The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-29
MORE POSTAL TINKERING.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE OPENING a
way FOR Nrw .snurrs.
Railroad and Steamboat Lines Excepted T~os~
the Operations or the Provision Prohibitins
sub-NOntrnctIng = Middle Mems Hrnata

hhu Lines ENeepfed Gr0av
the Operations nr the Provision Probib,tl..
sub-tontrac,ing Middle Mems Fronts.
WAsn1NGToN, March 2s.-The Senate Com
mittcc on Post Offices and Post Ronds r. evident.
ly run 10y the Post ONCE Department. II il was
not 1t would not have made the report II did TO.
day. Tho bill which passed the House Of Repre-
scntativcs few days ago, regulating the adver-
Using for proposals for carrying the mails and
prohibiting the sublctting of contracts met tho
approval OF every earnest friend Of reform in
the postal service. II was admitted to be a wise
and safe remedy for worry great ovil When
the bill camo to the Senate IL was referred To
the committee on Post Offices and Post Roads.
and was reported back to-day with amond-
ments which not only destroy its efficacy, but
make 1t one Of the worst possible laws that
could be enacted. In the ilrst place. the pro-
vision prohibiting sub-contracting is So am end
eh as To except from it's operations rail and
steamboat lines. Now, some of the worst exam-
pies oi sub-letti ing are 20 be found in steamboat
lines In reality. there are very few steamboat
owners who contract with tho Govcrnmcnt
direct. ono Of the most flagrant instances of
paying middle men enormous profits has lately
heen developed hy the House COMMITTEES on
Post Oniccs and Post Roads. John D. Adams
was illegally given u contract by tho Post ONCE
Department for 10000 He sub-lot 1t for less
than tlj.OOO. II Is a steamboat route But in
the face Of this fact the senate committee except
steamboat routes from the operation Of pro-
p9.ed law which is to cure this evil
c1nracts may be- sub-let with the approval of
"a" Postmaster General in writing. thus giving
the department more discretion. when cvcry-
body who hus studied our postal system care
lully Knows that tho department has alrcady too
much discretion. and HAT almost Invariably this
discretion Is exercised to the dctriment Of tho
Government.
But thc, worst feature Of the Senate amend
mrnts il the provisions about advertising. Tho
House bill provided that not more than six
Inches space should be allowed to ADVERTISE
ments for the quadrionnial lettings onco
w9gk for six wrcks. Tho Senate
amendment provides that the department
shall pay commercial rates for this
advertisement, but doesn't define what commnr-
cial rates are. II IS well known that nrwspa-
prrs that live on Government pap have printed
at their hcnls advertising rates which nro
charged ngaihst the Government only: that
they mako $50 per cent. discount on thoso
rates to private advertisers. The law ns II
stands now only allows one dollar per square
OF eight lines for all the inscrtions. |, was de-
cided last spring that no department could pay
more than this. The Senate amenlmcnt snys
That all bills for advertising for Post ONCE De-
partmen, since the 10th Of April last shall bo
pqid at commercial rates. This will lct in "A
whole grist of bills which have been held back
FOR some such legislation as this.