FRANKING PRIVILEGE. The privilege of sending certain matter through the pub lic mails without payment therefor.
It was first claimed by the house of com mons in 1660, and was confirmed by statute in 1764. On the establishment of the penny postage in 1840 it was abolished. See 1 Bla. Com. 323; 2 Steph. Com. 632.
It was formerly enjoyed by various of ficers of the federal government, includ ing members of both houses of congress, theoretically for the public good.
By the act of January 31, 1873, the franking privi lege was abolished from and after July 1, 1873, and the at of March 3, 1873, repealed all laws permit ting the• transmission by mail of any free matter whatever. The act of March 3, 1875, s. 5, permits members of congress to send free public documents and acts ; a qualified exercise of the privilege has been extended to certain officials, where public convenience seemed to require it. By act of March 3, 1877, it is made lawful to transmit through the mail free of postage, any letters, packages, or other matters relating exclusively to the business of the United States, provided that every such letter or package bears over the words "Official Business," an endorsement showing ths name of ths depart ment or bureau from whence transmitted. This
provision was extended by act of March 3, 1879, to all officers of the government and made applicable to all official mail matter. By the act of January 12, 1895, members of congress are entitled to send through the mails free, under their frank, any mail matter to any government official or to any person, correspondence not exceeding one ounce in weight, upon official or departmental business. They may also frank the Congressional Record or any part thereof. U. S. R. S. 1 Supp. 70. By act of April a, 1904, the vice president and members, members elect, delegates and delegates-elect may send free any mail matter to any government official, or to any person correspondence not exceeding four ounc es in weight, upon official or departmental business. By act of June 26, 1906, lending the privilege to any committee or organization is forbidden.