The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-03-13
Postal Privileges.

son. OF course we are, as soon as
there is some reasoning TO be listened
to. The attack was commenced by the
Post aud Tribune on the country press
as a parcel Of gudgeons' leaving
their business" to meet in convention
and paddle in "the same old water"
The Tribune regarded us all as fools,
aud the Post thought the injustice Of
the present system was none Of our bust
ness, although it hurt US at almost every
turn. When those papers use reasoning
instead OF sneering, they will receive a
candid hearing. The discussion has
done at least one thing for them it has
brought them around to the advocacy of
graded postage on newspapers, which if
arranged at all equitably would be all
the country press expects.
RESOLUTIONS or PoLICv.
1t has been abundantly shown that
the resolutions of last years convention
did not meet the views of the late con-
vention, but they We're adopted upon
the Impression conveyed by letter of
Congressman w. B Williams, 10 the
effect that the Tyner bill could proba-
bly, pass without amendment; and this
was virtually Endorsed by the resolutions
as relief from the existing unfair sys.
tenn, aud the only relief we were likely
to get. 1t was also announced that the
Secretary Of last summers convention
had never sent official copies of the res.
olutions to our delegation. These facts
received no mention in the Detroit pa
pers aud before they say so much about
the wrong positions of the Republican,
they should rectify some of their own.
WHY THE CONVENTION WAS CALLED.
Speaking individually, the editor of
the Republican called the convention
by request OF large number of news
papers, it being his official duty as Sec.
rotary Of the Association, in concur
renee with the President and Treasurer,
forming the Executive Committee. He
took very little part in the discussion,
did not favor the resolutions reaGopted,
but simply desired reconsideration Of
the action Of the last Congress, whereby
these new postal burdens had been cast
suddenly aud meauly upon the country
press by surreptitious amendment to
the Appropriation Bill. This is point
which the Detroit papers entirely ignore.
They are willing, it seems, to count for
their side trick which was won by
cheating, as no reconsideration would
ever have taken place if they could have
prevented it.
Now let Us see how far We can agree
with the Detroit newspapers: for it
seems to be general conference or ex
perience meeting among Our brethren in
reference to postal inequalities.
NO THANKING PRIVILEGE WANTED.
LIST. We are not in favor OF the frank
ing privilege for Congressman or public
officers Gu their private business and
for fear of abuses, we say. let it continue
abolished altogether. The system prac.
ticed in England, however, works we'll
that Is. for all mail matter strictly on
Government service to pass free under
the frank Of recognized public officer.
This saves printing aud handling and
keeping an account Of postage stamps,
and settling up and paying for them,
which looks very much Ike mans
charging himself for carrying his own
parcels home from the grocery, and
taking his money from one pocket and
putting il into another, and crediting
himself at the close of the operation. If /
public officers can be trusted to use
stamps at discretion, they can certainly
be trusted to write their autograph on !
letters or parcels where the detection of
fraud Ii so easy How impossible, for
instance, it would be to defraud the
mails il the millions of instances of
money.order advices from one Post.
master to another; yet they must now
go through the solemn formality Of using
ofhcial stamps consuming cash and time
without praefcal benefit.
20 FREE EXCHANGES.
49, re do not ask or wish for ANY
II Eehange of newspapers, but are
Ergt TO pay postage on al the ex.
Changes we receive, and do not receive
any more than we need. At times it is
very important to have a newspaper
from some given place, and the lack of
it would be felt more than the yearly
postage and the difference of price (if |
any) between such paper and our own.
GRADED NEWSPAPER POSTAGE RIGHT.
3D. We think there should be prop
erly graded system Of postage on news.
papers, estimated by weight and dis.
lance. This is where the pinch comes.
Let the weight be restricted to two
ounces and all papers above that pay
double. Let the distance be limited to
200 miles and all above that pay double.
We know that an exact graded system
cannot be carried out. Yet there is
rank injustice in carrying q paper like
the New York Independent to Califor.
MIA for the same price that the Leslie
Herald is brought to Mason. The dis.
lance is 215 times greater and the
weight three times as much, Therefore
an exactly just graded system would
make the hostage on the New York Tn.