
ening details OF brawls. reports OF cases Ia
the police courts, and by picking up such
unhealthy garbage as floats through
the social slums Of artificial society in
cities. The city people get Il free delivery
of letters at great expense to COVE rnment,
and If that can be done for them. il would
seem that once week the farmer and
mechanic might haze his newspaper free.
Mr.. Phelps. OF New Jersey. rich New
Yorker in tact. aud said to be a large
owner Of stock in the Tribune, made quite
a humorous speech against doin: any thing
for the country press.
Mr.. Cobb. new member from Kansas,
advocated the sending out of the Agricul-
tural and other important Reports, free,
and General Butler though Congressional
| speeches were great educator. of the
masses, and should go free. As the news
papers have no room to print Congressional
speeches in full, and the postage is too seri-
Gus an item to permit the members sup
| plying their constituents. il is manifest
that without the franking privilege, Con-
gresham might as we'll not make speech
and when il comes to that. he mi ght az
well not be a Congressman, so far as the
ecidt OF reputation is concerned; SO between
the needs of the farmer, the country editor.
the granger, and the member, the franhiug
privilege is not SO desperate as was
thought.
The bill was ardently aud ably support
ed by Danford. of Ohio; Hartford. or West
Virginia; Dunnell, of Minnesota; and
Con.er, of Machiss. Some ofthese gentle
men dwelt strongly on the point that vas.
sums of money are spent by the Govern
ment in collecting agricultural and other
information, and then, TO save small sum
for press-work, paper, and postage, it is
proposed to store il all away in a few libra
ries. out of reach Of those who most need
il.
The House finally rejected the bill by
three majority.
In the House. on Friday. bills we're pass
ed giving pensions of $50 per month to the
widows of Generals Meade and Candy
| anu 10 tnt UlOtHcT Vi ucueTdI n.
The Simmons fight created intense ex-
element here, and Mr.. Butler has many
congratulations on his victory, Boutwell,
failed to please either side, and is denounced
by both. Butler now declares war. and
threatens to have his scalp.
The leading feature of interest in the
Senate has been the dashing speech Of Sen
ator SchurZ on the finances. Mr.. S. is a
specie.paywent man out aud out, and no
matter on what subject he speaks. his clear.
lucid style, and elegance of manner in
delivery, cause him to be listened to with
rapt attention. Senator Morton replied
for the mOre-currency men with his usual
animation and vigor, and then he and
Schurz drilled into little personal UNI
pleasantness and difficulty, which did moth
Ing towards extracting the senate or the
country from its financial difficulties, and
added nought to the renewn Of either the
bulldog or terrier.
Mr.. Summer made on Friday . vigorous
attack upon the Philadelphia Centennial
scheme, striking at its International char ac-
ter, and opposing any appropriation. The
Pennsyvanians are having hard time Of
It With their favorite measure.