Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-03-26
Postal Reform.


Notwithstanding the general denuncation
Of the recent rise In the rate of postage on
transient newspapers and all matter OF the
third class there are intimations that II was
not all mistake, and that the postmaster
general hoped in this way to rocoup the de-
partment Tor the loss on the transmission of
newspapers TO regular subscribers. Without
doubt the regular newspaper mail is the
heavy burden on the post office, and the
Boston Advertiser urges that tho rate for this
class ought to be raised, and the ratio for
letters reduced The newspaper rate could
not he materially raised, however, and col
lected Of the publishers, without necesstating
general REIMBURSEMENT Of the terms of sub
scription, and before that is done the princi-
pie OF collecting on all mail matter should
be carried out TO tho end by the abolition of
the free circulation OF newspapers in the
counties whore they are published. Con-
gress, by the perpetuation OF this subsidy to
the country press, has deprived the depart
ment of its most valuable newspaper bust
ness, that Is, the transmission Of papers short
distances for full postage. Before any
change Is made in the present newspaper
rate because of its inadequacy, we submit
that the experiment ought to be tried of OK
tending 1t 10 absolutely all papers sent TO
regular subscribers. Springfield Republican.
Correct IL the post Office department
don't pay, and people have TO be taxed to
support it, what excuse is there for dead
heading the county papors2 1t is simply
paying a premium on shiftless, lazy, inefi-
cient newspaper scissoring. II there is a
class Of worthless papers in the country 50
poor that nobody will take them and pay
the postage on them, even if these papers
would fail without this special and unjust
bonus from the government, why, let them
fail. Any paper that is worthy of q place,
any paper that deserves to rank among
American newspapers, can abundantly af.
ford to bear its own expenses. OF course
that class Of worthless, dry, lazy, shiftless.
appearing papers which no ono would take
were il not that they dislike to tell the pub
Usher to discontinue them, would be some
what lessened in numbers, but the advantage
to the people, who would thereby be enabled
to take some paper worthy Of the name,
with some life and enterprise to it, would be
great. In these days when dead.heading,
especially at the public expense, is becoming
unpopular, when special class legislation is
being exposed and done away with, when
even the giving Of free passes by railroads is
made the subject of legislation, we wonder
that the people have so long tamely submit
ted to this bonus to the press. The press
with the exception of an occasional strag.
Cling milk-and-water sheet which has not
power enough to stand alone) do not ask for
any such bonus. They are able to bear
their share Of public burdens. Then let all
be required to pay postage alike, let it be
prepaid by publishers as now, and none will
have real cause for complaint.
We have given in another place few Of
the comments of our exchanges on the dis.
graceful postal law which was struggled
through in the closing hours of Congress by
the lobbyists of the express companies. 1t
will be seen that all the comments given
condemn the express companies and the law.
The reason we do not copy any favorable
comments is, we think, good one, we have
found none. They are all on the other side.
The express companies in general, and the
Adams company in particular, have "put
their foot in it." In their eagerness to ex-
tend and perpetuate their oppressive mOnopo.
ly Of the carrying Of small parcels they have
carried the thing too far; so far, let us
hope, that the next Congress will restore the
former rates on all that class of matter, If,
indeed, the size Of bundles to be carried By
mail be not increased. Meantime, let every
thing which can be 50 sent go by mail or by
freight, SO that these oppressors shall re-.
ceive as little benefit as possible from the
legislation they have secured by lobbying
and corruption.