Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-08-10
THURSDAY. AUGUST 10. 1905.
ANOTHER FRANklNG ABUSE.

Ill recent Issue OF the esteemed
Washington Post we noticed nm inter
estihg little article IN exposition of II
franking episode which shows to what
great lengths the system of allowing
certain public men frcc use of the
mail may bu abused Our contcn-
porary observes That novel use of
the ranking privilege, which he jisti.
ties because it is in the name of re-
form, has been started by Rev. Wilbur
r. Crafts. a good sized document
styled Patriotic Studies" which
highly lallds the International Reform
Bureau, Of which Mr. Crafts is the or.
ganizer and head, is being sent en-
clusively through The mails under the
franks Of Senator J. IT, Gallingcr, Of
New Hampshire, and Representative
Gillett, OF Massachusetts.
Not only is Mr. Crafts sending his
book, which weighs seventeen ounces
and has 2SS pages, with Il thin cloth
cover. through the mail under these
franks, but along with the book he
sends ranked envelope. If The re-
cipient does moi want The book, he is
requested to return it in the ranked
envelope IL he does want the
book he IS requested to send
To the International Reform Bu-
renu 30 cents for the good
OF the cause. "patrio,ic Studies"
contains Il history of many bills that
MIR. Crafts has clIanipioncd in the
name Of reform, II is said that several
officials In the pDStolcc department,
refused 10 sanction such use uf the
mails, hut finally one high in aulhori-
~ consented, and The books hnvo been
going ont by thousands. IT is charg-
ed that 10000 copies have been SO
distributed, mt least that that mum.
her Of envelopes have been printed.
Mr. Crafts, now IN Iowa, has stated
that the number is not 10000 but
1000. In the Same connection Mr..
Crafts adds:
THE book, Patriotic Studios is
made up not partly but wholly of
frankablc public documents; the num-
Der is not 10000 hut 1000 1t is not
devoted 10 the work Of one reform
or one society, but records the work of
all reforms, all societies all Scna-
tors. all Congressman who have helped
moral reforms in Congress in seven
teen years past, so far rs II Is recorded
in public documents. The bureau is
not making money out Of the books,
which cost over 80 cents each for re-
printing, while these sold bring
but 80 cents as part payment, and the
larger number are given away.
Nothing ever sent in franks has so ex-
actIy fitted the purpose for which the
franking privilege was established
namely, the education Of public scnti
ment on great public questions, for
this book reprints, for use of such
congressman as choose to aid the
bureaus clerks as their own to send
II oui. government documents on di
vcrccs, Mormonism, temperance, gamb-
ing, prize fights, immigration. the
Sabbath, popular election of senator's,
and the referendum
II may be that Mr. Crafts is entirely
conscientious in the matter, but the
public at large, which pays the taxes
to make up the postal deficit each year,
VIII hardly endorse this abuse of the
ranking privilege. The reform or the
reiormer which is not able TO pay It's
postage is hardly worthy Of public
consideration. We trust that this mat
Ter Will come before the next session