New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-15
THE NEW POSTAGE LAW A MISTAKE.

THE NEW POSTAGE LAW MISTAKE.
QUANTITIES OF NEWSPAPERS SHORT OF STAMPS IN
THE PosT-OFFICEs-AN EXPLANATION FROM THE
POsTMAsTER-GENERAL AS TO HOW THE EXTRA
RATES on NEWSPAPERS CAME TO, BE IMPOSED.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
WASHINGTON. March 14.-The Postmaster-GeDeral,
after full consultation with the law officers OF his
department, finds that he has authority to sus-
pend or evade temporarily the provisions OF the
new law raising the postage on transient news
papers. lie has received letters from many OF the
post-ofices announcing the delay of great numbers
of newspapers OH account of insufficient prepaid
postage and will give directions to forward such as
had accumulated up to the time that the general
announcement of the increased rate was made Mr.
Jewell in explanation, says that the mistake arose
from misunderstanding OF terms whsle the sub
iect was under consideration in Congress.
In reply to letter from the Chairman Of the
Senate Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads,
as to whether the transportation of merchandise
seriously DISTRACTED the transportation of the mails
on railroads the Postmaster General said that it did
not threaten to do at that time, but that on some
of the trunk stage routes it did then give embar-
rassment and would lead to extra expense. He did
not favor doing merchandise transportation bust
ness at the same rates for long as ehol E29tss lie
said that as the law had been III operation.for so
short time, he did not feel warranted IN recon
mending any very radical changes, but suggested
that the rate Of postage on meIchandise be doqbleu
that IS the rate should be cent for each ounce
OF fraction thereof instead Of One cent for each two
ounces. In the dse of the term merchandise the
Postmasier-General had no intention. TO include
transient newspapers but failed to draw the distnc
ton as it existed in his own mind. and the Commit
tees of Congress applied the term employed III the
Post-Otce enactments
The Postmaster-General feels the mistake keenly,
and if there were any possible way of relieving the
people without special legislation he would take adj
vantage of it. The whole history of this new law
is a fair illustration of the folly of saddng appro-
priation bills with new Legislation, as well as OF
wifully wasting time in both Houses OF Congress,
and leaving the bulk of the necessary work OF the
session to be done during the last two three days
WIN. s. KING WANTS TO BE INDICATED.
lie ENDEAvORs TO INFLUENCE PosTMAsTEE-GEN-
ERAL JEWELL RESPECTING ArPoINTMENTs-hN
EXCITING INTERVIEW IN THE STREET BETWEEN
THE PRESIDENT; POSTMASTER JEWELL AND Mr..
KING.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBUNR]
WASHINGTON, March 1.-the object of Vim. s.
Kings visit to Washington has at last been dis
closed. Soon after his arrival in this city week
ago he called at the Post-Olice Department and
said TO Mr. Jewell that he desired to have the pres
ent Postmaster at Minneapolis removed and one OF
bis friends appointed in his place As the Post
| master-GeneTal did not seem to receive the an
| nouncement as Mr.. King thought lie ought to, he
added by way of explanation that he was the mem
Der of Congress elect from the Minneapolis District
Mr. Jewell replied that he knew that he elected
| TO the XLlVth Congress but it still matter OF
| doubt whether he would be member of that
| Congress OF not. This ended the interview
This afternoon the President. Postmaster General
! Jewell and ex-Postmas tcr-Genera Cresweii took a
| walk in the direction of Georgetown, when they
were overtaken by ex-senator Ramsey and William
| s. King who came up out of breath. Mr.. Ramsey
apologzed for intrudlng upon the President at such
| a time and place by saying that lac was to leave
town tonight or tomorrow. and that he had prom
| ised Mr. King 10 arrange Tor an interview with
| Gen Grant before his departure. At this point Mr.
| King broke in. and said that he desired
| to know whether bo was 10 be recog
| nizcd or not. Mr. Jewell. who had taken
no part III the conversation. turned around aud said
that he supposed that remark was intended for him
YES" Mr.. King said he thought it was well
enough To have the question settled at since il
| had been left open at their last interview Mr.
Jewell said he wOuld relieve the President of all en-
| barrassment in regard 10 the matter by deciding
! that no change should be made in the Minneapolis
| Post Office al present.
At this point Mr.. King became greatly excited
liz said he knew that he had been Lied about viii