D I’ U IV L
2 d S ession
9
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5
P R I VI LE G E
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p rivilege $Mr C H A RL$ S $ A DA MS and Mr W ILLIA M K $ LLOG G co n
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This b il l is at leas t equal an d exact i n asmuch a s it p r opose s to
p r oh ibit t he t r anspo r tatio n of an y fr ee matte r th r ou g h th e mail e x
c ept to the wido w o f $ ames K Pol k l ate a P reside nt o f th e Unite d
S tates cut t in g o ff con g r ession al fran ks and p ro v idin g n o m ean s fo r
th e p aym e n t by g ove r n men t o f postage o n o fficial com m unications o f
an y k ind I t r equires e v e r y o ffi cer ci v il m i litary an d n aval n ow e u
t it led to fr an k fr om the P r eside nt o f the United Sta t es to deputy
p o s tmaste r s to p r epa y o ut o f h i s o wn m on e y p ostage o n al l m atte r
t r a n smi t ted u pon o ffi cial b usi ness I t forbids t he free exchan g e o f
newspa p ers w h i ch h as bee n admitted b y l aw o r r egul ation s i nce 1 7 53
a n d p r opos e s th u s by on e an n i hilatin g act o f si x l ines ful l o f man i
fes t h as t e an d want o f con s i de r ation to r eve r se the se t tled p olic y o f
the g o v e rn m
su b mit t ed t o
you r
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Tho u gh th e post o ffi ce system as i t exists at th i s day is essen tially
a m ode r n i nsti t ution yet p osts are o f v er y a nc ien t date and i n e v er y
i n sta n ce h a v e b een eithe r established o r r egulated b y t h e s t ate
In
A r a b ia an d Pe r sia they existed lon g b e fo r e t he C h ri stian e ra a n d
the i r s p eed in O r iental fi gu re o f s peech w as o utst r i p ped only b y th e
fl igh t o f t i me
Unde r t he Rom a n e mp e r or s the p os t al s y ste m was ,
as to expedi t io n at least b r ought to g r eat pe r fec t io n
an d Tibe ri us
w as accus t omed to in dignantly r ej ect al l despat c hes w hich h ad b e e n
l on g e r o n t he way th an t w en t y days fr o m the extre mes t p rov i nce s
of A si a
I n the middle ages also , post s w e r e est a b lished i n v a r iou s
cou n tr i e s o f E urope and i n Pe r u , at its di s cove r y i n 1 52 7 t h e o r ders
o f the I nca w ere r eg ula r ly d e s p atched b y cou r ie r s p o s ted at c ou v e
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RAN K ING PRIVI LEGE
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ien t d i stan ces al o n g th e p ri n cipal hi gh w ays
I n I n dia al so a n d
ea r l i e r stil l i n Tarta r y a p ostal system ex i sted w h i ch i n the l atte r
c oun tr y w as very extensive an d com pl ete A n d at th i s day the pos t
o ffi ce i s an establ i shed i n s t itu ti on o f e v ery state i n E u r o p e an d A m e r
i ca an d i n all it i s u nde r th e con trol o f gove r n men t M o r e than thi s ,
i t h as i n al m os t e v e r y instance bee n first e s tabl i shed by the state fo r its
ow n excl usi v e se rvi ce i n th e tr ansm i ss i on o f pu b l i c des patches a n d
oth er ofii c i s l i n t e l l i gen ce Th e use o f i t b y p r iva t e persons h as fo r the
m ost p a r t been an i nciden t g rowin g u p u nde r it fi r st from th e u sees
s i ties o r con ven iences o f t rade an d com me r c e o r o f soci al c o rr espon d
en ce an d u l ti ma t ely fo r t h e sa k e o f i n come to t h e sta t e $ an d Bla c k
ston e trea t s o f i t i n h i s Comm e n t aries as a fi xed an d i mportant p a r t
’
I n n o cou ntr y is postage p a i d o n publ i c de
o f t h e K i n g s re v e n ue
S p e tches or com m un i cat i ons by g ove r n m ent o ffi c e rs ou t o f t hei r ow n
p r i va te m eans E ven i n G rea t B ri tai n the a b ol i ti o n o f fra n k s i n 1 8 3 9
ex ten ded o n ly to p arliamentary an d n ot to executive fran k in g
Wi t hi n a fe w years a fter t h e fi r s t B rit i sh set t lements i n A me r ica
p osts were establ i shed b y th e legisla t ures o f se v eral o f th e colon i es
I n 1 6 3 9 by au t horit y o f th e g e neral court o f M assach usetts a p ost
m aster was ap po i nted in Bos t o n an d i n 1 6 57 V ir ginia prov i ded fo r
th e t r an s m i ss i on by each plan ter unde r the penal ty o f a h ogshead o f
tobacco t h e cu rre n cy o f th a t day o f govern men t despat c hes from on e
p lantat i on to ano t her til l th e y should r each t h e place o f t hei r desti n a
ti on O n e o f th e earl ie s t ac t s o f W i lliam Pen n was t he esta b lish men t
i n 1 6 8 3 o f a p ost o ffi ce i n Pen nsyl v an i a $ an d a m on thly p os t w as
’
ap p oi nted i n obed i ence to th e K i n g s comm an d b etwee n N ew Yo r k
an d Bos t on , i n 1 6 7 2 A s early as 1 69 2 a pos t m a s te r gene r al fo r al l
th e colon i es was appoin ted b y lette r s paten t w it h powe r to erect p ost
o ffi ces bu t n o e ffi ci en t sys t em was esta b lished t il l 1 7 1 0 when b y act
o f Parl i amen t t h e postmas t er general was aut h o ri zed to set U
a
gen
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e r al let t e r o ffi ce i n N ew Yo r k an d oth e r ch i e f o ffi ces i n each of t he col o
n i es Dr $ ran k l i n ser v ed i n t h e p ost o ffice departmen t fo r nea r l y
for t y y ears fr om 1 7 53 to 1 7 7 4 w as postmas t er general fo r al l
B riti sh A merica du r in g w hich p er i od he re duced t h e se rv ice to a
system an d fo r t he fi r s t ti me m ade it to yiel d a r e v en ue to th e go v
n
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c rn m e n t.
T h r ou ghout the wa r o f the r e v ol ution , b y o r de r o f th e Con tinental
Con g ress an d unde r the di r e c t i on o f postmaste r gene r als appoin ted
b y t h em p ostal ar ra n gements mo r e o r less i m p er fect w ere c on t i n ued ,
an d t he a rt icles o f co n fede r ation r a t i fi ed fi n all y i n 1 7 8 1 ga v e to
Con g r e s s
t he so l e and excl usive right an d p o w e r o f es t a b li s h
i n g an d regul at i n g p ost o ffi ce s fr o m on e Sta t e to an othe r th r ou ghout
the Un i ted S t ates a n d e x act i n g su ch p ostage o n th e pa pers passin g
th r o u g h the s ame as mig ht b e r eq uisite to de fr ay the expense s o f
”
the o ffi ce
Th e con v entio n o f 1 7 8 7 fou n d the po s t o ffi c e an existin g institu
tion an d i n fi v e w o r d s e mp o w e r ed Con g r e ss to establ i sh post o ffi ces
”
and p os t ro ads
Un de r t his e xp r es s gra n t an d the p owe r to m a k e
”
al l l a ws neces s a r y a n d p r o p e r for caryin g i t i nto exe c ution ha s
g r ow n u p t hat v ast a n d s tupe n dous sys t e m o f p ostal a rr an gement s by
w hich i n telli g e nc e o f e v e r y k i n d , p olit i c al , c om me r c ial , s ocial , a n d
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RAN K ING P RIVI LEGE
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i n telle c tual is tra n smitted w ith ce r tainty sa fe t y and s peed th r ou gh
out the Un ite d S tate s o v e r r ou tes es ti ma ted at
m iles i n len gth
w ith an an n ual ma i l transpo r tation o f
o f miles and at a
c ost o f n earl y te n m i l l i ons o f dollars
W hy was it we ma y wel l in qu i re th at th e Con stitutio n co n fe rr ed
a p ower so pecul i a r and so i mme nse $ Ho w comes i t that an y go v
e rn m e n t a b ove a l l t hat a r ep ub l i can go v e r nm ent fou n ded u pon the
f u n damen tal p r i nciple o f com m i tt i n g n othin g to gover n m en t w h i ch
the indi v id ual m a n can as wel l accom plish is the s ole carrie r o f mail
m atte r and y et carries n o t h i n g else $ Unquestion ab ly the p ri ma r y
r easo n i s tha t e v e r y State has t he r i ght to p ro v ide th e necess a r y a n d
p r ope r mean s of co mm u n i ca t in g to p ublic o ffi cers an d in a pop ula r
g o v e r n men t to th e p eop le i ts o w n despatches an d othe r p ubli c i ntel
T he S tate has j ust the same r igh t to establish and con tr ol
l ig e n ce
the mach ine r y used fo r th i s pu rpose as to const r uct an d o w n the ar m s
an d m u nit i ons o f i ts a r my o r t he sh i ps an d equ i pme nts o f i t s n avy ,
o r the bu ild i n gs n ecessa r y fo r exec u ti v e an d legisla t i v e p u r po s es
$ ut fo r publ i c objects the power ou g h t n e v e r to h a v e been gi v e n $ an d
w hen the p ost o ffi ce is n o lon ge r u sed b y go ve r n m ent ex c ept i n the
s ame way an d upo n the sam e te r ms as by the i nd ivi dual citize n th e
w hol e o f th i s costly and stupendous m achi ne r y w i th all its v as t p oliti
c al p o w e r an d pat r onage ou ght fo r th with to be a b ol ished A s wel l
m i ght the gover n men t h e r equ i red to p ay the mar k et p r i ce fo r the
a r ms an d m u n i t i ons o f wa r fabrica ted at i ts p ubl i c facto r ie s and y e t
these fa c t or i es be k ept up fo r the p u rpose o f meeti n g the w a n ts o f
”
p riv ate e i tzens an d made sel f s us t ain i n g by the mean s th us su p
p l ied A s well m i gh t gove r nme nt b e requ i r ed to pay passag e m oney
a n d boa r d fo r i ts n aval o ffi cers an d sea m en i n o r de r tha t t he n a v y
”
m ay b e made sel f sustainin g b y the t r anspo r ta t io n o f p assen ge r s ,
A s wel l migh t go v er n men t pay
fo r fare fro m one po r t to ano t her
r e n t fo r i t s ow n co u r t houses and custo m h ouses in o r de r t hat t h e
”
t r ea s ury and t he j udiciary m i g ht b e m ade sel f sustai ni ng b y l e t
tin g these b u i ld i n gs t o p r i v a t e persons fo r h i r e Th e an alogy w ill
b e com plete if we su p p ose the civil naval an d military o ffic e r s to b e
requi r ed i n each c as e to p ay ou t o f thei r p r i v ate fund s o r thei r sala
r ies the several expenses thus i ncu r r ed
You r com m i t tee r egar d t he post o ffi ce as strictly a depa r tmen t of
th e go v er nment to be u s ed p r im a r ily for publ i c pu r p o se s an d d i ffe ri n g
i n n o essential go v e r n me n t al pr i n c i ple fr o m a n y o t he r depa r tmen t
B ut p r i v ate ci t ize n s , i t may be said , do n o t u se th e ot h e r exe c u ti v e
o ffices in c l udin g the a r my an d the n a v y for p r i v ate p urpose s : h o w
c om e s i t then that the p ost o ffi ce i s an e x cept i o n $ The reas on is
this : any pr iv ate use o f the fo r mer w oul d b e in co nsis ten t w i t h th e o b
t
ec
s fo r w h i ch the y we re i nst it uted an d dest r ucti v e o f thei r e ffici e ncy
j
b ut th e po s t o ffi ce c an wel l t r an spo r t th e m ail matte r of p r i v at e p e r
s o ns at the s ame t i m e a s that o f the gove r n ment , w i thou t inj u r y o r
i n convenien c e to t he pu b li c ser v i ce a n d by exa c ti ng s uffi c ie n t p ostag e ,
W i thout c o s t to the p ubli c t r easu r y
Ce r tainly , th e n atu r e o f the m atte r t r a n smitted m ay afi o rd som e
reaso n w h y i ts t r anspo r tation shou ld b e u n de r t he su p e rv i s io n o f
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RAN K ING P RIVI LEGE
.
b eg in n in g h as b een establ ished chie fl y , if n ot sol el y for th e
com m u n ica ti on o f i n telli gen ce Unde r ou r own syste m n o t h i n g else
”
B u t th i s intel li gence i s i n the fo r m o f w ri tten
is m ailabl e m atte r
or p ri nted pac k e t s an d t o da y bo t h le tte r s a n d n ewspaper s a r e tr ans
m i l te d , al o n g w i t h eve r y o t h e r con ceivable s ubj e ct o f t ran spo r ta t ion
b y p r ivate exp r ess co m pan i es w ith du e cel e ri ty , ce r tai nty an d se
”
fro m on e en d o f t h e Uni o n to the othe r
c u rity
A n ot h e r r eas on p e r ha p s w h y t h e powe r t o es t ablish p ost o ffi ce s an d
p ost roa ds w as com m itt ed to t he fe deral go v e r n m en t was th e n ecce
sity and i m po r ta n ce o f p re v en tin g v exatious r est r i c t i on s and an n oy
an ce s in th e tran smission o f i ntell i gence fr om on e Sta t e t o anothe r
Th is h as e v e r b e e n an evi l causi n g n o sm all m i sch i e f in the G er man
B ut i t m ust b e r emembe r e d th at th e same d i ffi culty
c on fe de r at i on
w o ul d equ all y ex i st i n th e tr anspo rt at i on o f goods and o f ever y oth e r
a r t i cl e usual ly in tr usted to com m o n ca rr ie r s $ and t ha t i n p r ac ti ce n o
so t o f i n con ven ience o r v exat i on i s expe r ie n ced i n the tr an sm i ssio n
or th e tr ans p o r tati on o f any a r t i cl e u po n
o f intel li gen ce b y t ele g raph
th e r ai l r oad by ex press o r o t h er w ise fr o m on e State t h r ou gh anothe r ,
to th e rem otes t s e c t ion o f the Un it ed S t ates
You r com mit t ee the re fo r e are o f opi nion th at whereas the t r a ns
m ission o f g o v e r nmen t despatche s a n d i n tellige n ce w as t he p ri ma r y
o bj ec t o f the es t abl i shm en t o f th e p ost o ffi ce system , so also i t i s
s till an d m uch m o r e n ow than at fi r s t th e chie f r eason w h i c h j ustifies
its c o n t i n u ance $ an d t hat when e v e r it ceases to b e a depar t m en t o f
S tate to b e u sed i n th e exe r c i se and execu t ion o f some l e g i ti m ate a n d
n eces s ary fun ction an d p o w er o f r e p u b li c an go v e r n men t i t ought to
be abo lished
Ce r tain ly th e State m igh t em p l oy s p e c ial m essen ge r s to bea r al l
its des p a t ches and publ i c i n tel l i gen c e at h ome as i t n o w doe s o n
i mp o rt an t o ccasion s or to cou n t r ies w ith wh ich i t h as n o posta l
a rr an gem ents abroad an d these m e ssen ge r s woul d be pa i d ou t o f the
treas u r y b ut t h e expen se w ou l d in th at case be an in tolera b l e b u r de n
O r th e go v e r n men t m i gh t except i n r ega r d to matte r s o f t oo great
o r del ica t e c oncern i n t r ust its com mu n i cations if i t w e re wise o r
econ o m ical so to do , to p r ivate ca r rie r s o r exp r ess c om panies j ust as
it n o w does to the t eleg r a p h th e u se o f w h i ch fo r p ubl i c p urp o s es i s
e v e r y day au gmen tin g B ut he r e again th e expen se w ould b e
N o one i n eith e r case w oul d as k
de fraye d o u t o f th e publ ic funds
th a t t h e s e v eral o ffi ce r s tra n smittin g th e despa t ches o r i n t ell i gence
sh oul d be r equi re d to p ay the expen se out o f t h e ir o w n mean s Why ,
th en w h en t h e g o v e r n men t has o r g a n ized a pe r manen t establishment
fo r its ow n se r v ice bu t wh i c h , for gene r al c on v enience an d g r eate r
s ecu r ity an d sp eed pri v ate c itizen s a r e allowed to empl oy , also for
the ir o w n i nd ivi dual purposes shall it b e r equired to pay fo r th e
t r an sm ission o f it s own in t ell i gen c e by mean s o f i t s ow n agen c i es an d
A n d ye t a ft e r all here i s a mere d i spute a b ou t word s ,
m ach i n er y $
o r r ather a b ou t the mode o f p ay ment R ej ec tin g the p r opos iti on that
th e p r i v a t e ci t ize n s h all b e taxed a hi ghe r r a t e o f pos t age i n orde r
t o de fray th e expen se o f th e t ran s p o r ta ti o n o f go v e r n men t m a i l m at
ter , th e r eal quest i o n i s w hethe r the S t ate shall pay di r e c tly the
e xce ss o f the e xpend i tu r e s o f the Po s t O ffice De p a r tmen t o v e r th e
f rom th e
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RAN K IN G P RIVI LEGE
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5
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r e c eipts at fai r r ates o f postage from p ri vate pe rson s usin g i t o r sh al l
p a y j ust th e sam e am ou n t i n the sh ape o f postag e at such r ates as
w i ll m a k e u p the de fi cien cy i n othe r wo r ds shal l gove r n men t k ee p a
p os t age accoun t and p ay i t out o f the gene ral treasu ry or shal l it
t r an sm i t i t s o ffi cial despa t che s an d comm un ica t io n s fr e e a nd pa y u p o n
a n o t her form o f accou n t t he i ncreased ex pen ditures o f t he P ost O ffi ce
Depar t m e n t —i ncur r ed b y reas on o f s uch fr e e m ail ma tt er In th i s
p o i n t o f v iew , you r comm it t e e deem the con tr oversy o f b ut s m al l
m omen t an d to be d e ter mi ned as a ques ti o n sol ely o f conven i en ce
and econ omy $ and they are clearl y o f opin i on that u pon the score o f b o th
econom y and convenien ce the l a t ter m ode is fa r p re fe r able T his i s
th e quest i on u nless i t h e i n s i s t ed t ha t th e o ffi cers o r age nts o f the
Sta t e sh all pay out o f the i r o w n salaries o r p r ivate fo r t un es if any
they m a y h ave the postage accoun t s o f t he i r r espect i ve o ffi ces B ut
if out o f t he i r sal ar i es then t he p a y me n t is at last though m ea n l y
an d circu i t ousl y out o f the p ublic t reas ur y and a gene ral i n crease o f
s alar i es woul d be the fi nal an d i nev it able r e s ul t s i n ce t he a m ou nt so
p u t i n t o the treas u ry ass um i ng t he es t imate o f the Post O ffi ce De par t
ment o f
to be cor rect if ass e ssed u pon o ffi c i al s ex e c u ti ve
”
and leg i s l a ti ve wh o n o w enj o y the fran k i n g p r iv i l e ge would e s
se n ti al l y d i mi n i s h the com pe n s a ti o n wh ich t hey n o w seve rall y rece i ve
If th e p ayme nt i s t o be m ade o u t o f t hei r ow n p rivate means the n i t
is a n i n fractio n o f the p ri n cipl e s o f repu b l i can gove r n m e n t the im
p os i ti on o f ah u nj u st t ax u pon p ubl i c ser van t s an d an exac t ion w i t h
ou t example i n any othe r i n s t ance o f g over n mental ad m in i stra ti o n
N o l e ss reaso nabl y m i g ht t he o ffi cers o f t he n av y or t h e j ud i c i ary o r
th e t r easu r y b e r equ i red also to p r ov i de from t he i r o w n fo rt u ne s
sh i ps and equ i pmen t s or cou rt houses a nd cu s t om h ouses fo r t he use
A n d w h y u po n the sa m e p r i nc i ple sho u l d n o t
o f t he go v ern ment
th e o ffi ce r s o f th e a r m y be compelled to pay i n t he same manne r fo r
the cos t o f th e t ran spor t at i o n o f troo ps an d m u nit i ons o f wa r fr o m
o ne pos t to an o t her P Th e t r ue r ul e y ou r co mm i t tee u n ders t an d to be
th i s : eve ry expense o f a p ubl i c n a t u re necessar y t o t he fa i t h ful an d
e ffi ci e n t d i scha r ge o f p u b l i c du ty the gove r n m en t ou g h t to pay out
because t h e expendi t u r e is fo r the co m m on
o f t h e com mo n t reasu ry
good
Un question abl y t he com mu n i ca ti o n o f orde r s and o t h er publ i c
i nt e l lige nce from o ne o ffi cer to a no t her wh e t her a s uper io r o r su bor
dinate i s n ot on l y a p ar t b u t a m os t i mportan t p ar t o f o ffi c i al d u t y
an d wh i ch i ndee d espec i all y i n a cou n t r y so vas t i n geogr ap h i cal
ex t e n t as ou rs i s indispen sable t o t he ex i s t ence o f t he g ove r n m en t
i t sel f T his wo uld seem to be too clear fo r arg u ment
A lth o u g h th e b i l l re fe r red to y ou r com m i tt e e p ro vides fo r the pro
h ib itio n o f al l free matter as wel l execu ti ve as con g ress i on al an d as
it stan ds n ow would requ ir e al l p os t age o n gover n m en t co m m u n ica
t i o ns to be pa i d by o ffi c i al s o ut o f the i r o w n means y ou r co m m itt ee
a r e slow to bel i eve th at such an act o f inj ust i ce an d l oll y w as ser i o u sl y
in t e nded
The y assu m e t h at th e p u r pose o f t he fr i end s o f t he
m easur e i s to abol i s h con g ress i onal fran k s al t oge t her an d to pay
o ffi c i al o r execut iv e p ostage as in E n g l and o u t o f t h e pub l i c t r easur y
To pay fo r con g r ess i onal free m a tt er i n t he same way would be
s im p ly a p r op osed r e fo r m , a n d not an abolitio n o f t h e p ri vi lege A n d
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6
RAN K ING P RIVI L EGE
$
if
.
b oth b e placed upo n th e sam e footi n g n othin g w oul d b e gai ned to
the common treasury an d only th e m ode o f pa y in g the gen e r al
expenses o f th e p ostal syste m woul d be chan g e d
O n e depart
m en t o f govern men t w oul d bu y postage stam ps from an o t he r
dep a r tm en t o f go v er n me nt wh i ch h ad al read y ap pr op ria t ed for the
form e r th e v e r y m oney w i th w hich these stamps had b een p u rch ase d
an d t hu s the ol d fable be r eal i zed of the two l ads wh o shu t u p i n
a dar k r oom am assed a fortun e each b y exch ang i n g gar men ts I t i s
onl y by requ i r i n g all p r i vate perso n s an d o ffi cial s wh o u se th e p ost
o ffi ce to pay al ik e ou t o f th e i r o w n means t h e usual an d n ecessa r y
p os t age r a t e s t hat an y thin g is to be r eally saved to th e treasur y
A n d t his r u le y ou r com mittee u nderstan d i s to be appl i ed onl y to
m embers o f the l e g i slati v e depar t ment w hile the p ostage o f t h e
execu ti v e t h ou g h t h e m or e cos tl y o f the t wo i s to be de fra y e d out
o f t h e gen e ral f u nd
Con gress w it h mar v e l lous exc e ss o f pa t r i ot i sm
i s to en act a sel f deny in g ord i nan ce n ot a p pl i cabl e in its burdens to
an y b ut i t s own m embers
A ssum i n g th e n that th e abol iti on o f fran k s is to be lim i ted r eal ly
t o con g ress i on al comm un i cat i on s or i n t ell i gen ce wh i le all othe r go v
e rn m e n t m a i l m at t e r is to be carr i e d free o r h ave t h e postage u p o n
i t pa i d ou t o f the publ i c treasu r y y our com m i t t ee p roceed to con s i de r
w h e ther i n t he n a t ure o f ou r s y s t e m o f g over n m en t or i n an y pecu l ia r
or acc i den t al c i rcumstan ces there ex ists any r e ason w h y a d i scri m i n a
ti on shoul d i n t h i s r espec t h e made aga i ns t t h e l e g i slat i ve d epar t m e n t
an d its members an d i n favor o f t h e execu ti ve an d i t s o ffi c i als
I n a maj or i ty o f cou n tries wh ere p ostal s y s t ems exi st t h e r e i s n o
le g i sla t u r e at all $ i n others it i s b ut a sh ado w $ in som e mer e ly an
o ffi ce w here i n t o regis t er t he decr e es o f r o y al ty If in an y s uch th e
’
r i ght to tran sm i t t h r oug h th e K i n g s m a i ls an y m at t e r free i s con
c e d e d t o th e semb l a n ce t h e l e g i s l a t ure i t i s s t r i c t l y a pr i v i lege o r
poss i bl y a sor t o f bad ge o f o ffi ce or d i s ti n ct i o n I t i s a m at t er o f
g rac e l ik e t he l i cen se t o ki l l deer i n th e r oyal fo res t s — bl owin g a ho r n
’
if t h e fores t er be absen t s o th at t he K i n g s ven i son ma y n ot seem to
”
be ta k e n b y stealth
In all such S t ates t here i s l i tt l e need fo r sy m
p athy o r co m m u n i cat i on between the represen ta ti ve and th e const i tuen t ,
s i n c e elect i o n s i n some are bu t mere for ms and i n others t he execut i ve
i s th e real and some t imes i n wh ole or i n par t t he for mal const it uent o f
t h e legislatu re I n b u t on e coun tr y bes i d e s ou r o wn h as t h e l eg i sl a
ti v e d e p ar t men t an y real and subs t an t i al p ort i on o f the p ower o f th e
govern men t an d e v en there th e p ost o ffi ce s y s t e m grew u p u nder th e
aus p i ces of ro y al ty an d at a per i od when Parl i aments were but the
’
r e g i sters o f th e K i n g s good w i ll an d pl e asu re Postal cou r i ers were
em pl o y ed b y K i n g $ ohn to con ve y governmen t despa t ches as early a s
th e t h i rteen t h century and be t w e e n th at per i od an d t h e r e i g n o f
$ am e s I when the fi r st postm aster general h avin g cha r ge o f as well
p ri va t e as p ub l ic corresponden ce w as ap po i nt e d n o t h i n g probabl y b ut
’
o ffi c i al le tt ers an d pac k e ts was tra nsm i t t ed by th e K i n g s post $ r o m
th e b e g i n n i n g dow n t o th e t i m e o f t he L o n g Parl i ament the en ti r e
system was u nder th e co n t rol o f th e execut i ve as a p art o f th e r oyal
p r e rogat i v e and p os t s we r e esta b l i shed by p rocl ama ti on W hen i n
t he t i me o f Crom well b oth Kin g and lords were abol i sh ed an d al l
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$
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,
RAN K ING P RIVI LEGE
$
7
.
p o w e r consolidated at fi rst i n the House o f Com mo n s th e post o ffi ce
p assed also under t he ir con trol and they s ucceeded o f course to t he
r ig hts an d pri v i leges o f t he e xecu tive a nd used the m a i ls fo r t he co n
Blac k stone dates
v e y an ce o f the i r o wn despatches an d i ntell igence
the fi rs t l eg islativ e establ i sh me n t an d r e g ula t io n o f the pos t o ffi ce
A t th e res t orat i on i n 1 6 60 th e s y stem thou g h t he n
from th i s p e ri od
and ever aft erwards subj ect to con trol by act o f Parl i a m en t i n stead o f
r oya l procl amat i on passed aga i n i n i ts ad m i n i stration i n to th e h an ds
Pen din g a b i l l in th e same yea r fo r th e organ i za ti on o f
o f th e K i n g
the pos t o ffi ce the com mons
because that the let t ers o f a s w e l l t he
’
K i n g s cou n c i l o f s tate a s h i s o w n an d o t her execu t ive o ffi c e rs p assed free
”
th r o u g h the ma i ls add e d a p rov i so t ha t t he i r l e t ters also sh o ul d be
entitled to t he sa m e pr i v i lege Th e lo rds thre w out t he proviso a nd
t h e com m on s consented to drop i t u po n a pri v at e assu r ance fr o m t he
crown that t h e ex e m ptio n sh o ul d be allowed to the me m b e rs $ an d
accord i ngl y a wa r ran t was eve r a ft e r ward s reg ul arl y i ssued fro m t h e
Kin g t o t he pos t m as t e r general direc ti n g the all owance t o m embe r s
o f Parl i amen t o f free let t e rs t o t he ex t en t o f two oun c e s
Th i s was
”
the orig i n o f the fran ki n g p riv ileg e $ fo r pr i v i lege i t th en rea l ly
was g ran t ed o f ro y al g race an d so i t co nti n ued fo r a cen tu r y wh e n
i n 1 7 6 4 i t was fo r t he fi rs t ti m e con fi r m e d and reg ul at e d b y act of
Parl i amen t
Wh y y ou r com mittee as k shall th e exec ut i ve despa t ch es an d cor re
sp o n de n c e pass free t h rou gh th e m a i l s o r be paid fo r out o f the com mo n
t reasu ry
Th e reaso n i s t w o fol d $ irs t b ecause the y are o ffi cial
com mu n i cat i on s pass i n g betwee n su p e r i ors an d s ubord i n a t es be t ween
p rin cipal s an d ag e n ts upo n p ubl i c busi ness I t i s fi t t here fore t h at
the pu bl i c sh ould pa y t h e e xpen se Secon d t h e peopl e have a r i gh t
to k n ow wh at the execut i ve depar t men t i s do i n g an d whe t h e r thei r
p ublic servan t s are ful ly an d fa it h fully d i scharg i n g t h e i r publ i c d u t ies
t o t h e en d t ha t t he y m ay be hel d t o a d ue respon s i b i l i ty A n d i t i s
fi t ag a i n t ha t t he peopl e and n o t t he i r ser v ants should pa y t h e expense
Do no t both t h ese cons i de r a ti on s appl y e qually t o con g ression al or le g i s
l a t i v e co m m u n i cat i ons
T he Stat e s an d the peopl e are t h e co n st itu
en ts $ m embers o f Con gress are the i r r e presen ta t i v e s $ t he S tat e s and th e
p e ople are p r i n c i ples we thei r agen ts Th ey ar e s u per i ors we sub
ord i n a te s Ho w shal l respon s i bi l i ty be e n forced w i t hout k nowledge
o n the par t o f th e S t a t e s an d o f the people o f wh at t h e i r agen t s are
do i n g an d o f h ow t he y disch ar ge th e i r t rus t s $ I s i t u n i m portan t to
th e p ubl i c i nt e res ts or n ot necessa r y fo r the m ai nten an c e p u re an d
i ncor ru pt o f our i ns tit ut i on s as the y n ow exist t hat the accountab i l i ty
o f th e leg i sla ti v e d e par t men t to t h e S t ates an d t he people shoul d be
p reser ved $ I s i t no t th e m ore i m portant and th e m ore e s sen ti al
i n asm uch as i t is th e bus i n e ss and d u ty o f th e leg i sla ti ve t o en force
r espon s i b i l it y u pon t h e execut i ve an d t hu s to stan d as t he se n t in e l
o r cus t od i an o f S t a t e an d popular ri g h t s $ B ut q uis custo dia l custo de s
ip so s if t her e sh al l b e n o com m un i ca t io n b e t ween Con g ress a n d t he
f
e
eopl
e
an
d
t
a
t
s
A
n
d
i
t h ere be commu nicat i o n t h rou gh t he
S
p
i n s t ru men t al i ty o f t h e Post O ffi ce De partm en t — a par t and parcel o f
gove r n me n t m ach ine r y —why shal l th e l e gisla t ive an y m ore t han th e
executi v e p u b l ic ser v an t be r equired to p ay th e ex pense out o f h is
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8
$
RAN K ING P RIVI LEGE
.
p rivate fortun e
The v e r y bas i s o f ou r governmen t is t h e
r espon s i bil i ty of r epresenta t ives t o t hei r const i tuen ts $ an d free an d
frequen t comm un i ca t ion b etween the two i s essen t i al to th e e n fo rce
m e n t o f th i s r esponsib i li ty
I t i s n ot en oug h th at they m ay co m m u
n icate m u t ually th r ou gh t h e n ewspaper p r ess Th e S t a te s and peopl e
h ave a ri gh t t o sen d an d r ece i ve di r ec tl y to an d from their rep r esen t a
t iv e s an d to lear n i n an au t h en t ic an d o ffi c i al for m w h a t has bee n
sa i d an d do n e b y these p ubl i c servan ts You r com m i tt e e w i ll not
p ress th e im por t an ce o f th i s co n sid e r a t ion fu r t h e r $ it is t oo ob v i ous
If i t be u r g e d th a t t he ri g h t to fran k extends also t o mer e l y pri v ate
com m u n i ca ti on s b e twe e n i n d i v i dual s you r com m i tt ee ans we r th at
t h i s i s at m os t an abu se an d a smal l one which if n eed be i t is easy
to cu t o ff $ u t accord i n g t o t he i nd i v i d ual e x per i en ce an d o b se r va
ti on o f t h e m e mbers o f y ou r com m i t t e e t he n u mb e r o f s t r i c t l y pr iv a t e
bus i n ess or s oc i al l e t t ers pass i n g free th r ou gh the ma i l s i s v e r y smal l
Le tt ers or co m m un i ca ti on s rela ti n g i n any way t o pol i ti cal a ffa i r s
be t we e n r epresen t ative an d cons ti t uen t yo ur comm i tt ee do n o t d e e m
m ere p riva t e le tt ers
I n the i r j ud g m e n t i t is n o t n ecessary th at th e
c om m u n i ca ti o n should r el a t e sol e l y t o bus i n e ss formall y be fore Co n
g ress i n o rder to e nt it le i t to t he d e s i g na ti on o f a p ubl i c or o ffi c i al
l e tt er If a r e pres e n t at i v e h as th e r i gh t t o p r i n t and add ress a co m
m u n icatio n d i r e c t ed to t h e wh ol e bod y o f h i s con s ti t uen t s r e l at i n g to
g e neral pol i ti cs and publ i c a ffa i rs or sol ely to t h e local po l i ti cs o f h i s
o w n d i s t r i c t w h y m ay he n ot address th e same i n manu scr i p t to any
on e o f h i s con st it uen ts $
B u t if fran k i n g b e reall y a m ere pri v ilege an d n ot a ri gh t o f th e
p eopl e an d a d u ty o f t h e rep resen t a ti ve t hen y ou r com m i t tee de
m an d to k n o w w h y i t shal l be con ce de d i n a r epubl i can gov e rn ment
to t he executi ve depa rt m e n t alon e an d den i e d to the l e g i s l a t ure $ I s
th er e a n y t h i n g i n t he n a t u re o f th e g o ve rn men t o f t h e o ffi ces o r o f
t h e comm u n i ca t ions th a t spec i al p r i v i l e ges shoul d b e con ferred upo n
t h e form er an d n ot al s o o r r a t he r i n deed u pon t he lat t e r $
Lou d com p l a i n t i s m ad e t h a t t h e t reasury i s impo v e rish e d by r easo n
o f t h e vas t n umb e rs o f ve r y costly b oo k s and publ i c documen t s w h i ch
”
i t i s all e g e d would n ot b e prin t ed bu t fo r t he fran ki n g pr i v i lege
Y ou r com m i tt ee answer t h at n o boo k o r d ocum e n t i s pr i n t ed except
b y gen eral o r spec i al o r der o f Con gress o r o f t h e Sen a t e o r H ouse $
an d t ha t i t i s only neces sary t o re fuse to d i rect t he p ri n t in g o f d ocu
men ts and n on e w i l l be t r an sm it ted by m ail an d t h us t he expense
bo t h o f p r i n ti n g an d tran spo r t at i o n be sav e d B ut w h a t a r e t hese
b oo k s an d documen t s t h u s sum mar i l y con demn ed $ T hey are the
r ecords o f t he go v ernm ent i n i t s variou s d e par t m ents $ the r epor t s o f
i t s ge neral or spec i al agents appo i n t ed by l aw T he y are t h e o ffi c i al
arch i ves o f S t a t e t h e o ri g in als o f which are access i ble to th ose only
fe w i n n u m ber wh o m ay c h an ce t o vi s i t th e federal cap it al an d
w h i ch ou gh t t o be p r i n t ed
wh i c h t h e people h ave a ri gh t t o see an d
to h ave d i s t r i bu t ed at p ubl i c expen se ei t her t h ro u g h t he m a i l s o r by
express Cer t a i nly t h e p rin ti n g o f boo k s n ot com i n g stric t ly w i th i n
the class above d e scr i bed h as been o f la t e y e ars ca r r i ed to an exces s
w h i ch demands r ebu k e a nd r etr e nchm ent B ut le t Con g r es s apply
ow n
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$
RAN K ING P RIVI L EGE
9
.
the c o rr ecti v e di rectly b y r e fusin g to p ri n t an d not ci r cu i tousl y b y
abo l ishin g the r ight to t r ansm it free throu gh th e m ail
I t i s complained al so as if it we r e a m on strou s abuse that i mmense
q u an ti ti es of speeche s an d pam phlets a r e fr an k ed from t he Cap it ol
especially d u rin g a p r es i den t ial can v ass $ and tabl e s have been p re
p a r ed to sh ow t hat t hey n u mber m illion s You r com m i ttee would
h ave mill ion s m o r e i n t he sam e manne r sen t o ut
E ver y on e o f
th em rel ates to th e pol itics o f the count r y E very on e o f th em fi nds
its way i nto th e h an ds o f so m e on e o r mo r e o f th e peo pl e — of th e
co n st i tuen t body to w ho m th i s H ouse an d ev e r y o t her de par t men t o f
the gove r n men t is respon s i bl e T he y a fford publ i c i ns t r uct i o n an d
m ould p ubl i c sen timen t Th ey a r e p rin ted at t he p r i v a t e cost o f t he
m embers o f t h e Sen ate o r H ouse — a heav y t ax an d a heav y bu rden i n
itsel f— an d i t i s fi t th at mean t fo th e people they should at leas t be
’
’
c ir cul ated th r ough the pe opl e s fn ail s an d at the peopl e s ex pense
The r e is n o p r i v i l e g e i n al l th i s to t h e mem ber i t i s h i s d u t y an d
b u rden an d th e p r i v i le ge of the cons ti t uen t
The free exch an ge o f newsp apers is perh aps a n an omal y i n th e
p os t o fli ce system an d i ncl udes n o doub t a g r eate r am ou n t o f
m atter t han an y oth e r passin g fr ee th r oug h the ma i ls Yet y o u r
com m i t t ee justi fy i t u p on th e g rou nd o f l on g an d u n i for m usage
more than a h u ndred y ea r s i n durat i on —an d fo r s tr on g reaso n s o f
p u b lic policy I t w ould be n ot d i ffi cult t o d e monstra t e t hat t o cu t o ff
free ex ch an ges w ould go far to b rea k dow n the w hol e n ews pape r
p r ess o f t h e cou n tr y except a fe w o f the lead i n g j ou rnals i n t h e
la r g er ci ti es an d thu s to con cen t r ate i n t hese j ou r nal s all t ha t t re
m en dons powe r which belon gs to t h i s fourth es t a t e o f g over n ment
Cities w oul d b ecom e st i ll mo r e the seats o f pol i ti cal p ower $ t h it he r
al on e wou ld am b i ti ous eyes h e di rected an d p ubl i c servan ts woul d be
com p e l led to loo k fo r r espon s i b i lit y n o lon g e r to the ir o wn i m mediate
cons ti tuen ts b ut to the cond uctors of a power ful metropol itan press
w h i ch al ready exe r ts a con trol l i n g t hou g h n ot al wa y s wholesom e
in fl uence o v er p u b l i c sent i me n t th r ou ghout the Un i on I t i s the
g r eat p r oble m i n a r ep ublican go v e r n me nt h o w to decentral ize p owe r ,
w ho s e n atu r al tenden cy is to g r a vi tate towards a co mmo n centre
W i de ex t en t o f coun t ry sepa r a t e Sta t e gove r n men ts co n fl ic tin g in
t e re sts local jeal ousy p r ide and ambi t ion bu t abo ve all t he electric
tel egraph h a v e pre v en ted or a r res t e d h i ther t o i n t he Un it ed S t a t es
tha t e vi l wh i ch fo r t he m ost part is s up p r essed i n E u rope b y a
den i al of libe r ty to t h e p ress S t ill t he g r eat j ou r n al s o f o u r large r
c i t ies need n o a i d from go v e r n ment R ej oicin g i n ab u ndan t cap it al ,
full o f en ter p r i se , com man din g a h igh orde r o f t alen t o f ev e r y sor t
layin g every art e v ery sc i ence and t he w hole ci r cle o f l it eratu re
u nde r con t ri b ut i on an d const i tut i n g th us a con t rol l i n g an d $ e r t a i nl y
a m ost w onder fu l element o f m oder n civ i l i za ti on t he y are able t o
stan d al on e an d govern men t i ndeed i t sel f i s gl ad some ti m es t o loo k
to them fo r suppo r t You r comm it t e e w oul d w i t h draw n o p r ivile g e
the r e fore fro m t he co unt r y p r ess —an i nsti t ut i o n so essen tial to that
equal i ty which i s the co r ne r stone o f eve ry t rul y de moc r a ti c S t ate
$ o r t h e sam e r easons al so you r co mmittee p ro p ose t o c onti n ue to
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t h e p ubl i sh e r s of w ee k l y n e wsp ap er s t h e p ri vi l e g e o f tr an sm itti n g t o
su b sc ri b er s on e cop y free o f pos t ag e w it h i n t h e coun ty o f p ubl i ca t i on
S o fa r y ou r comm ittee h a ve d i scuss e d t h i s q ue s ti on up on p ri nc i pl e
W e p r o pos e n o w b rie fl y t o m eet an d r e pl y t o som e cons i d er a ti o ns
u r g e d i n b e hal f o f th e m e asu re o n t h e sco re o f pol i c y
Th e clamo r j us t n o w in fa v o r o f t h i s all e g e d re fo r m so fa r as i t i s
d i s i n te re s t e d i s fou n d e d m a i nl y u pon t h e very g re a t i nc re as e o f la te
ye a r s i n th e e xp e nd it u re s o f t h e Pos t O ffi c e De pa rt m e n t To t hi s
y ou r com m ittee a n s w e r t h a t a l a r g e pa rt of t h i s i n c re as e acc r u e s b e
ca u s e o f t h e e x te ns i on o f m a i l fac i l itie s b y o ver lan d an d wa ter to t h e
Pac i fi c coas t and t h a t t h e free ma i l ma tter tr anspo rt ed o ve r t h e s e
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w h ol e
Th e evi l l ie s n o t t h ere
N o $ t h e las t an n ual re po rt o f t h e
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an d s e pa r a t e d b y v as t d e s e r t s an d h i g h m oun t a i n s b e a r s yet it s full
p r o po r t i on o f t h e b u r d e ns o f go v er nm e n t w i t h ou t a j us t m e asu re o f i t s
b e n e fi t s $ u t a p r o v i d e n t and e conom i cal adj us t m e n t an d e q u al i $ a
t i on o f t h e s e fac i l i t ie s i s n e i t h er d e n i al n o r i nj us t i c e t o t h e p e opl e o f
t h e Pac i fi c coas t
A n o t h er and yet m o re i m po rt an t caus e o f t h i s v as t i n c re as e i n t h e
e x p e n d it u re s o f t h e Pos t O ffi c e De pa rt m e n t i s t h e g re a t re duc ti on o f
l at e y e a r s i n t h e r a te s o f p os t ag e H o w e v er u n w i s e t h i s t oo clos e
i m it a ti o n o f th e $ ri t i sh p os t al re fo r m m a y a t fi r s t h a ve b ee n y ou r
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t h e e xp er i m e n t o f c he ap pos t ag e shall ha ve b ee n mo re ful l y an d fa i r l y
tri e d t h e go ve r n m e n t it s e l f m e an ti m e p ayi n g i t s j us t p r opo rti o n ou t
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free
I t i s sa i d t ha t t h e abol iti on o f fr an k s w i l l cu t 0 11 m i ll i on s b y re
t re nch i n g t h e amoun t o f p ubl i c p ri n ti n g
Y ou r com m it t ee ha v e
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boa t s an d wha t con tr ac t o r w e as k w i ll ca rry fo r on e dolla r a m i l e
l e ss b e caus e o f t h e abol iti on o f fr an k s
T h e d e pa rt m e n t fur n i sh e s
and mus t fu r n i s h t h e r ou te ag e n t s $ wh i l e t h e con tr ac t o r s p r o v i d e
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ula r d e lus i on t ha t t h e G e n er al Pos t O ffi c e was bu t a b r an ch o r d e pa rt
m e n t o f t h e go ver n m e n t—a pa rt o f t h e m ach i n ery b y w h i c h i t s con
sti t u ti o n al pow er s an d fu n c ti on s w ere t o b e e x e c u te d
I t h as b ee n
supp os e d t h e c re a t u re o f Con g re ss an d u nd er t h ei r con t r ol an d
fu r t her t ha t i f Con g re ss should comm an d i t t o tr ans o rt c ert a i n ma t ~
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ter free o f p os t ag e it was it s d u ty as a b r an ch o f t h e e x e cu tive t o
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$ ut
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s aved
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g re a t l y e nh anc e s as i s sa i d t h e cos t o f tr anspo rt a ti on i s t o b e cu t o ff
b y t h e abol i t i o n o f fr an k s wh e nc e i s t o com e t h e al l e g e d i nc re as e o f
P os t ag e b y re ason o f t h i s sam e ma tt er n o lo n g e r t r ans po r t e d $ If
b oo k s a n d publ i c docum e n t s a re n o m o re t o b e p ri n t e d t h ey can n o t
b e tr ans m itte d t h r ough th e ma i ls an d if n o t tr an s m i tt e d t he y can
n o t b e cha r g e d w i t h pos t ag e T h ere m us t b e a loss som e w h ere $ ut
assum e t h a t th i s class o f m ai l m a tter i s s t i ll t o b e t r an spo r t e d o r t ha t
up on ano t h er class n ow free
i s t o b e ga i n e d in pos t ag e s
W h o i s t o p a y t h i s i n c re as e d am ou n t
If ou t o f t h e tre asu ry go ver n
m e n t sa v e s no thi n g i f t hos e o n l y wh o re c ei ve t h e p e opl e pa y t h e n
it i s bu t ano t h er fo r m o f t axa t i o n o r bu r d e n an d fa r ch e ap er an d
b et t er every wa y would i t b e t ha t t h ey sh oul d pa y t o p riv a t e e xp re s s
compan ie s o r o t h e r com mo n ca rrier s I f t hos e w h o s e n d t h e p u b l i c
s erv an t s a re t o pa y t h e s e
i n t o t h e tre as u ry n o o ffi c e i n t h e
g i ft o f go ver n m e n t—non e re q u iri n g co rre spo n de n ce is wo rt h a s i n gl e
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y e a r s p u r cha s e If t h e abol iti on b e con fi n e d t o cong re ss i onal fr a n k s
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alon e and t ha t s um i s i n t h i s wa y t o b e p a i d i n t o t h e tre asu r y , t h e
a v er ag e amo un t t o e ach s e na t o r re p re s e n t a tive an d d e l e ga te w i ll
l 5—n e a r l y t w i c e t h e com p e nsa ti o n no w al low e d t o t h e m
e q ual
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b y l aw
re c ei v e an d t h ere s ti ll r e ma i n s t o e ach m e mb e r o f Con g re ss n e a r l y
as h is p r opo rti on o f t h e t ax
$ i nall y i t i s u r g e d t h a t t h e s y s te m o f fr an k i n g i s full o f abus e s
Y ou r comm ittee d e n y a s t o m uch t ha t i s d e n ounc e d as an abu s e t ha t
it d e s erve s th e cond e m na ti on A s t o t h e re s t it sp ri n gs fr o m eit h e r
a de fe c t i n t h e law o r a wan t o n v i ola ti on o f it I f a m e mb er o f Con
g re ss fr an k a l etter n o t w ritte n b y h i ms e l f o r s tri c t l y b y h i s o r d e r
abo v e all i f h e fr an k e n ve lop e s o r p ack ag e s o f e n v e lop e s i n blan k
t o b e us e d b y t h os e n o t e n tit l e d t o t h e p rivi l e g e h e b re a k s th e law
a n d d i s hon o r s h i s o ffi c e I f h e u n d ert a k e t o fr an k t h a t wh i ch i s n o t
m a i la b l e m a tter o r e v as ive l y t o e xc ee d t h e l i m i t o f t w o o unc e s o r
m a r k t h a t as a p u b l i c docum e n t w h i ch i s no t h e i s i n l i k e ma n
n er gu i l t y o f an o ff e nc e aga i ns t bo t h law an d good mo r als I t i s a n
ac t o f u n v er ac i ty wh i ch n o g e n t l e man u po n re fl e c t i on w i ll co mm it
Y e t s tr an g e t o sa y t h ere a re n o ad e q ua te p e n al i ti e s fo r an y o f t h e s e
o ffe nc e s H ere t h e n l et t h e am e n di n g han d b e appl ie d
$ r an k i n g b y d e pu ty t h ough i n t h e j ud gm e n t o f y ou r com m i ttee
cl e a r l y l e gal i s a p r ol i fi c sou r c e o f a b us e
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O ffi c e De pa r t m e n t assum i n g i t t o b e con t r a ry t o law , h as a tte m p te d
t o a rre s t it $ y e t so h e a v y i s t h e b u r d e n o f p er sonal fr an k i n g e sp e
t h a t t h e d e pa rt m e n t has
cial l y o f sp ee ch e s an d p ubl i c docum e n t s
n eve r lon g p er s i s te d i n it s e ffo rt s A n d y ou r com m ittee a re s a ti s fi e d
t h a t a d e s i re on th e p a r t o f m e mb er s t o ev ad e t h i s bu r d e n o r o t h e r
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l e as t o f t h e oppos i t i on t o t h e fr an k i n g p rivi l e g e
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g re ss i n t h i s re ga r d y ou r com m i t tee re p o rt a plan wh i ch t h e y b e l i eve
t o b e e ffi c ie n t and a t t h e sam e ti m e s e cu r e d fr om abus e an d w h i ch
t h ey t r us t m ay b e app r o ve d b y t h e H ous e T h i s plan alo n g w it h
a fe w o t her sl i g h t am e n dm e n t s o r m od i fi ca t i ons o f e x 18 tin g l aws n o t
e n la r g i n g b u t r a t h e r re s tri c t i n g t h e fr an k i n g p rivi l e g e t h ey p r opos e
as a s ubs ti t u te fo r t h e S e na te b i ll re ferre d t o t h e m and acco r d i ngl y
re po r t t h e accompan y i n g b i ll as a d i g e s t o r cod e o f r e gula t i on s for
t h e tr an sm i ss i o n o f free ma tter t h r ou g h t h e m a i l s o f t h e Un ite d St a te s
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