Year: 1870

nal proposition.


The Post Office Department has not
been selfsupporting institution since
the time Of General Taylor, when it was
under the control Of the late Senator
Collamer, then Postmaster General. Ex-
cept, perhaps, for ocean mail service, in
my judgment it should be made to be as
strictly selfsupporting as is the Patent
Office. Why not' 1t was never the
idea of its founders that it should be
charge on the Treasury. The post Office
of Great Britain not only supports itself.
but also annually contributes surplus
to the national revenue. When we de-
part from the selfsupporting theory we
embark on shoreless and bottomless sea.
If we have departed in practice, as we
have most conspicuously. we should re-
turn at the earliest possible moment
Let the mail service be paid for by those
who enjoy its facilities. These are its
proper metes and bounds. All beyond
is indefensible upon any sound principles
Of economy. We must come back upon
this solid ground or confess that we are
unequa. to our proper task. If it be said
our mail routes have largely increased, I
answer, so have our Post Office revenues.
The cost of transportation on many of
our old mail routes of the country has
been very much diminished and the re-
ceipts of the post offices on these routes
within the last twenty years has been
frequently doubled. Formerly Admins
trations were equal to this duty, with a.
latitude of free matter equal to the pres
ent, and did not ask to be propped up
by the abolition of the ranking privi-
lege. But if the latter measure shall be
conceded. as expect it will be, we shall
have the right to demand that the Post
Office Department shall no longer be
heavy load of expense Its deficiencies
must come to an end. When they do,
that fact will be proof of craftsmanship
and entitle the Postmaster General to
honor and credit as one of the most eff
cient officers, as believe he is, that we
have had in that Department for many
years. / hope he may succeed.


have heretofore given my opinion
that nothing will be saved to the Treas
nry by the abrogation of the franking
privilege. To save anything, either the
expenditures must be diminished or the
receipts increased. That railroads, or
any other contractors for carrying the
mails, will abate anything in their de-
mands is not anticipated, nor is it to be
expected that any notable increase Of
revenue will follow. During the session
of Congress the receipts of the Post Of
flee here will be larger, but the postage
accounts paid by members, wherever
they may be, will do little toward lifting
the Post Office Department above its
present heavy deficiencies. Thepostages
paid by other Departments. if they are
to be paid, will perhaps tend to conceal
these deficiencies and encourage extrav-
agance, but they will not benefit the
! Treasury.


When the reform in relation to the
I printing and distribution of documents
shall have been effected. and it shall be
| demonstrated that no other material saw
ing to the Treasury has been accomplish
ed, l shall then expect the so-called


"franking privilege" will be discussed


upon its true basis and very likely be re-
stored. shall hold myself at liberty, II


the facts should support my anticipations


to vote, if / have vote to give, for its


restoration two years hence; perhaps


sooner. M


tits the privilege of the people, not


the privilege merely Of members Of Con-


gress, to communicate freely with their


representatives. It is one Of the sources


of reciprocal light and knowledge, and


cannot safely be abridged. Political in
formation is necessity of our people


now more than ever. All parties are
interested in its widest dissemination
To choke it of at its fountain-head would
be folly which no republican or demo-
cratic government can long afford. II
may be well enough to try the expert,
ment, as nothing less, perhaps, will nov


satisfy the country that here is not al


abuse costing millions Of dollars annual
ly; but if that should not be verified
and it should appear that we are making
sacrifice in direction more importan,
than dollars-holding as ! do that thil


country must and should be governed by
intelligence, and not ignorance, BY brains
and not muscle-I shall not then deem


it inconsistent, whether petitions draftec
or volunteered flow in for the reversal o.


some part of our action to-day or not, {,


so vote that even the little light shining
$ forth from Congress shall not be entirel,