The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-06
Tho MessaRo--Again.


two cents each, as the President and Post
master-(ieneral both recommend, will be 10
aid no little in the education OF the masses
of the people. II Is more improving to the
mind 10 write than 10 read The Prcsi-
dent does not state the case as forciby a.
he might have done. Blythe way, to re-
tuce the postage from thsce to two cents
is TO reduce Il by 333 per cent.-not by
fifty per cent, ss the President says. The
probable effect OF the reduction proposed
will he to swell the n,raber OF letters pass
ing through the mails by a hundred per
cent. The people OF Richmond know by
experience that the reduction OF the
fare on the strces-cars from ten to
six cents did not result in any remarkable
increase in the number OF passengers.
whilst the further reduction Of the fare by
one ccnt.-that is, 10 five cents-caused the
business Of the company TO be much more
than tlovbled-possibly quadrupled. So il
will DC In the case under consideration.
The reduction OF letter postage TO three
cents per hali-ounce increased the business
OF the department largely, but by no means
in the same proportion as will the reduc-
ton 10 two cents. A tei-cent piece will
send five letters after the reduction is made,
instead Of three letters rs now Even
changcn is q powerful recommendation OF
the new scheme. We would not be at all
surprised If the change results in an in
crease rather than a decrease OF the reve-
nues Of the department the very first year
after II Is made.
The President failed TO recommend re-
duction Of the postage upon transient mat
ter Of the second cass-that Is, one or
more newspapers or periodicals sent
through the mails, but not from the office
Of publication. We pay but two cents
pound for sending the Dispatch through
the mails. Why should Mr.. JONES have TO
pay four times az much for the same SER
vice? There is no reason in such Il law.
The law ought to provide that Il one-cent
stamp shall be sufficient to send four
ounces Of papers through the mail. Then
there Will be no vcxatious doubts ss to
whether you must put smother stamp on
the paper you send 10 a friend. Again:
The Government should for those
transient papers furnish the wrap
pers already stamped ut the price
Of one cent each. This reform would
be almost equal 10 the one reducing letter
postage. II would, like that, have an edu-
eating effect. Ii it had nothing else to
recommend It, the fact that il would be an
incalculable convenience TO the public
ought 10 suffice to secure its adoption by
Congress. Mr.. ARTHUR would gladly sign
Il bill'having these reforms for its object.
The President very briefly recommends
the passage OF 4 bankrupt law. The last
a. administered was so destructive 10 the !
rights OF the creditors that the people are
afraid 10 trust Congress 10 pass new one. |
Yet good bankrupt law is sort of com
mereialnecessity as the world goes.
We are not so much in favor OF the dis |
eliminating veto as We Were some years |
ago. The President recommends that it |
be provided for by new constitutional |
We are afraid that ii would, |
like some other organic changes we have |
read and hesrd Of result very differently |
from the manner in which il is expected to
result. For instance, Mr.. ARTHUR would
have Lex. in the last river and harbOr bill
all the Apron iatlons to New York,
Boston. Pbiladel; hia, and other northern
harbors aid 10 t1e northern rivers with
which he was wal acquainted, hut would
have vetoed the appropriations 10 rivers of
equal magnitude in the South, or West,
or Southwest, siIopty because he was not |
coSnizianb of their importance.
The Presidents message in one OF its /
has an awful squirting at sub |
sidies to private We 'seIs.
We like the Presidents recommendation /
OF aid to the ps.bl,c Gin OILS.
The President .ays' Congress, in the in-
terest Il interstate commerce, ought TO |
look auer the railroad companies.
Congress should Ace rs recommends !
fioE in regard 10 the iOrcs,s Of this coun- |
try. Il II not too soon 60 begin the good |
work. Aiso his reoomuvel dation thst |
law should be passed for so ling disputes |
about elections 10 the pres. dency Of the |
United States rs well a. ior ks ping Away |
pm hand a in supply of - eirs to the !
throne"