The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-03-05
We have read the verg exhaustive and

we nave rear me very EXHAUSTIVE anu
able speech Of Hon W. H. H. Stowell, OF
Virginia, on the franking privilege; deliver
ed in the House Of Representatives during
the consideration of the bill partially re-
storing the fraaking privilege, and allowing
newspapers to circulate free in. the counties
where published, and free exchangesbetween
newspapers. He traces the history of the
fraukipg privilege to its introduction IN the
early legislation Of the country, and demon
strates by facts. figures and arguments, that
it is the true policy Of the governmental re.
turn to it. We have never had donbs IN
our mind on this question. We. even 90
farther than the bill to which MIR Stowell
was speaking. We believe that all news
papers should bs sent free to regular sub
s;ribers AZ over the country. This country
pays s95,OoO,ooo for the support of free
schools, and in this the people declare in ia
vor of a general diffusion Of knowledge =
Is would b. only carrying out the Idea in
volved 10 broader sense to cheaper the
intelligence to be obtained alone through
newspapers by making them free from post
age exactions. 1t is hardly necessary, how
ever, to go into an argument on this subject.
Although the bill was defeated in the House
by vote Of 1871 to 1873. it will be revived
aud passed. It was not sufficiently compre-
hensige to meet the views Of some Of the
members, and they voted against it, hoping
to get more liberal bill The majority Of
the House pre- 10 favor Of cheap postage, and
the diffusion, Of knowledge among the people
at as little cost as possible. The postal SER
vice was deiigaed forthe people, and the
less restricted it is, the better it will accom-
plish the object Of its creation.
Mr.. Stowell deserves the thanks Of the
country for his laborious research and in
conference.-the arguments on the subject Of
cheap postage. AS a member Of the com
mittee on post offices and roads, it was his
duty to investigate the matter. and as a rep
retentatiye of the people, it was his duty to
present their claims to the benefits incident
to cheap postage.
Mr.. Stuart has introduced resolution in
the Legislature instructing the committee on
finance to report a bill for reassessment Of
the lands Of the, commonwealth or the ap-
pointment Of board Of equalization. We
advocated proposition Of this kind several
years ago, when it was thought possible for
Virginia to pay the interest on her debt. In
the present condition it looks like merely an
expedient to eyade the question Of the debt.
II the finance committee will inform the
people what Increase in the taxation will be
pecessary to meet tho obligations Of the
State, the people will then understand the
matter Not, however, to meet .two-third S
of the interest on the public debt, but the
whole of it. West8Virginia will never pay
one cent Of it, and the courts will not re-
qaire it, either. So the matter might as we'll
be faced at once and disposed Of or at least
give the people the inform alton that will en-
able them to .detefmias whether they will
have to pay or rea,4diute. That isthe real and
oaly question involved IN this de BIT business,
that is tangible. 70 U