, 1876-06-21

ed, would be moro threatening thAn tho 6ec-
tional feeling between the North aud South
over was.
POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS.
The present ratcs of postage on prepnid
n,ntter-nowspapers magazines, md perioll-
icals-is 9 cents per pound when issuod
weekly or oftcner, aud cents por pound
when issued at longer intervals, Mr.. Scna-
tor SHERMAN proposed on Friday last In the
Senate to increase these rates to and
cents respectively. He stated that there WIS
largo deficiency in tho receipts from nows-
pnpor postages, as compared with tho cost
of transportation. Ho states the amount
collected from newspapers for postage at
81 900, 900 annually, and tho purpose Of his
amendment Is, ho sail, to compel the
newspaper publishers to pay for the trans.
portation Of their papers. Tho Senator has
alwnya been Btrong on specinl legislation.
Ilc Ind Just voled to increase the price at
which tho Government shall sell stamped
letter envelopes to such prico aB shall not bo
less than unssnmped envelopes can be pur-
ohnacd at tho retail stores, with 8 cents post
nge added. This legislation waa m aads-
ton to the postage on letters, put on for tho
protection of those manufacturers of en-
velopes who do not have contract for Rup-
plying tho Government with stamped onos.
There ia in tho Postal Inv provision TINT
weekly newspapers, Of which thero aro
| probably 5000 in this country, shall circu-
lnto through tho mills in tho counties where
published FREQ Of postage. There nro, there
foro, over million of sheets passing through
| the mails weekly which pny nothing. This
| il special Legislation; this is "protccsion y;
antl this dead heading in tho ,nails Mt tho
public expense Mr.. SHERMAN Of course pro-
poses to continue, betraying dread Of the
| several hundred country papers in Ohio
| wholly inconsistent with luis assertion Of ill.,
dependence Of tho press generally. "r'
| hfr. SuEnMAN oycrlooks tho fact TINT the
great bulk Of the daily newspaper distribu-
tion does not 60 through tho mails ut nll,
and, it his amendment should DO adopted,
| ho will discover that, instead Of doubling tho
roveuue, he will reduce it by driving tho
transportation Of newspapers and periodicals
to the express companies in evory caso where
these companies can reach tho renders. It
is IN old theory OF Mr. SHERMAN thnt tho
proper way to increase revenue is 20 increase
taxation to the point OF determination. THE
DAILY TRIBUNE weighs II ounces per week,
or 564 pounds year. Mr.. SHERMAN pro-
poses to mako the annual postage thereon
$3.50. How long does he suppose tho daily
newspapers OF tho country will uso tho mails
Mt that ratio ? Even ut tho present rntes the
great distribution Of newspapers is by OK
- IL k1 t,+r
mil.
Tho expenses Of tho Post -Of1lco Dopart-
ment exceed it's income. But the expenses
of tho Department arc capable of reduction.
The Scnnte rejected tho House bill for the
reduction md equalization Of tho salaries ol
Postmasters. rost1nastcrs arc valuable op
erators in machine politics, and Senators mp.
point Postsnasters, and Senators are willing
to pny Post1nasters exorbitant salaries ou
Of the Trcasury, oven il they have to doublt
the postage On newspapers. In Mr.. SHERMAN
own State, as admitted by himself, there art
numerous Postinasterain comparatively small
towns who aro paid 81, 900 n year each AMI
perform the duties by deputies, whiio ths
Judges OF tho Supreme Court Of Ohio or.
paid only $4,000. There ia an immense CT
pendituro for daily mills on routes whore
tho business docs not yield enough to pa,
for weekly services, but nlail contractors ar
admirable operators in machine politics, ant
somo few millions have to DO expended t.
keep the machines in motion. There i
vast room for reduction IN wnstelnl exponai
ture in tho postal service. The salaries ar
Nil too large, the number Of persons employ
ed too great, the amount paid for tho trans
portation Of mails excessive, not only in th
way of compensation for service rendered
but for compensation whero there is Ito se.
yice rendered. hut reduction In exponditur
when there is power to increase tho tax
hercyy In molorn statesmanship. Shout
A1r. suEnMAs'a proposition to tax the nowe
papers out of the mails bo carried, 1t wi
have the effect of increasing the annual d
ficicncy IN the revenues Of tue Department
and be another instance Of the brilliant wi,
dom Of the policy Of taxation to preEot
royenue.
---.-e-...:-:
The SIaats. .Ztitung follows up its oppos
f;o,, ~ $En 1snDubt}en,t enn1i7nta fnr prn,