The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-08-07
THE LATE JOHN HILL.
DEATH OF THE" FATHER OF CHEAP
POSTAGE BooNToN, N. J.,
JULY oath, 1884.
u foreign Powe

Ex-Congressman John Hill, who
will be remembered as the Father of
the Cheap Postage bill, died at his
home in BOonton, Morris county, NJ.
July oath, at the age of 81. He was
born in Catskill, N. Y, in 1921, and i'm
about 1914 he settled in BOOntOn, and
was elected from there to the State
Assembly in 1S6l-'62, and again in '66
During the latter term he served as
Speaker OF tho House. He was elected
to the FOrtieth, Forty first and Forty
second Congress, his last term ending
1888. He was frequently mentioned
in connect. II with the Republican
GubernatOrial nomination in New
Jersey, aud was considered the fore
most Republican i'm the State. Mr.
Hill was Interested in postal refOrm
and the question of reducing postage
for many years, and about sixteen
years ago, when he first entered Com
gress, he introduced bill to abolish
the franking privilege, and after two
years or more of hard work it was ac
c0mplished. about the same time he
introduced the One-cent postal card
bill, and after two years or more it was
passed, against much opposition. In
his remarks on those bills at that tim,
in 4 pril, 4S72, he advocated reduc-
ton in letter postage, considering the
abolition of the franking privilege and
adopting the one cent postal card the
stepping stone to reuuctiOn in letter
postage. After the organization Of the
| House in December, 1881, he intro
duced his tWO-cent postage bill, which
was referred to the Post Office and
Post Road Committee, who delayed
reporting it to the House during the
fl rst session. He called the attention
of the House to the bill, made several
speeches on the subject, and made
every effort to get it before the House
for consideration. In November, 1882
he went to Washington to see Post
master General Howe and brought the
matter before him. He also called on
the President i'm regard to the matte,
and found him favOrably disposed to-
ward the measure, and in his message
to Congress a few weeks later he rec
commended tine reduction of the letter
postage. Shortly after the meeting of
Congress in December MIR. Hill saw
the chairman of the subcommittee of
the Appropriation Committee on the
Post Office Appropriation bill On
Wednesday morning, after tho third
day, the latter offered resolution ask
ing permission of the House to place
the two-cent stamp measure in the
Post Office Appropriation Bill, which
was granted, and ON the next day the
Post Office Appropriation Bill was re
ported from the Committee in the
House, printed and brought before the
) House in few days for consideration
: A great many amendments to it were
offered, but after long and tedious
fight over this clause. 1T passed, and
finally The whole bill passed, and after
a long and bitter opposition in the
Senate, passed that body on Friday
the day after the report Of the Post
Office Appropriation Bill to the House
containing the two cent postage clause
Mr.. Hill received many letters thank.
+ ing him for his interest in the matter
and also from associations and public
bodies with resolutions of thanks.