The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1875-03-18
THE NEW POSTAL RATES.

It now transpires that it was the ignor-
ance of Senator Hamlin, or else his Of
ficiousness on behalf of the express COM
panies, which led to the wrongful in
crease of postage on transient news
papers 7 le law as reported prescribed
1 cent for every two ounces on mail mat
ter OF the third class, which included all
printed matter not sent directly from
the office of publication, and all admls-
sible merchandise up to four pounds.
Senator Hamlin moved an amendment
that l cent be charged for every ounce
or fraction thereof, instead of two
ounces, and led the Senate to believe by
his speech Gas indeed he may have ig-
norantiy believed himself) that this rate
applied to merchandise alone which is
transmitted through the mails. It was
under this impression that the amend
ment was adopted. When it went to
the House in the blind, reckless rush of
the closing hours, Mr.. Garfield said that
the Appropriation Committee approved
of the amendment, and the newspaper
feature was not explained there, not
withstandlng the law expressly includes
transient newspapers in the third
class. Thus the precipitate legislation
of the closing hours of Congress is re-
sponsible for q great and general hard
ship to which neither House would have
consented knowingly.
The effect of the change is to make
newspapers heretofore paying cent pay
cents; newspapers paying cents now
require ), and so on. This applies, OF
course, not to newspapers sent from the
office of publication to regular subscrib-
ers In bulk, but newspapers sent Off by
individuals. Under the old rates, a sub
scriber to the Tribune might send away
his daily paper at a cost of Is cents
week, 2 cents for each copy of the daily,
and cents for the Sunday edition.
Under the new rates, the same courtesy
to an absent friend will cost him "a
cents week, 3 cents a copy for the
paper of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday, 4 cents for Satur-
days paper with single supplement,
and 5 cents for the Sunday edition with
double supplement. Those who have
enjoyed the luxury of receiving home
paper when absent for a long time need
not be told how mean an imposition this
increase Is and the thousands of peo-
pie in Chicago who send away papers
every week can testify how generally it
will be felt.
The amendment substituting one
ounce instead of two ounces was lobbied
IN the interest of the express companies.
MIR. Hamln claimed that 1t would add
s., 900, 900 CD to the revenues of the
Post-otfice Department but it is much
more likely to decrease the revenues in
the long run. Wherever a package can
be sent by express for the same cost as,
by mail, of course the express companies
is where more punctual delivery Of
fered and a guarantee of indemnity In
case of loss. The express companies, it
is true, had no interest in having the
postage on transient newspapers in
creased; but this was incidental to their
general scheme for having postage in
creased on all except letter mail matter.
If the express companies were inclined
to act fairly in the matter, they would
now undertake to deliver transient news
papers at the old Post-Office rate until
Congress shall be able to remedy the
error into which it was betrayed by their
lobby work.
As all printed matter not sufficiently
prepaid is thrown out of the Post Office,
it is likely that great deal of money
will be wasted before the people gener-
ally ascertain Just how much each paper
costs under the new rule. Up to this
time the Post-Ofice Department will
viii make some money Oh the Ignorance
of the public. After this, however,
there will be a material decrease in the
number of newspapers sent away in
wrappers, and corresponding decrease
in revenue from that class of matter. 1t
is only necessary to note this increase of
rates IN connection with the restoration
of the franking privilege to estimate the
full measure of Congressional meanness
and selfshness in the transaction.
Neither Mr.. Hamlin nor Mr.. Garfield
should be proud of their shares in bring
ing it about. Chicago Tribune.