New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-08
/ pOIyT IN THE pOSTlL BILL.


One feature IN the additions recently made
to the bill for classifying mail matter is open
to criticism. Il forbIds the carriage of printed
matter 10y any other conveyance than the
mail. The present law imposes such pro-
hillton upon the transportation Of letters and
packets; the new bill extends it to
,ccond-cla,S mail matter which embraces
everything printed, including books There is
an exception in favor of carriage by private
persons in any city or town where the mail is
delivered by lcttcr-carricrS or where the
printed mattcris published. That will probably
be construed to mean that newsmen
or other "privatc persons may carry news
papers in cities; but that express companies
shall not be permitted to carry them at all.
The restriction may, apparently, prevent ex-
presses from carrying books or any other
kind Of printed matter. The absnrdity Of such
provision should appear on its face.
The argument for the monopoly of letter
carriage by the Government. is of fair
strength. The mail conveys letters 5000
miles at the same rate rs for so many
wards from one post Office to another. 1t
carries letters for shor; distances at Il consider
able profit for long TOutcs, Mt heavy loss I:
the one must nearly balance the other, or the
Post Office will not be seif-suppOrting. II
expresses and other competitors were permitted
to carry mail matter, they would select letters
for short routes, and leave the rest to the
Government; and then either the whole sys-
tenn of cheap postage would have to be abOl-
ishcd, or a heavy tax would be imposed on
the country for its support For the sake
of cheap postage extended to all parts Of Its
domain, the public permits the Government
to enforce the monopoly of the mail, so far as
letters are concerned; but the withdrawal of
rights should go no further. 1t is felt as a
deprivation of personal freedom, now, that
people are not at liberty to send letters
by the cheapest possible conveyance, and
that private enterprise in the business of
carrying letters upon mail routes is wholly
forbidden. 1t smacks of despotism, and Is
quite unlike the rest of our sO-called free
constitutions" The Government has that con-
cession from the people on suflerance; but
having it, must not ask for more.
There is however, another reason why the
Post Office should not seek monopoly in the
conveyance of printed matter. In all the state
ments which have been put forth on the subject.
it is admitted that the mails carry such matter,
and especially newspapers, at loss. The
theory which excuses such an Improbable
business on the part of the Government
is that newspapers are recognized as
promoting the welfare of the people
by disseminating intelligence. To favor
the press by carrying its issues in the mails,
even at q small loss is to benefit the Nation
at large. This principle is not in dispute
IL L., Diipn
authorities, and may be taken as granted. But
why, if it costs more than their postage to
carry newspapers, should the mails have the
monopoly of the loss Others are willing to
shoulder the burden; why should the Post Office
interfere! Furthermore, if the Government does
step III and say to MI others, You will be
"hned if You carry printed NATTER the re-
suit must be that the desired spread of intel
ligcnce will be obstructod and prevented
That this is correct view of the case will
be clear when the cause for sending news
papers over certain routes by express is
fairly considered. 1t is not because the
express can carry more cheaply than the
Post Office the contrary is most FREE
qucntly the fact The governing reason
is, that on certain routes the express can de-
liver earlier. 1t would be an outrage for the
Government TO compel the sending of papers
by its slower or less convenient methods an
outrage by which many would lose and nobody
would gain. If such provision were insisted
on, il would probably awaken the American peo-
pie to "a fear that they are granting too much
TO the Washington authorities in allowing any
monopoly whatever to the mail. If that ques
ton should be fully discussed, the discovery
might be made that there are other ways than
the present one Of supporting the Post Office.
1t is by no means certain that the revenue
now secured by monopoly might not DC other
wise obtained. For instance-the privilege
might be thrown oDen to everybody to carry