, 1875-03-27
TAKING KNOWLEDGE,

Senator HAMI1s and ex-sonator (thnn1s
Fortune md Minnesota for tho "ox") RAM
sEY are trying worry hard to put upon each
othor'a shoulders the responsibility for the
amendment to tho Postal law, dictated by
tho express companies lobby and rushed
through tho Inst Congress in its closing
hours, RAMSEY is tho last one hoard from.
The st. Paul Press announces Tat 1t speaks
by his authority, and then makes sone re-
mnrknble assertions.
It seoms that tho propriesors Of stage lines
" in Arizona and other parts OF tho country"
liayo found that their mail-coEtracts did not
yield satisfactory profit sinca packages of
four pounds weight were admitted to the
mails. So these poor proprietors-wl,o make
moro money out of their mal-contrac;s than
they do from oil other sources Whatever, and
who bring two or three oHoRreNH1Ho jobs be-
foro Congress every year-sant lobby to
Washington. This lobby, not, Of course, tho
lobby maintained by tho express companies,
touched tho aged hearts Of Mcsars. IAuL1N
md RAMsEx by their appeals. These two
statesmen decided to 1ay heavy tax on
knowledge Tor The benefit of tho
stage-owuers ain Arizona and other
pnrta Of tho country" HAssl1N lind
been reelected Senator for six years
more, so he didn't caro- whit people thought
or sail. RAslaEY had been elected to stay at
homo for tho rest Of his existence, 80 he
didn't care either. Unfortunately for both Of
than, tho people care good deal. The pao.
| pic hayo not that burning affection for ex-
press monopolies and Arizona stage colnpa-
mics which mikes them long to DO taxed for
| When the utter Ind finished their conference
with the lobby, they prepared three amend
monts, the 1rst two comparatively harmless,
since they only reduced the maximum
weight Of third.class nail-matter to
two pounds. The third was tho harm.
full one. It donbled the postage on
such matter. RAMsEY presented the first two
amendments, md allowed them to bo killed
forthwith. Absolutely, no effort to savo
them waa maae. Then HAM11v, In pnrsu-
ance Of tho plot, brought forward tho third.
1t was during tho very last session Of tho
Senate. A1r. HA,n1s, in presenting tho
amendment, said that tho Postmaster Con-
csal wanted 1t adopted ~. This Official Inns
since tried his best 10 got rid Of 1t, so that
tho uso Of his namo was probably wholly
grat,1itous IAMI1N sail, moreover, that 1t
would raise $4,000, 900 increased rovenuo !!
whereas ho must havo known, unless old age
has sapped hin reason, Tint It would largely
decrease the rovenueH by throwing postal bual-
ness into the hands OF tho express companies.
Senator WEsT protested, Of tho representative
Of tho Appropriation Committee, against the
amendment; but it WIS., carried without a
division, 10 that there is no record Of tho
men who yotol for It, There is however, q
record that the Job WIS planned and executed
by two 8enatorB,-ono just rc-olected by
Mime, one just rejected by Minnesota,
These two men naae the people pay cents
per ounce on thirl-clasa matchmaker, whou
! cent waa m ample rate.
The st. Paul larzu says Tint, since tho In.
creased tax only affects ~ the small amount
Of transient newspapers passing through tAe
,nails," 1t 10 oil right. Tho small amount
Tho Press doubtless takes its own srau
sient circulation III gnide. Wo can vel
imagine that its transient aud regular brsinesl
aro both exceedingly stnali, but tho oxpe
l FlcHE0 u ala 4A1AsoacakAnB AoHnlHpV
furnishes no criterion for tint Of On interest
Ing one. Probably one.thirl Of tho dali,
issuo Of The CHICAGO TRIBUNE is re1nailetl b.
subscribers. Tho now law makes tho postag,
for each paper cents, except OH 6asurila,
and Sunday, when the charge On a trausien
copy Of The TRIBUNE Is respectively md
csnts. Que ot our. Chicago subscribers VIII