Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-06
AT THE NATIONS CAPITAL
A LONG COMMUNICATION ON
NEWSPAPER POSTAGE.


Representatives to-day by Mr.. Finerty, of
Illinois, and referred to the Committee on
Post Offices:
OFFICE WESTERN ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO. Feb. !, 1884. (
To the Honorable Speaker Of tie House Of Rep
resentGtiUes Washington, D. c..
SIR-At the annual meeting of the members
OF the Western Associated Press, recently
held in Detroit, a resolution was unanimously
adopted to send q memorial to Congress set
ting forth the injustice of the present
rate OF newspaper postage, and espe-
in view of the present reduction in letter
postage. The law charges for the transmits
sion OF Transient newspaper ! cent for
each two ounces weight and l cent for any
fraction OF two ounces; thus a newspaper
exceeding two ounces by weight of the wrap
per only Is consigned to the waste box in the
post Office unless the stamp thereon is cents.
In the case OF letter, II the postage happens
to be insufficient it mailed and the def
cheney is collected from the receiver aud
most people suppose that the same thing ls
done IN regard to newspapers, and why
should it not be? The smaller classes of news
papers without supplements come within the
two ounce weight; with them they overrun
1t. Nearly all newspapers of the uuarto form
of seven columns or more to the page. exceed
two ounces weight when in wrappers, and
are subjected to double postage. Nearly all
daily papers issue supplements on SATURDAYS,
or when advertising is brisk, or to publish
the proceedings of conventions and
important public documents. In all
these cases the paper exceeds the tWO-OunCe
limit and subjects the sender to double tran
sient rates, and these are the very copies
which the people are most in the habit of
mailing to friends and business acquaint-
ances, and as a general thing they never reach
their destination-the postage being insult
itcient the papers are cOnfscated. The pub
lie ordinarily put on l-cent stamp on a
newspaper, supposing that to be enough, but
If the issue consists of a double sheet and has
2-cent stamp attached, it is still
insufficient, and the paper and stamp
are consigned to the waste paper box. Mil
lions of copies are thus lost through the ope-
ratiOns of an illiberal law harshly executed
Most persons when travelling or absent from
home mail newspapers to their friends. which
are commonly confiscated by the post Office by
reason of slightly exceeding the proportion Of
weight to postage. Advertisers are IN the
habit of buying extra copies of newspapers to
mail to customers, but the double postal charge
for the fractional overweight reduces the
the publisher as well as the adver-
tiser. The postage on transient
newspaper weighing the smallest
fraction over two ounces is more than a ma
jority of publishers receive for printed Sheets
and this Is felt to be an eXtOrtiOnate charge
and personal grievance when a paper is not
forwarded to its destination by reason of an
error OF Judgment in not attaching enough
postage, but Is confscated without notice to
the sender. Few persons can tell by 'hefting''
paper Just how much postage it requires
Western Press Association are Of the unani-
nous opinion that the law should be
amended 10 make the rate on tran
sient papers / cent for four ounces
or for fractional parts thereof, which would
cover nearly all newspaper issues, including
supplements, and put a stop to the loss of mill
lions OF copies mailed, which are not forward
Ell by the Post Office Department.. but are
seized and sold as waste paper. to the serious
damage and annoyance of the people. In his
last annual report the Postmaster General,
speaking on the subject, says "The postage
on third class matter, embracing newspapers,
Is one cent per two ounces, while some
most OF the large papers weigh more
than two ounces. There seems to
be popular impression that l-cent
a copy Is The uniform rate Tor all
newspapers. Many persons deposit in the
post Office newspapers weighing more than
two ounces witty l-cent stamp on them.
They are not entitled to be sent, and perhaps
are not. This creates dissatisfaction In
order to Obviate this | recommend that the
rate Of postage ON newspapers and period
icals sent by others than publishers or news
agents, be made l cent per three ounces
weight The change advised by the Post
master General would do much good but if
the three ounce rate shall be adopted pro-
vision silouId be added, as in the
case of letters, that where the postage
Is Insufficient, the paper shall be forwarded
and the deficiency collected from the receiver.
The present postal rate on all third-class
matter Is too high, and out Of proportion to
the rates on other mail matter. At the min
llllilutl IL IL Q ttiits per pDuutl anu DN CndfG
ing double rates for fractions from II to Is
cents per pound is eXacted. which is more
than the publishers obtain for their issues
The mere statement of this fact must demon
strate the propriety and neces-
sity Of amending the law and
granting the public more liberal postage.
The Postal Department will lose no revenue
by making the proposed changes in third class
mail matter, as the effect viii be to greatly
Increase the quantity offered for transmits
sion, which viii result in a corresponding in
crease IN the diffusion of information among
the people \ ours respectfully,
JOsEPH MEDILL.
President Western Associated Pness.
II. +. BAKER,
Secretary Western Associated Press
MILITIA RETURNS.
The Secretary of War sent to the Senate
to-day the annual compilation of the latest
militia returns of the several States.
Most of the returns are for the year 1888,
but in some cases they do not cover so
late period. The returns from Missis-
sippi, Ohio, and Nevada are for 1882.
Those from Florida for 1890, and those
from Maryland for 1879. There are
no returns from Georgia, Arkan-
sas, Kansas or Oregon, and the
report from Tennessee is that
there is no regular militia in that State
under the direct control of the State.
An abstract Of the returns from the sew
eral States shows that there are of organ
lied militia 81, PCS non-cOmmissioned Off
GERS and men and 6,S02 commissioned Off
GERS, and that the unOrganzed militia i'll
all the States is 6,412, ,921 men. New York
has the largest organized militia, having
1919 men and 7SS commissioned officers,
Pennsylvania is second with ,454 men and
502 officers, Florida third with 6,26l men
and 455 officers, Ohio fourth with 5,515
men and 800 officers, and South Carolina
fifth, with 4,6l2 men and 507 officers.
Delaware. Nebraska, Nevada and YER
mOntrepOrt the smallest organized militia,
the first named State having only 234 men
and 81 officers, Nebraska 450 men and y
officers, Nevada 615 men and rs officers.
and Vermont 624 men and 50 officers,
Ohio has the largest unOrganiZed militia
strength, having 500, 600 men unOrganiZed,
New York has 492, ,62S, Pennsylvania 461.-
4S2, Illinois 100000, and Missouri 31O,-
coo men of militia age unOrganiZed.
THE RIVER AND HARBOR APPROPRIA-
TION BILL.
The river and harbor appropriations for
the next fiscal year were informally dis
cussed to-day by the House committee
having in charge those subjects. While
no decision was reached, the majority of
the committee seemed to favor total ap-
preparation of not more than $4,000 600.
and expressed themselves as desirous if
possible to cOntine it within $4,000, 900.
The estimates of the engineer officials hav-
ing i'll charge the Improvements of the
rivers and harbors amount to about
$50, 100000. The members of the commit
tee thought that it would be impossible to
secure the passage of an appropriation
bill calling for so large an amount. and
cited the failure of the bill at the last ses-
sion of Congress which appropriated
only about SS,000,000. The plan which the
committee proposes to follow. is to recon-
mend, en an average, about one-fOurth of
the estimate made by the engineers where
improvements are in progress. In some
cases, where the work is of great public
importance, appropriations will be as
near the estimates as the committee can
make them. Some Improvements of an en-
tirely local nature will not be considered.
The committee decided to hold sessions on
tour days of every week in order that the
bin may be prepared as speedily as pOssi-
BILE. Il is thought that it will he ready to
be reported TO the House by the last of
April or the first of MAY, and that it will
provide for making the appropriations
Immediately available,
CHANGES IN THE SENATE COMMITTEES.
The following changes were made in
the membership of the Senate Commit
tees to-day:
On additional 4 Accommodation for the Ii
brdPy.-Messrs. Bayard, Morrill, and Miller, Of
California, were added and Senator Dolph re-
tired.
On 4 A0ricagture and Forestry-Alessrs. Sawyer
and Gibson were added
on COHB,erce,-Messrs. DOlph, German and
slater were added. and Mr.. Farley relieved.
were added
On Mines ana Rining.-Mr, Bowen was adj