Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-04-25

year which gave s1cl geaelu diS>aiI>-
faction. On Committee. tHe amendment
was proposed. discussed aud adopted
while Mr.. Ham..n was absent, be being
at the time with The Committee on Fol
eign Relations. Waeo The mStler was
brought before The Senate, a, the r,qGes,
OF Messgs. Ramsey aud Dorsey, Senator
Hamhn offered the amendment, sud
advocated lis passage. Mr., Hsmln ac-
knowledgJs tAa, be Gid wrong in no, fully
understanding the scope OF Tie amend
men,. lie though. i, related a.oue TO
merchandise.
Noperson who is g; a'i acquainted with
Senator Ham,iu's ca-,aCter aad ca.eer,
believed for q momea; that bee had "so,d
himself TO the Express Companies" Bu;
be has acknowledged himself. lhs, he has
been guilty OF a grave error. in no; being
thoroughly quainted with every deta'.
OF bill which be advocated. Ia state
Legislatures. sometimes errors creep into
bills, and bills ale passed which do 10;
operate Justly. This Is to be expected ;
for in many States, seat IN Tie LeglS.a-
ture Is mere honorary position, and
legislators are IN hurry TO complete their
work and return to ;Ler homes. some
times very ordinary men are also elected
TO STATE Legislatures. Not 50, however,
is The case 10 National affairs. Oar Con
Sressmen ere paid i've thousand dollars
Tor lew months wogS,-suye,y enough
10 Secure hrs,-c.a>S men. and meu who
Will not Sigh, important matters which
come before them.
See vha. lhe result % Nj HamIu',
carcie,suess Ia, been. ForaJeAr mos,
uneven and Uujus, Jaw LAS been enforced.
A publisher could SCI. a., periodicals
iron New IovA 90 EIsopc cheaper .hau
ne could pass them across tl- Terry, three
miles, % Long Island.
Il was very evident ;ha, some change
in The Pos,4. Law Was necessary, and ii
this amendment had operated as /, ~as
eNpec.ed 90. ro doub, /, would have
reached .uc ,.o@.lc. In The debate S,aa-
tor uam..u give me following statement
concerning Jle transportation OF third
class matter.
Upon small routes where The mail was
caItct oy single horse. tLe contractor
w4s compelled 10 double his force solely
toc.rgY n.-l el.u-l,c transmitted by mail
Ga ether routes the weight %, the mai.
became 50 much Increased that The con
tractors were Obliged 90 abandon the
service. O1e mos, remarkable case vas
upon The route from san Diego, ~ Cali
ioru.a. 10 Tucson. 10 Arizona. There
merchandise "a, transmitted 10y the ton.
Large quantities OF harnesses were manu-
iactured 10 Mas acausetts and transmitted
in tOuT-pOund ps ckages through The mail,
and many articles OF dIy goods and gtC-
ceTies p4cAed ~ the same way acre
transmitted ~ The Insignificant rate OF
eight cents a pound from Massachusetts,
and New IOTS 20 Arizona. The distance
between San Diego and Tucson is a0ou.
eight hundred niles, and he regular
price OF transportation by men who haG +
ed i with their teams Was sixty cents q
pound.
may add here tina. tie Information
communicated to the committee during
the present session VI Congress shows
that merchandise Is sill transmitted over
various routes IN quantities oppressive 20
the contractors and contrary 20 Whist Il
was supposed the law would impose. TIE
Postmaster General has been obliged to
authorize the contractors upon some
routes 10 leave quantities OF merchandise
10 enable them 10 forward the letter and
newspaper mail. Within q very few DAYS
past the contractor upon the route from
San Diego 20 Tucson informed your com
mittee that on single day one hundred
and sixty 1--WE packages OF merchandise
of four pounds each were delivered &
him for transportation upon said route
We doubt the proprieiy OF carry ing
merchandise by L ;. Mail contractors
The Post Office was originated Tor tht
purpose OF conveying messages irOu
place to place, with great expedition
The Government has taken charge OF thi
business. that such matter might not b,
subject 10 delays,-having greater pow
ers than individuals OF corporations. Al
nations have deemed 1t necessary 10 tax
control oil this matter, a. we'll Tor ,hei
own convenience as 10 accommodate
their subjects. b. where toe necess sit
OF carrying merchandise What righ
has the Government 70 90 into the ex
press business? True, j, is very cor
Senient. and makes a saving 10 man
people; but II The government were l
secure all he railroads in its territory
and carry freight and passengers at les
than cost, q. would also be = saving .
many. The latter proposition ) only
following cat OF The principle oil convey
Ing small express packages in the mai:
POstsl Te.csraphs, Pos,a. Savings Bans
Expressing bundles and even Post.
Money Orders are things 81 doubtful pre-
prie'y; for their tendency Is bad; an
taey may result in future absorption
other businesses by The government.