Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-01
REMARKS OF Nh. NILES,
On reporting "a Din for Reducing The Rates Of
Postage"
IN THE SENATE, JusE II, SIS.

report the bill which hold my hand for the reduction OF
the rateso postage II which the public mind
has been directed of late, perhaps second TO other in
importance, and carried out cannot tail OF being productive
OF the most beneicent results the whole people We have
egnied for the and navy Tor war and for peace Tor
uluuy and posierty for New Mexico and California and
forgetting discussions the interests of Mexico and
and Yucaan But wha. have done to advance the
venience the interests Of the people IL their private social
commercial relations 7
Without intending go into discussion Of this
at this time propose facts, accompanied with
few Suggestions 60 before the public with the BILL my
principal object being this time to call attention 10 the
sure call The public judgment upon its merits shall
not probably ask for the final action upon it at this session,
drawing close but shall hope obtain for it the ia
voabe consideration of Congress at lis next session. sustain
ed as am quite il must be, by the powerful influence
of an enlightened public opinion. /
Had not been for the existence Of war; bringing heavy
charge upon the Treasury, with depending mainly
upon loans should have felt il duty to have brought this
TO the attention OF the Senate early in the session.
and endeavocd TO have obtained its it but whilst
the continued, with increasing debt, could
sent throw additional burdens upon the Treasury, this
bill may temporarily, for the attainment of boon i'm
portant TO the whole people believe this will
prove TO be. s
But the war being ended now by the direction OF the
committee bring forward the measure but the finances
unsettled neither the expenditures the revenue
the return OF peace, for time be known do not
propose to have the law go into operation until July, ls49
This bill is simple in lis provisions and is substantially the
penny postage system 1t establishes three the uni
form postage letters exceeding halt weight
and the for every additional half fractional
part thereof the postage to be prepaid and not prepaid
the postage to be five cents. sf
The postage newspapers pamphlets, and other printed
natter which has always been complicated somewhat
duced and greatly smpfed by adopting uniform principle
of taxing by weight disseminating all distinctions between
newspapers and other periodicals. between periodicals and
periodicals Newspapers and all other publications
TO be charged cent postage for distance, when the
weight does exceed ounce, and the for every
additional fractional part thereof Newspapers of
the size such the principal papers this city,
weigh tr1e short of To this general rule
exceptions intended to favor the country interior
presses reducing the charge half papers
than fifty miles from the office of publication, and
weighing Some Of the committee had doubts
the popety of this exceptions but thought best
to present il for consideration.
The bill contains provisions not hitherto introduced
into system, which prevail in Europe for the COLLECTION,
deposing, and delivery Of letters in the large cities It
believed that by udcious arrangements these provisions
be executed with very little expense and which afford
great convenences and in connection with the low Of
postage, greatly contribute to the increase OF mail
cations.
Mr.. President of the great benefits of this reform the
whole people in economical, social and commercial point
Of view, doubt Indeed their importance can
hardly be fully appreciated aud my judgment they cannot
well be over-estmaed This system is a approximation
to universal frank for rate of postage low that the
poorest person will hardly regard is almost equivalent
free communication. 1t my desire have fixed the
at cents il we had coin OF that denomination-a quar-
ter dime, which think desirable But as it will be
descend than 10 ascend, thought best adopt the
Of three at this time.
The great benefits of the system being admitted the only
doubt there be is its financial point of
view But in this respect any more than regard the adj
vanages of the measure, it is not TO be viewed
experiment II upon principle well established, the
efficiency Of which has yet been fully developed
England where The system has been in operation than
This principle the increase of consumption,
If he
charge But the full results OF this principle i'm
mediaey realized the increase goes from year year
and, what is remarkable after first and powerful effect
has been real zed the principle appears to retain Its power in
about the degree and the increase continues about the
for series Of years, and perhaps for indefinite
period Such has been its result in England The system
has been in operation there going eight years The
FIRST year the increase hundred and per
cent and for the subsequent years from twenty thirty
per cents last year about twenty three per cent
In support OF these statements, well show my OPT
Mon Of the importance Of this great measure orbear
to read letter from Joseph Hume, the distinguished English
reformer II addressed Minister London, and
dated the ID March, 1913;
aDEAR SIN: have the pleasure you the copy
paper have prepared the request OF Mr. Webb of Boston,
the progress OF increase of the number Of by
the post Office here since the reduction the postage
hope may induce your Government adopt
Of any reform among the many reforms that
have during the last forty years. that has had and
will have better results towards the improvement Of this
try, morally socially, and commercially.
WISH much as possible, that the communication by
letters newspapers and pamphlets should pass between the
United States and Great Britain between Great Britain and
ireland, the INSTRUMENTATION of knowledge and kindly
feelings be the result tending the promotion Of friendly
and TO maintain peace desirable all countries
Appended to this letter is table showing the progressive
increase Of letters England the adoption Of penny
system postage From this appears that in 1885, the last
year the old SYSTEM the number Of chageabe letters rs
millions in 1910 it increased to 1863 millions in ls4l
1864 millions; il 1912 T. 20s5 millions in le43 to 220!
millions in 1874 to 242 millions in 1s45 to 27i millions
in 1916 TO 1894 millions in ls47 322 millions The
progressive increase the last year quite equal The
age for the whole period, except the first year And this
progressive increases the result Of the principle under
the old system the Of the Post Office had been nearly
stationary for twenty years, amounting about two millions
and quarter per In ls47 the gross fell
short Of what previous the change the low rate,
about f4000 00 But Mr.. Hume in letter to a gentleman
in Boston says "I informed by the General Post Office
that the gross this year will equal expected the
gross Of postage the year before the postage
duced Such has been the financial result OF the system Of
low postage England Blu, the principle has by no means
exhausted power the ratio Of increase nearly great
the last the preceding years. excepting the first II may,
therefore, be considered established that the low principle
will when It's power fully exered, be ecacious Ia re-
spect the principle of higher But il
quires time realize its results II has been operation
eight years England, and the increase still goes on in
corresponding degree, with former years In eight years the
incsase has been nearly five hundred per The eff
cheney Of this principle depends clements frst the
increase of consumption and, secondly, the attraction Of all
letters into the mail
In this country, far the experiment has been tried the
result has been equally successful and satisfactory The