New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1843-01-09
9srouoses neouctton of postage, ann ITS
Computation in FEDERAL Currency.
aree;al Eeport from the p ossmasfer
G. cnersf.

u N u
Posr.OFFlcE DERGarAEsT'
January 5, t~4s:
Hoa ~ p. MnsgmH, Pre:idea: Of tag Senate, U, :.
Sir,-The Senate of the United otstes' oy res
oiution OF the 9th July last, requifed shsl ehe
postu,aster-G General be directed TO communicate
:. tho Ssna,. a, the commencement of the nexi
session. an estimate showing what reduction OF the
number Of miles on which hostages are row charg-
al in N. several cases designated by law, wsuld
be necessary 10 introduce the Federal coinage, 50
as nor to diminish the aggregate revenue Of the
Post. Office Department"
I find is difficult, if no. impossible, TO csmPiy
with this resolution, if regard be had to its heefs
import.
reduction of distance in the different cia9s-
es Of the rates of postage, so as to ln'iouuoe
Federal coinage" and at the same ,lihe .ao,I
the present aggregate revenue CONC Ao' " e
accomplished wtheuta very consioef-D!e
postage upon some oil these cia'''''
reduction Of distance.
N.Y. therefore. assumed that the Senate meant
h tb; resolution 10 require estimate &C. show
inc yhst change Of the distances and rates OF post
eee could be made, so TO introduce the coin OF
m. Federal Government, and at the same time
preserve the present aggregate average revenue
Without, in any considerable degree, increasing
the postage upon the present given lines.
In obedience TO the resolution, thus understood,
I have the honor to make this report.
For the sake of easy reference, submit table
exhibiting the present rates of postage and the dis
lance. and probable number of letters, and amount
received upon each class of letters, compiled from
data furnished by this Department in 1896.
The law of 1926 imposes the following rates OF
letter postAge:-
Upon soge letters sen, through mall any distance not over
ose SO @ 50 o. &c. cents. 502s
Over $50 TO 400. .......1ss Over 4o0.....25 "
OF ft the drst class il is estimated $4,000
letters sent through the so,o-,c
OF The The I'd d class al 10 cents, 7,ss2,ss0
P the So class al III cents. 5ssasoo
OF ,e ah Class at lea cents, sea2s9s
OF the 5:h Class al Is cents, l.a05,oos .,.o.o
producing. ................. ..'' .'..''. 4oo,E-H
Total letters. SUI, 994
Total amount Of letter postage. 81, OOooVe
1t may not be out Of place here to observe, lest
q conclusion not Altogether correct be drawn from
the fact that the highest Of postage produce
the smallest aggregate amount of revenue, that the
great commercial points OF the Union approach
each other within the range ofthe two distances of
80 or $50 miles.
In lieu of the distances and rateg of postage
fixed by the act of 1926 in order to accomplish
the views of the Senate, as understood to be ex
pressed in tho resolution above, is proposed that
the following scale oe distances and rates of post
age be adopted, viz:
Upon all single letters by the mail any distance
80 mie3 ..........5 Over 80 TO 100 mes..l Cts
Over 100 to 220 miles. 10 Over 20 10 400 mies.20
over 400 milei.
Assuming the data given in the first table COR
rect approximating to correctness, the pro-
bable receipts from each class of letter postage, il
the above scale be adopted, may be estimated as
follows:
sWo. letters Income
On the class under so miles at 5,S2soO $z6643o 90
Over so To 100 miles, a, 10 cents 599 sol g 90
Over lO 10 22o miles at IS cents 5s GIG o.
Over 22n TO 400 miles, at 20 cents ...28i8S5 57S17 90
Over 400 miles, at Is cents .i, S65,eoa 4o6 70! 20
Total. 81 997 8i4 e.
This calculation exhibits probable loss Of az
gregate letter postage of $2,lS5 50.
A too confident reliance, however, upon the
curacy Of the result produced by this calculation
should not be entertained. Without increase OF
correspondence and mail matter between the psints
embraced within the range of distances upon which
a reduction of postage from 12i tie 10 cents, and
from 1873 TO Is cents takes place the aggregate
amount of revenue will SUSTAIN greater loss than
$2l85 35. In seine degree, to guard against this
probable reduction of revenue by the change Of dis
tance and rates of postage, would recommend
that the lowest of letter postage be imposed
upon what are denomina.ed drop letters whore
The postage is not prepaid. This is class of let.
tiers which are usually sent from one place 10 an
other BY private conveyance, and are dropped or
deposited in the post-otce for delivery. Beside
the intrinsic justice of imposing upon such letters
postage, where the Department Is charged with The
risk and trouble of delivery it is believed that such
an imposition of postage would tend 10 lessen the
temptation to seek for channels of private convey
ance mail lines, to avoid the payment of post
ag,. 1t is not proposed to prohibit, as is done in
most Of the European governments, tha sending
by private conveyance letter; but If letter, so
SENT shall be deposited by the bearer in post
Office to be delivered, then to charge it with post
aee.
1t would be difficult to estimate the amount
which would be derived from this class OF let
ter postage, but it is the opinion of some intelli-
gent pos,masters that not less than $50 600 would
thereby be added to the revenue.
Under the hope that Congress will at its present
session, by proper legislation, protect the Depart
ment against innovations upon its rights and con
sequent loss of revenue, / respectfully recon-
mend the adoption of the distances aud rates OF
postage above, in lieu OF the present.
If Congress will relieve the Department from
the amount now paid annually for railroad trans
portation, by a permanent arrangement with the
great leading lines ofintercommunication, and also
regulate the franking privilege and restrain it with
in proper limits, then prepared meet the
demands OF public sentiment and recommend a
further reduction of letter postage to ten cents
upon all letters over thirty miles.
The inquiry, what effect such reduction would
have upon the revenue of the Department. appro-
priately suggests itself
The answer to be given involves several consid-
erations.
In the frsl place. the Department should be re-