The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-04-20
THURSDAY APRIL 20, 1876.

How much do you suppose these news
papers pay or the people who get them
pay as postage thereon? Less than
81, 900, O00 per aEnum.; an absolute sluss
to the Department of over $24 100000
per annum in order that the newspapers
may practically go free through the
mails.
/ am not complaining of this, nor
would chaDgeit, for the circulation OF
papers and periodicals is necessary for
|fhe dissemination of knowledge among
the people, and ehnuld have as few bar
dens attached as possible, bat i refer 70
it TO show he fact as TO why the Post
Office Department does not pay expen-
ses
Here the hammer fell
Mr.. Williams, of Wisconsin,. j renew
the amendment. / think the keen sense
Of equity and justice and the high he'll
lolsm Of members of Congress ami pallti-
clans generally have never been more
| emlnenily displayed than upon this sin
gle question OF the frankng privilege.
do not agree with the -gSntlema q
from Illinois Mr.. Cannoul in regard to
the comparas lvely free circulation OF
newspapers One newspaper will con-
vey more intelligence To the country,
lmore knowledge OF the currents events
lof this capital and elsewhere than YOU
Icould convey in a hundred letsers. j 90
agree with him. however. in regard Ia
1.-The restoration Of the fraDklng privilege
40 far as tue circEatien Of public d"cu-
m4nts is concerned, provided iC 'ngtcs>
lpropos es to continue their publication
Under the sDasmndic effort at economy
by the repeal Of the franking privilege
i printing has been interrupted In some
ldrrctlnns, uutil now We are sending
forth 10 our constituents III the West. rs
fresh and valuable reading. the AgrIcul
lturaI Report for 1878. Aud every man
It's whom you send ha' report or some OF
bis nelghbors write back, wanting t.
know whv you do NOT send q report TO-
4 1874 or 1875. AMI II you were 10 pay
the postage np answers to those letters
and you Gre liable TO offend the constiiu-
ent u you leave his letter answered
ly0n Will expend more for pos age than
would cost TO send all the documents
printed by he government.
Then again, as 10 letters do not quite
agree with my friend from ILLINOIS IN re-
l gard to them. The PosteOfEce Drp4rt-
l ment sehds 20 member If Congress,
Z making al inquiry alb ut some local mat
Sef IN his distrlcf, and inclns- TO him ii
two>cent stamp to pay for the reply. The
Ira mhtr ut Congress writes To some gen.
JtIrman in cen raj town of his districi
|dmak!ng the inquiry that gentleman
writes into the country. His better IL
Eanswered, and he answers the letter OF
like IN mber of Congress. Thus the con-
stGtaentS and the member Rave paid
'EtwtAge cents postage ard thn Gavernms Mt
has paid tho cents. ThIs certainly ought
/ 10 satisfy even our eminent and eccn"mi-
lcll friend from Ind na Mr. Holmatl go
|far as the Government Is Concerned; bu
lhowsis it with the constituents, leaving
nut he member "f Congress?
Nnw. SIT, in regard to printing and
circulating documents and in regaldlto
lt'0fficlal correspondence" | would max
IA law ,pnttingi' upon the high and sacred
Honor ut a member to mark his letters
l"uficlal business, "and let these and their
answers go free. / would rot rescrt to
lAa fine or imprisonment, which is never
lea forced; but if we have the power I'm
der the C. ,rsJitution would make the
breach of that privilege in the slightest
|degree by a member work forfeiture Of
his seat in this House. And, my word
for IL, his district will be pollced by
Idisintercsted gentlemen, willing to serve
he public, with vigor which will keep
the Representative strictly in the line OF
duty aaG Of law.
/ Here the hammer fell.