The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-02-05
SAMPLES by Mail.

From the Miners journal.
Congress seems to have come to the con-
clusion that it was sadly taken in bv Mr.
ilamlin's amendment 10 the postal laws,
rushed through in the confusion OF The last
sessions closing hours, and from the action
OF the House already taken in The matter as
we'll rs from the declaration Of the members
Of the last Congress, we may Judge what
was the real object sought to be obtained
5v the Objectionable bill. There is a unani-
NOUS reputation Of any intent to tax tran
sicnt newspapers or any other legitimate
Matchmaker; but it was intended, and very
properly, we think, to show that the costly
postal service of the United States is not
the place in which to do cheap express
business. Third.class Matchmaker is prn-
cipally composed of articles which the
mails were never designed TO carry, and
which should never have been admitted to
them. AS the law stands at present, this is
contrary to its spirit, though not to the let
ter for in the long list OF third-class articles
especially enumerated nearly all are news
papers of different kinds, which are proper
Tor mail-carriage; subordinate class con-
sists of seeds and cuttings, for which there
is at least the excuse that they are not sold
is every village grocery and of bulky and
heavy matters, which ought 10 go by freight
or express, the law enumerates only "sam-
pies OF ores, metals, minerals, and merchan.
disc But though the meaning Of the law
is plain, advantage is taken Of its wording.
4 case was recently found Of man who
sent all the supplies for store in Arizona
through the mails from New York.
They were all "samples Of merchandise, !"
however, and the great complaint of
the Post-Ofice Department is that this
briefly mentioned class of matter takes up
an amount Of room quite out Of proportion
TO tue importance given it in the wording Of
the law. It. is not to be supposed that the
United States mails were intended for the
carriage of clothing, groceries, and proyi.
sons 10 every family that chooses to order its
supplies from the great cities instead OF pur.
chasing from the nearest store; yet, as the
law stands now, this must be permitted, for
every separate package, Of whatever kind, is
clearly sample" We believe that if an
itemized record was kept, as it is not, it
would be found that most or all Of the
100000 annual deficiency now reported in
this branch OF the postal service would be
found to arise from this effort TO carry "sup-
plies" in uneven competition with the eX.
press companies.
We have no desire to take the part Of the
express companies. They are abundantly
able to take care Of themselves, and We are
not sure that little healthy competiticR,
which would bring dows their prices to
more reasonable figures, would be objection
able to the people ut large; but we do pro-
test against the Governments going into the
business in this uuderhand way; or, if it
must carry everything, let it establish rates
that will be remuneratiye. The Post-Oftice
Department, it is said, fayors q graduated
system for the conveyance of articles OF mer-
ehandise, and proposes that for distances
within 800 miles postage shall be charged at
the rate OF one half.cent an ounce; from 500
10 600 miles, one cent; from 900 to 1000
miles, one aud a half cents; aud over
] 800 miles, two cents. This plan,
however, it would, By almost impos-
sible to carry out. 1t would create
much confusion and more dissatisfac-
ton, and is too complicated for general use.
1t would be better TO make one uniform rate
Tor the whole country, and make that high
enough 10 "pay." For legitimate pur-