New Britain herald., 1917-08-01
FREE POSTAGE FOR
 SOLDIERS FAVORED
No Opposition to Lonergan's Bill
 Found in Congress

Washington, Aug. 1.-Leaders of both houses of congress endorsed the project of extending the mail frank ing privilege to the American soldiers in France. The proposal already has been brought informally to the atten- ton of the members of the post office committee, it has the approval of the Postmaster General Albert S. Burle- son, and 1t can be predicted with rea- sonable certainty that the necessary legislation will be passed by congress as soon as it can be drafted and an opportunity Is found for considering it.
 Representative Lonergan of Con necticut, has taken the initiative by introducing a bill to provide that "duly certified letters of soldiers, sai1- ors and marines in the service of the United States during the present war be forwarded without any payment of postage whatever"
 Such a measure would proba bly have the approval of the house if it could be brought up. In the ordinary course, however, it is more proba ble that the senate will be the first to act by considering the proposition as a rider to the Revenue bill.
 Il am, of course," said Senator Bankhead of Alabama chairman of the senate committee on post offices and post roads, very much in favor of the general proposition to give our soldiers the franking privilege. assum- ing that the proper safeguards will be thrown about it, SO that it cannot be abused. No specific legislation has yet been proposed, and there is no measure pending before the post of- lice committee in connection with which 1t might be considered. It could, however, be put on the Rev. enue bill an amendment"
 Legislation in Doubt.
 What form the legislation will take has not yet been decided. Nor has 1t been determined to what extent soldiers mail, incoming and outgoing, will be carried free. The French gov ernment, 1t is reported in press de- spatches, has given the American sol- diers the free use of the mails, but they are technically obliged to aff1x stamps to mail carried by the Amer ican posts. They are at present given the privilege of sending mail un- stamped, with the indorsement of a com missioned officer, with the under standing that the postage will be col- lected at the destination on this side of the ocean.
 It was explained at the post office department that everything possible is being done in this respect for the soldiers abroad, but that the post master general cannot without spe- cific authority of congress direct, that their mail be carried free.
 Expressions of opinion on the part of leaders in congress indicated that there will be no opposition to the conferring of the necessary authority if 1t can be done in a satisfactory way. The difficulty arises mainly in the way of finding opportunity of bring ing the legislation before congress-. Indications now are that 1t will be enue bill.
 The postmaster general has gone as far as he can under the law to grant the use of the postal facilities for the convenience and comfort of the sol diers abroad An order has been issued providing that magazines col lected in this country may be sent without wrappers by merely af1Xing d one cent stamp to the cover. They will be distributed through the depot uuartcrmasters. No individual address will be required. A postal agency will be established at Bordeaux and a pos tai force will be sent there to facil- itate the handling of first and sec- ond class mail for the American troops.
 Postmaster General Burleson has also given orders that non -delivera ble l magazines and periodicals also be sent to France.