Height x Width: 25.1 x 40.3cm (9 7/8 x 15 7/8in.) Height x Width (folded): 25.1 x 20.2cm (9 7/8 x 7 15/16in.)
Type:
Covers & Associated Letters
Place:
United States of America
Date:
1844
Description:
Three-page letter from Postmaster Gen. C. A. Wickliffe and First Asst. Postmaster Gen. S. R. Hobbie to Hon. M. H. Jenks, Chairman of the Sub-committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, U. S. House of Representatives. It speaks of either abolishing the franking privilege or guarding against its abuse. Written from the Post Office Department on January 31, 1844.
"Sir:
We have received your communication of the 25th inst. in which you state "that as chairman of the sub-committee on Post Offices and Post Roads to take into consideration what attention can with propriety, be made in the franking priviledge and that you desire to know the views of the undersigned upon this subject." has been received. We have given to it as much consideration as our other duties would allow, and respectfully state, as our opinion, that upon the hypothesis that a reduction of postage is to be made that the franking privilege should be abolished entirely.
If no reduction of postage takes place and the franking privilege is to continue, then we think the present laws need amendment so as to guard against abuses. We do not think that the franking privilege should be retained to one class of public officials and withheld from another. If public officers are allowed to send and receive letters and packets upon the business of their offices only free of postage, the public conscience and public interest might be thereby advanced.
We are not advised what views the committee may have upon this subject. If they should be in favor of a total abolition of the franking privileges, then the mode of legislation is very simple. But if they desire to continue it to its present extent, and wish to restrain its abuses, more minute legislation will be needed. When informed by the committee of the principle which they wish to recommend to Congress, we will, with much pleasure, render every aid in our power to give it the form of specific legislation.
We cannot conceive that any change which leaves one class of public agents in the enjoyment of this personal privilege, while others are excluded from it, as just. The privilege, when first granted by Congress, was intended for the benefit of the Government to enable the officer to discharge his public duties more conveniently and acceptably to the public and we think that its enlargement, so that it become a private personal right, instead of an official privilege, was wrong, and that it would be best to restore it and require every citizen to pay a like postage on his private correspondence.
