The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-25

the POSTAGE SvvINDLE
Put Through BY the Express Cos
Ramsey Tries to Make it Still Worse.
Washington Special March LAY Chicago Tri-
bune.1
A closer examination of the manner in
which the expressmen's job (by which
postage on transient newspapers is doubl-
ed) became law shows that Hannibal
Hamlin was the instrument used in the
Senate to accomplish this purpose. It
does not affirmatively appear that Ham
lin knew the scope Of his amendment.
The poor mans postage was doubled in
one of the heated night sessions few
days after the franking privi-
lege was restored. very
few Congressman evidently knew
that any change was made, and many
who were advised of the increase of post
age supposed, and were so told, that it
was only to apply to packages of mer-
chandlse, and in no sense to transient
newspapers. When this amendment was
added, Postmaster. General Jewell was
himself in the Senate chamber, and sup
posed, as did everybody who knew any.
thing about It, that the increase applied
only to merchandise.
HAML1N TO BLAME.
The way it came about was this !: Sena-
tor Hamlin, without previous notice, said
he had an amendment to offer, which was
this: 'That section Of the act approved
Jan. %, 1874, making appropriations for
the service of the Postofice Department
for the fiscal year ending June so, 1878,
and for other purposes, be and the same
is hereby amended as follows: Insert
the word ounce in lieu Of the words two
ounces. Section was not read. The
impression among Senators who knew
anything about it was that this amend.
meat only doubled the postage on sam.
pies and merchandise. Had the section
been read the fact would have appeared.
HANL1N's SPEECH.
Hamlin further SAID:
This is an appropriation bill. The
amendment which is before the Senate is
to replenish your treasury, and l think.
at this period Of time, when the revenues
Of your Postoffice Department are run.
ming so low. the amendment which / offer
is one that should commend itself to the
judgment of every Senator here. In
1872. we passed law fixing the rate Of
postage upon what was called transient
matter Of the third class. The question
has been submitted to the Postoffice De-
partment in relation to change Of that
law, and have here an express recon.
mendatien Of the General in
favor of the amendment, which | submit
| have full knowledge Of this law.
was member Of the postofficc committee
when the plan Of transmitting Other
than mailable matter prope,
through the mail was adopted
1t fixed the rate of postage upon each I
ounces. 1t has been carried up to
pounds. 1t was an experiment. l d,
not seek to change that experiment, but
do seek to place upon it rate of postag
, which, If the statements from the Post
office Department be correct, will givs
you $4,000, 900 of revenue in the coming
year. 1t will operate as no hardship what
ever upon persons whom we design to ben
eft by allowing merchandise to 60 through
the mails. We support the mail depart
ment proper upon postage at 6 cents pei
ounce. This will still allow merchandise.
samples to 60 through our mails for cen
an ounce-at such low rates that any per
son who desires to avail himself Of tn,
transmission Of the mails for such pur
pose will have no reason to complain 0
our increasing the rate. The Postmaster
| General tells us it should be done. Mr.
Bangs. whom l regard as one Of the very
best officers in that department. The j
careful; he understands his business.) ha
made the statement that it will give to n
$2,O0O,0OO Of revenue il we adopt tn
amendment.
| BANGS LETTER
referred only to samples Of merchandise
and stated simply that, il the sam
amount Of merchandise should 20 through
the mails under the increased postage a
now, the amount Of revenue would be in
creased S2,O0O,OO0. The only ccmmuni
cation from the Postmaster General wa
. brief note calling attention to letters Q
Bangs. The amendment was the
adopted in the Senate without furthe
Explanation.
/ IN THE HOUSE.
The only proceedings in the House upo
the amendment were these: The cler
read the text Of the amendment, and MI
Garfield said: "This is change Of post
age in regard to certain kind Of merchar
disc, and meets the concurrence Of IN
committee on appropriations. Th
amendment was concurrcd in. Ramsc
subsequently tried to get furthc
amendment for the express companies r.
ducing the 4-pound limit to 2 pounds. bu
failed.
The CTmel Attack On mis-. A-Ovetoy.
lChristian Recister.1