The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-09-11
NEW YORK HERALD.
Row Yorl, Monday, septemher N, Isia
hostages and the Post Once Department
Reduction OF Rates.


hostages and the Post Once Department
Reduction OF Rates.
Nothing within the sphere Of legislative action
calls louder for reformation than the regulations of
the Post Office Department-not so much in re-
gard TO the mere detail of transportation and deli
livery, as in relation TO the rates which are charged.
la republican country, OF all others, the utmost
facility should be extended to The conveyance of
information, and the freedom Of communication
between different sections. II is universally adj
mitted thatnothing conduces so much TO the attain
ment OF this desired end as low prices. The rates
OF postage in the United States have not only been
exorbitantly high but have been fixed to suit the
worn out and deprecated Spanish fractions OF dol
lar floating among u.s. raiherihan the national dec
NAL coinage of the United States This in itself
has not only led TO great inconvenience and vexa-
ton 10 the people, but loss TO the department The
arbitrary division of distance, also which had de-
termined the postage, are source of great injus-
tice. letter from this city to Albany is charged,
for instance twelve and half cents, while to Troy
SIX miles beyond, pays eighteen and three quarter
cents, and may be carried to New Orleans for
twenty-five cents. The law is ridiculous in ITSELF
inasmuch as il can never be obeyed A postage OF
81 cents, l2k cents, aud Isl cents, can in neither
citizen must either pay four per cent more or less
than the law orders Why such an absurdity was
enacted or persisted in, no one can tell These are
some OF the vexations of the reguations--the real
evil is the exorbitant rates charged. These charges,
like all heavy taxes, operate either TO promote
smuggling or to stop the business. In the case OF
correspondence il operates both ways Those who
are obliged TO write frequently cannot pay the
tax, and therefore evade the law, and have more
opportunities of doing so. In the city of New York
there is larger business correspondence than any
where else and probably far less proportionate post
are is raid there than elsewhere Il has been calcua
ted hy the department that half of the letters be-
tween this city and Boston sent by private hands
This is undoubtedly far short of the truth. II has
for long time been the practice among merchants
engaged in the business to club their letters,
and send them privately. For instance, makes
up package for Boston to-day, and all the letters
in his neighborhood are forwarded by him. To-
morrow, B makes up package, and on the follow
ing day Q attends TO it, and so To all other
cities the same operation extends. These facts, as
well as numerous others, have long been known 10
the department, bat cannot be stopped. The gov
eminent rate for carrying letters is too high-the
tax is too severe, and must be modified.
The same difficulties were long contended against
in England, until the present system of Rowland
Hill, Esq, adopted, January, 1910 1t has been
found to answer the most sangulne expectations II
is simply TO charge, in Advance penny for let
terweshing not more than half an ounce to any part
of the kingdom. One penny additional is then
charged for every additional half ounce, until the
package weighs sixteen ounces none heavier be-
ing allowed. If the payment is not made IN advance
the postage is double. This latter regulation has
greatly diminished the number OF dead letters. In
applying this admirable system to the United States,
ii is simply requisite to charge, in advance, five
cents for every letter weighing not more than half
an ounce, for any distance less than five hun
dred miles-over that distance ten cents, and the
same rates. in ADDITION, for every extra half ounce,
TO bedoubled unless paid in advance-the ranking
privilege to be entirely abolished, and newspapers
sent free, with some limitation as to numbers and
distance.
The only argument heretofore used in opposition
to reduction of postage, has been that it would
reduce the revenues, and throw the post Office de-
partnent into the hands of the Treasury, whereas
il isl now distinct and made TO support itself. This
argument is fallacous in itself, and at war with all
experience, and low prices in everything are found
10 increase revenue The reduction. so far from
weakening the department, would give it the means
of greatly extending its facilities. II we look back
at the receipts and expenditures of the department,
we shall observe how heavily the high rates have
weighed upon the facility of communication
PERTINENT, EXTENT or PosT ROADS, AND |
POPULATION UNITED STATES.