The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-16
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON, March Is, 1878
THE CLASSIFICATION OF NAIL MATTER-BILL
OF THE POST oFFIcs COMMITTEE ORDERED
REPORTED TO TIM HOUSE.
The House Committee ON Post Ofaces and Post
Roads to-day completed the consideration OF the pro-
posed bill for the classification OF mail matter, and
ordered the to be reported TO the House, with
Instructions be recommtted for further discus
SION before 1t Is finally pressed for action.
The chairman, Mr. Waddell, would have asked
that might be printed to-day, but the announcement
OF tho death Of Congressman Leonard and the adjourn
mant of the House out Of respect his memory pre-.
vented the motion being made. The leading feature
Of tho bill the restriction put upon railways steam
boats and stage coaches, prohibiting the carrying OF
first and second class matter except tor the Post ONCE
Department The reason assigned Tor this is that
the short mail routes express companies do
largo business in transporting matter which, In the
opinion OF the committee. ought to go by mail. The
people are taxed for the expenses the long and
profitable routes. and 1t was thought but just that
The Post Once Department should do all the carry
Ing Of mail matter and receive tho profitable advan-
lagos accruing by the transmission OF largo quaint.
ties OF first and second class matter tho short
mail routes penalty Of 500 Is fixed for every In
frIngemont Of this section OF the bill
For the sake OF uniformity and to prevent M ulti-
tude Of decisions being rendered the bill further pro-
vides that all questions relating to the construction OF
Postal laws shall be decided by the Assistant Attorney
General for the Post Once Department Al present
decisions rendered by clerks In tho department,
and much confusion is caused by the variety OF
opinions given. The Postmaster General is author.
lied to provide q letter sheet envelope a
turn postal card. convcnicnces which are daily do
handed by the public but which existing laws
authorize.
Mailablc matter IL divided into four classes-nrst,
written; second, periodical publications under regis
ration; third all printed matter not contained In
the second class; and, fourth, merchandise The
rates for carrying matter by tho pound remain at
present. Second class matter embraces newspapers
and periodical publications Issued frequently four
times year. Provision Ia made for the registration
OF printed matter and tho payment OF postage
thereon. Foreign publications Of the same general
character as those registered and transmitted this
country can also be registered. Supplements issued
with newspapers are entitled to pass at the regular
rates without extra charge for postage II will prob
ably be several weeks before the Dill can DO reached
In the House Tor final action.
LONG BOND FOR sAvINas-BfLL OF THE
HOUSE BANKING AND CURRENCY COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Burohard, OF the Ways and Means Committee.
under the privilege given that committee to repor. at
any time, introduced his bill to-day providing for
long bond for savings, and wanted have II made
special order The House refused however, and takes
Its place upon the caeEda The Banking and Currency
Committee withhold their bill for the postal savings
bank until the ommitteo Is called when II Is under
stood that Burchard bill may DO offered and ac-
cepted by the Banking and Currency Committee an
amendment and in that wey avoid antagonism. The
Burchard bill makes provision for the payment Of
Interest except II may be computed while the other
bill proposes 10 pay interest regularly at stated periods