, 1876-06-11
POSTAGE on NEWSPAPERS,

POSTAGE ON NEWSPAPERS.
Mr.. JOHN SHERMAN, Of Ohio, has taken oc-
casion to assert again his Independence Of
the newspapers, and thereby again furnish
them. If he were not afraid of the news
papers there would be no occasion for his re-
peated assertions that be does not dread
their adverse criticism. The present rates
Of postage on prepaid matter-newspaper
magazines, and periodicals-is 2 cents per
pound when issued weekly or oftener, and
cents per pound when issued at longer inter-
vals- Mr. Senator SHERMAN proposed On
Friday in the Senate to increase these rates
to and 5 cents respectively. He stated
that there was large deficiency in the re-
ceipts from newspaper postages, as compared
With the cost of transportation. He states
the amount collected from newspapers for
postage at 81, 10000 annually, and the pur-
pose of his amendment is, he said, to CON-
pei the newspaper publishers to pay for the
transportation Of their papers. The Senator
has always been strong on special legislation.
He had just voted to increase the price at
which the Government shall sell stamped let
terenvelopes to such price as shall not be less
than unstamped envelopes can be pur-
chased at the retail stores, with 8 cents post
age added. This legislation was an addi-
ton to the postage On letters, put On for the
protection of those manufacturers Of en-
velopes who do not have contract for sup
plying the Government with stamped ones.
There is in the Postal law provision that
weekly newspapers, Of which there are
probably 5000 in this country, shall circu-
late through the mails in the counties where
published, FREQ of postage. There are, there
fore, over million Of sheets passing through
the mails weekly which pay nothing. This
is special legislation; this is 'spro lection" -;
and this desd-heading in the mails at the
public expense Mr. SHERMAN of course pro-
poses to continue, betraying dread Of the
several hundred country papers in Ohio
wholly inconsistent with his assertion of in
dependence Of the press generally.
MR. SHERMAN overlooks the fac. that the
great bulk Of the newspaper distribution
does not go through the mails at all, and, if
his amendment should be adopted, he will
discover that, instead Of doubling the rev.
enue, he will reduce it by driving the trans
portation Of newspapers to the express COM
panies in. every case where these companies
can reach the readers. It is an old theory
of Mr.. SHERMAN that the proper way to in
point of determination. TEE DAILY TR1p-
uSg weighs II ounces per week, or 5544
pounds year. Mr. SHERMAN proposes to
make the annual postage thereon $500
How long does he suppose the daily news
papers of the country will use the mails at
that rate? Even at the present rates the
great distribution Of newspapers is by e1-
press, because it is cheaper than to send by
the mail.
The expenses OF the Post-Of1ce Depart
ment exceed its income. But the expenses
Of the Department are capable Of reduction.
The Senate rejected the House bill for the
reduction and equalization of the salaries of
Postmasters. Postmasters are valuable OPP
orators in machine politics, and Senators ap-
point Postmasters, and Senators are willing
to pay Postmasters exorbitant salaries out
Of the Treasury, even if they have to double
the postage on newspapers. In Mr.. SHERMAN's
own State, as admitted by himself, there are
numerous Postmasters in comparatively small |
towns who are paid 81 900 q year each and !
perform the duties by deputies, while the |
Judges Of the Supreme Court Of Ohio are |
paid only SO, 500 There is an immense e1-
penditure for daily mails on routes where !
the business does not yield enough to pay
for weekly services, but mail contractors are |
admirable operators in machine politics, and |
some few millions have to be expended to |
keep tho machines in motion. There is /
vast room for reduction in wasteful expendi- |
ture in the postal service. The salaries are
oil too large, the number Of persons employ |
ed too great, the amount paid for the trans-
portation Of mails excessive, not only in the |
way Of compensation for service rendered, /
but for compensation where there is no SER
vice rendered. But reduction in expenditure
when there is power to increase the tax is
a heresy in modern craftsmanship. Should
a1r. SHERl4N's proposition to tax the news
papers out Of the mails be carried, it will
have the effect Of increasing the annual de-
dciency in the revenues Of the Department,
and be another instance Of the brilliant wis
dom of the policy Of taxation to prevent
revenue.
The duel fought at River Bend, Col, On
The 9Th inst, between Albert JEssuP, armed
With revolver, and n o. DAVIS, armed
with Winchester rife, was little less than
murder, although the details Of
The bloody afray were arranged by the prin-
:ipsls themselves, aud were mutually satis-
factory to them. At the distance OF l5o feet
he man with the pistol had not one chance