The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-24

Mr. Epvrxps induced TIC Cniteu ct"''S
!. Sepate the other day to make to the postal
hws an amendment restoring the franking
privilege to members Of Congress. we
supposc that the Democrats OF the House OF
Reprcsentatives have sense enough 10
know that such laws are all executed
In the interest Of the Republican party,
and We guess that they tthe Democrats
sioresaid) will vote against Mr.. Ed
xrYps's amendment With Radical Post
master. General and Radical subordinates
m that Department all over the country, to
pass law restoring the ranking privilege
Il TO open the mails to anything that any
body may choose to send through them
bearing the frank Of an n. c. Not only
Il II impossible for postmasters to know
the frank OF each one Of nearly four
hundred congressman, but they do
not try to qualify themselves for knowing
the genuine franks nor for detecting the
counterfeit. But the same officials Will
have doubts concerning Democratic franks,
md vii. detain these whenever 1t may SUIT
them, or please their party leaders, or pro-
mote their prty's interest and their own
fortunes, to do 40.
We suppose IL has happened ten thou
sand times that public documents and let
ters purporting to come from congressman
In Washington have arrived In New York
city whilst those very congressman were
In the latter city. The same sort
of illustration OF the beauties OF the
ranking privilege has been made
even in this small city. The fact
is that neither Mr.. EpNuSDs nor any other
congressman expects to frank either his
documents or his letters himself. it being
the full intention OF oil Of them TO let their
clerks do II for them. In Washington city,
when the old ranking law was in force.
almost nobody paid postage upon let
ters-rmless, indeed, we except those
poor fellows who did not number
q congressman amongst their acquaint-
ances. Even so conscientious man as
ANDREW JOHNSON was when he was In the
House OF Representatives could not resist
the opportunities OF the ladies, but franked
their letters for them. Why, congress
men or their clerks ranked whole pack
ages Of envelopes at single sitting,
and gave them away to anybody. es-
pecially any lady that asked for them. We
are confident that any clerk Of ordinary
skill in his profession can any day whilst
Congress Is in session frank letters in the
names OF nine congressman out Of every
ten, send the same through the mails, and
not only never be detected, bat never be
suspected. The postal officials do not pay
attention enough TO the matter 10 know
GEORGE ID. WIsE's autograph from SUNSET
COx's.
If the ranking privilege is restored,
let every Democrat understand when he
votes for the bill that Il is measure in
tended TO promote the election OF Rcpub-
lcan 10 be the next President OF the United
States.
Several OF the best features OF the exist
ing postal laws were advocated by this
journal before their adoption. We have
one to propose Just now which Tor one for
the same purpose) will be feature Of those
laws before many years shall have elapsed,
and therefore II somebody will hurry to
propose IL he will get the credit OF
il and make name for himself.
1t is TO have postal-cards made with a clear
cut hole at one end, and the law he amend
ed so as TO allow anybody who desires 10
do so TO tie an unaddressed and untouched
postal-card TO the one on which he writes
TO friend or anybody else for line or two
in the way OF iniormation-the one written
upon to be cancelled upon delivery; the
other to lie left uncancelled, that it may be
returned TO the sender. Or the object de-
sired might be accomplished-in less ac
ceptable way to post-oflice clerks-by NJ
lowing two such cards to be sent, as circu-
lars now are, in an unsealed envelope SO
made rs TO permit The postal clerks TO sec
its contents without any difficulty.