The New York herald., 1845-02-19

Meeting mt the Exchange In Favor ofCheap
POSTAGE.

mon OF the BILL lately passed by the Senate for the
reduction OF the rate OF postage now in operation
The extent and puuctuality of the attendance,
showed the interest taken in the proposed mea-
sure; and 1t Ia to be hoped such an important ex-
preston of public opinion will have its due weigh,
IN securing the adoption of the proposed reform in
the present session.
At two o'clock precisely, on motion of Mr.
BATES,
JAMES Brown, ESQ.,, was nominated to preside
over the proceedings of the meeting On taking
the chair, Mr.. Brown stated, in brief terms, that
the object of the present meeting was to give a
public expression feeling in favor of the bill for
the reduction ofpostage, now before Congress.
j. DE PEysTER OGDEN, ESQ.,, read the call of the
meeting, and observed that public opinion, on va
rious occasions, had been extensively heard lin
favor OF a reform in the postage department. A
committee of the Chamber of Commerce of this
city had ceresponded with the department at
Washington, the result of which was that bill
was introduced into the Senate, prescribing uni
form postage OF five cent on all single letters OF
halt an ounce to be paid by all persons, not ex.
cepting the officers of the department, unless
such as were upon public business. This bill
had passed the Senate, but it was under
stood that Congress had decided against it, at
least concluded that would pass in this session
That meeting was called for the purpose of deci-
ding on what course 1t was wise to pursue in this
state of the question. As to recommending any
alteration in the bill, he was aware there might be
difference OF opinion upon its provisions, but he
was not In favor OF such a STEP If they began to
amend, discussion would ensue, the feelings of
those who differed might become enlisted, and
eventually the bill might be lost. They were now
on the eve OF new ADMINISTRATION. Congress
would soon adjourn, and all unfinished business be
allowed to stand over till another session If, then,
the chance was lost at present, they might very
likely have the b put off, get no bill at all. 1t
seemed to him that it was expedient to press the
bill upon the House, as it stood, and he would
strongly recommend to that meeting to express
their sentiments in favor of it in the warmest
manner
BARNABAs BATES, Esq, followed He said that
by sound sense and wisdom, and should meet the
approval of every citizen. The bill which had
passed the Senate was one to which there could be
no exception and it was right to ask the House of
Representatives to respond tot the act of the Senate.
It was well known that there had been no change
tor the last sixty years in the rates of postage In
1919, nifty per cent was added to the rates then
IN existence. In 1916 they were changed, frem
which period shey remain, till now, the same;
and even the mode of calculation, in rete-
renee to enclosures, had undergone very little
change. To these rates of postage the public
were willing 10 submit, SO long as the reve-
aue required it, which was not the case now
In 1886, the celebrated Rowland Hill COM
menced to agltate the penny postage system in
dnO directed pubic dttentlOn TO que6-
ton whether letters could not be carried for cents
one penny-as easily, and without incurring any
loss, as Tor twelve pence or twenty-tOur cents,
WHICH was then about the average rate. When
he first suggested the idea of carrying letter any
distance in Great Britain for one penny, his scheme
was pronounced UtOpian people said 1t was i'm
practicable; but he persevered and persevered un-
tl the Intelligent men OF all parties became con-
vlnced of its practicability, and compelled the
British government to adopt the cheap system OF
postage. They did it, however, unwillingly and
tardily, at first bringing il down from twelve to
-four pence, Butths did not satisfy the people; for
| the government were compelled, on the tenth Of
March, 1910, to adopt the rate OF one penny on
every ietter OF half an ounce, transmitted through
out the United Kingdom. What have been the
effects OF that system? Before the introduction OF
The penny rate of postage, there were transmitted
Dy mail, seventy millions OF letters in 1889 IN
1913, they transmitted no less than the enormous
number of two hundred and twenty millions Of
ietters-(Applause.) The revenue under the old
system was eleven millions of dollars per annum,
of which they made the sacrifice OF seven mil
hons OF dollars, in order to confer this inestimable
| blessing OF cheap postage on the ,people-(Ap-
plause.) But it will be remarked by some. pro-
oably, that although the system worked well III
Great Britain II would not be found to do SO well
here. Those objections were easily answered; they
had the authority OF the most distinguished Of
body who declared the floor ofhe Senate that tho
adoption Of cheap postage Great Britain that the
of letters in proportion to the population in Great Br
tain before the change Of system nearly the
what it is here now Is not that important fact He
would ask in England where hundred per cent OF
the population could neither read write such
OF correspondence followed the adoption of cheap
postage would not be as great here where education is
largely dfused Yes it would be greater-ar great
er. Apparse) Cheapness they saw, was the order Of
the day What the they those gorS
flashing palaces the noble river Hudson carrying their
thousands upon thousands OF passengers every day
the waters of that river II the cheapness Of fares
suppose they charged en dollars instead of one could
they expect to see the same numbers Not at all.
What the that circulate greater number
Of newspapers in this country than all the globe besides
Was not their cheapness' five had stamp act would
be likely that among the II millions of this republic
there would be circulated many newspapers among
the whole $50 millions of the human racel Why 1t
then or three papers in this city crcuates from
thirty to foryhousand copies per their cheap
cheapness the order Of the day. and therefore
want cheap postage He could say much to them this
subject but would further take up their time it
was valuable, and as other gentlemen would address
| them. (Applause)
| A number of resolutions were then put and car
| rled unanimously:
another resolution, in consequence OF the intelligence
received by the last packet from England By that arr
val we were informed OF increase in the OF
The pest office for ls44 that of s3 of nearly $4OO
06O He wished that important fact to be incorporated in
the series OF resolutions adopted by that meeting that it
might 90 forth to Congress- and all the world that
all should be satisfied that the adoption OF the cheap sys-
tenn Of postage the best way
| far beyond the expenses of the government.
The CHAIRMAN then read six resolutions, calling upon
Congress pass the dill the Senate as being
bythem through the medium Of the States
being required for the true interest Of the Post
department as well as the convenience Of the country
and prevent the former from dropping that the expert
Of cheap postage had in other countries been found
highly and advantageous and particularly
adapted to this country They called upon the deega-
ton from this city, and the House OF Representatives TO
their utmost endeavors to promote the passage of the
bill without any amendment the shortpess OF the pre-
sent session would not allow time for any amendment
be passed in the senate and that any attempt subst
tue any other BILL would have tendency to defeat this
/ great measure
These having been put from the chair, and carried
| unanimously,
Mr. BArEs begged to explain, that the $500, 900,
toned as being the OF the English Post office
isi4 he meant to say the surplus the
year lsI3 the whole of the Post ONCE at the for
mer perod was upon four million OF dollars. In
accordance with this he should resolution The
gentlem an then moved the following resolution
Resolved, That the Information just received from
England showing increase of $500 600 in the
OF 1914 over that of the preceding year. which already
furnished net amount OF 81 900 900, proves conclusive
iy, the effect of cheap postage there, and furnishes su
cient Qrnund of canfdence IN