Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1875-03-26
The Commitiee on Appropriatious op.

dangers 10 the revenues that would result
from it.. Mr. Tyner, of Indiana, who had
charge Of the Post-ofice Appropriation
SiEl-and S now Cd Asst. P. NJ General
shaved that If the section were adopted,
i Wouldeost far more to carry this mer-
chandIse than the postage upon it would
amount to and that If the weight should
be increased to four pounds, there was no
reason why il might not be still furtheri
increased, until our mails were loaded
down with freight. also opposed the
amendment, and showed that il would
greatly increase the deficit in the post
Office. But the section wss adopted; aud
the result has fully justified my pTedic-
tions. The merchandise feature, thus eK-
tended, has become great abuse, snd%
heavy charge upon the Government. The
old law, restricted as it was, TO small
packages of not more than Twelve ounces
and paying one cent an ounce, was
great convenience to the people, and was
not q serious incumbFsnee TO the mails,
nor a very heavy charge upon the Treas
ury. But under the law Of last year, the
great merchants and traders OF the chic
cities are beginning 10 send their goods
by mail to all parts of the country, 10 the
serious detriment of local enterprise, and
at heavy charge to the Government.
NuIserymen, in the East, are sending
tons of fruit trees in four pound packa
ges, and thus our mails are being loaded
| with freight, and the enterprise of people
in the country districts is being crippled
by the competitor OF the more populOus
centers.
During the first fifty years of the Gov
ernment, the post-ofiee Dept was more
than self sustaining. During the last three
years Of the late war, the revenues equal
led the expenditures. The year 1866 pro-
duced q surplus of one million. But since
that time, there has been an increasing
deficit every year. The appropriation for
the current year for the postal service, is
nearly seven and half millions more
than the postal revenues. The total ap-
preparation for 1875, was $s5, ,756. .O61.
The appropriation made, at the late ses-
sion, for the year 1876, was e37, ,5s4. SOL
an increase of nearly two millions Of dol
lars in one year. This increase is due al
most wholly to the increased cost for IN
land transportation OF the mails. ~
In the year 1871, this cost of transport
tation was eli ,52s. sos; for 1876, there
was appropriated for the same purpose,
$16, ,400, ,00O, and Tor. 1875, it is estimated
at further increase of more than a mill
lion. % fs9IaT iPE aE ~
The post oGice was designed for the
convenience Of the people, and should not
be made q source of revenue. But the
whole people should not be heavily taxed
to enable merchants and traders TO con-
vert our mails into fast freight lines.
Near the close of the last session, the
P. o. Dept called the attention OF the
Senate to the effect of the section / have
quoted above, and during the last night
of the session, the Senate added an
amendment to one Of the appropriation
b ills, fixing the rate on third class matter
at one cent an ounce. The bill came back
to the House at 4 o'clock in the morning
of the 4th OF March, with 1s4 Senate
amendments. These were considered by
the Committee on Appropriations. The
clause in reference to postage appeared
to be restoration of the rate on mer-
ehandise, as it stood prior to the act of
June Esd, 1874 There was not time TO
examine the postal laws; but the Ian
guage employed by the Senate seemed TO
refer only TO the merchandise clause in
the act OF 1874, and the Committee ap-
proved it. ! am sure. the Committee dId
not intend to 60 any further than that.
They did think that the old rate on mer-
chandise should be restored. They did
not desire 10 increase the rate on an y
prin ted matter. do not know what the
Senator intended, who introduced the
clause, but have no reason TO believe |
that he intended to change snYth ing but |
the rate on merch andlse. The Po ct Mas |
ter General was present, believe, when |
the clause was adopted, and even he did |
not notice that the language covered |
more than merchandise. It now appears
that the clause covers books and transient |
newspapers. THAT feature should be re-
pealed, but the merchandise clause is
right, in my judgment, and ought to
stand. The insinuation that this Legisla.
tion was lobbied through BY the Express
Companies, is wholly unjust and un-
founded, 90 far as I have any means of
judging. So far as 1 know, no petition, |
memorial or appeal was made to :he
House or any of its committees or mem
bers, by any OF the Express Companies.
The legislation resulted from request of |
the P. o. Dept to correct serious and |
growing evil.
The mistake is the result of an over
sight, and is manly due to the bad prac-
tiee ofallOwing important legislation to
be crowded into the last hours of ses-
sion. was compelled to work every
hour Of the last twenty-eight of the ses-
sion to complete the business entrusted
to my charge, and I am surprised and
grati6ed that more errors did not occur.
~ Very truly yours,
o5f J. A. GARFIELD.
n