The New York herald., 1848-12-20
WASHINGTON, Dec. I8, 1913
Cheap Postdgs-Mr. Johuson's Report, and M1icv


Cheop Postdge-Mr. Johuson's Report, and MVcv
Hobbie's Suggestions.
The Unton, in an article referring to the recent
meeting IN favor of cheap postage, held in New
York, observes =
We would approve the object with all our heart II
such cement (hree cent letter pstags) could
upon the treasury But it Is sstimss.d both BY the
Postmaster General and, We underetsnd by Major
Hobbie that it could scarcely be reduced to So low
rate, without drawing IL for million Of dollars
more, to supply any deficiency that may arise Ia the
disbursement We trust 1t will rapidly approach that
maximum and We have doubt that with the aid Of
Msjer Hobbe. and q Postmaster General whose energy
equals that Of Ci. Johnson, the next administration
may Tea ixe the problem"
This is the first reference which has been made.
in the official organ to Major Hobbies opinion az
regards reduction of postage; and 1t ia not,
strictly speaking, correct. We stated, some time
since, that Major Hobbe had prepared report
upon the subject of cheap postage and the post
office department generally, which he had submit
ted to Mr.. Johnson Such Is the case, we under
stand; but, for reason other, the report has
not, as yet, been allowed to see the light The
miserable "outline report " of the Posm astsr
General, has now been before the country
a sufficient time to get expression of opia-
ION upon it, and it has received almost univer-
sal rIdlcule-and from no quarter praise. Mr..
Johnson, ate crOaklng at great length about tho
trsnking privilege, briefly states that a uniform
letter postage OF five cents may pay (; but from the
manner IN which he orlngs 1t out, as well as from
the total absence OF any dat a, It Is evident that
making the admission, he does un willingly. and
with the desire that it may not be acted upon.
Major Hobble, who Is a gentleman o! great expert
ence and enlightened mind, represents, in his
smothered report, we learn from good authori-
ty, that a uniform rate of three cents postage on
letters would be sufficient, upon certain conditions
He then mathematlcally demonstrates his position.
nnd itpn atnoo In data. OH i, fhao al.
sion he has arrived at Is founded upon facts and
actual observation He calculates that three
cents rate will be ample upon all the great routes;
but that upon of the thinly settled roads 1t
will not pay. He then argues that it is unfair, be-
Of this deficiency, TO tax one portion OF the
community alone, by lacing higher rate upon
all letters, aud thus creating surplus upon some
routes tor the benefit of others; but that as the
deficiency must be made up in some way, he con-
sders that the tax should be uniform upon all
classes, and that Congress should therefore make
II up. He also estimates that the reduced rate of
newspaper postage will not pay on some routes, tor
! the same reasons as advanced in The case of let
ters, and makes similar suggestion for the lIqu-
dation OF the deficiency. These two items he cal
culates at halt a million of dollars, and not, as
he Un,on asserts, /" one million or more.' With
reference to the franklng privilege, it is tax
whlsh must, In any event, come out OF the pockets
OF the eople he can see no good reason WHY the
extra expense should be made, of employing an
increased number Of clerks to keep set of books,
which government and congressional postage
should be charged The simpler and less ex-
pensive mode would be to make an annual
appropriation of half a million of dollars,
which would cover all the official postage Of
every description It will be seen from this
brief sketch, that Major Hobbie assigns good
reasons tor all his propositions and we doubt
not, IT his report is above to see the light it will
he acted upon. The great post office refOrmer Of
England, Rowland Hill, looks upon a reduction Of
our present rate OF postage impossible; and GER
taiDly, II with our immense extent OF territory.
reduction TO even five cents can be made, il will
tar excel in economy the penny-post system of
Britain, where the country Is only few hundred
miles IN extent, and where splendid roads have
for centuries past connected every town and ham
let. The argument In favor of an appropriation
being made by Congress, to make up the def
cheney which may arise in sparsely settled places,
iDste ad OF upduly taxing the mercantile cOmmu-
nIty which is the great class interested IN postal
communication, Is novel, but not the less strong
one.
The closing sentence in the Un,on's paragraph.
which speaks of the next Postma ster General
and expresses hope that he will be m an whose
energy shall equal that of the present Incumbent, 10
beautifully sarcastic The very idea OF Cave John
sons "energy" IS sufficient to put person to
sleep but to fancy that such another energetic iu-
dvdual be- found in the limits OF the United
States, is fully equal to dose OF clorOform.
We trust, If MIR. Johnson will not communicate
MAJOR Hobbies report to Congress, that some
member will call upon HIM to do so. 1t would be
q pity IT, through the narrow-mindedness OF tho
Postmaster General the able views of his assist
ant should be prevented from going before the
public.