The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-08-24
Posi- OyrrcE REvoax-RxDusrIoH IN PosrAcs

| Posr-OyrIcE REvoRM-REDUsrIoN IN PosrAos
| The advocates Of reformsin the postage laws,
and of reduton In the rates of postage on letters
and newspapers, have commenced operations to-
wards carrying out the desired improvement, and
making move in the next Congress for that pur-
pose. There is NO question that the present rates
Of postage might be reduced, and that such reduc-
ton would not materially affect the revenues OF the
department, in regard to peeuniary loss. From a
circular issued by the Boston Cheap Postage As
sociation, the following appear to be their views
the subject as far as regards newspapers
l. That the uniform rate Of postage on newspapers
| should DO one cent paid in advance.
All regular subscribers be allowed to pay their
postage quarterly In advance Otherwise the postage
to be doubled the publisher notified to stop the pa
8 All papers not sent to regular subscribers to be
paid in advance at the Office where they are mailed
except the usual free exchange papers which viii be
4 Publishers prohibited from including occasional
| papers in the bundles sent to subscribers
s. To facilitate the prepayment Of postage on occa-
sonal papers let the Post furnish stamped strips
wrappers for cent each to be used in all
except Of papers Subscribers These to kept
for fale, at every post. office
IL would probably be for the interest OF the De-
parment to sell these newspaper stamps in quantities
Of 600 more, at liberal reduction, Of fourth
one half-the increase Of business more than
| compromising for the discount
| We concur In the reforms proposed above, and
are of opinion that the country would be much
benefited if they were carried into effect. In
our opinion, the rule at present existing, allowing
papers to circulate free, for distance Of thirty
miles from the Office Of publication, is an absurd
one. 1t is a very good one for country papers,
which generally have but small and limited
circulation but the people of the United
States will not be satisfied with country papers.
They must have newspapers issued from the
Cxo, No, IN anti
GUAR which is the centre-thc focus of the thought
and intelligence of the nation. If the rate of post
age, irrespective of distance, be reduced to one
cent, and the discrimination in regard to news
papers not mailed from the Office of publication
were abolished, we are satisfied that there would
be vast decrease the amount Of labor connected
with this branch of the department; while at the
same time, the mails would not be encountered
with lot Of trash which is redeemed by the
parties to whom it Is addressed. This would save
good deal OF expense in the way of transporting
the mails and considerable labor in the post Offices
Under the present system, we informed that a
great quantity OF this unredeemed trash remains in
every post Office In the country.
In relation to the postage on letters, the rate
certainly ought to be reduced but we would n 1t
have the reduction made suddenly 1t should be
done gradually, and the rate by degrees brought
down to the lowest possible point consistent with
indemnity to the den ut, no matter how low
that point may be- one cent, SO much the
better.
These are our vic OF postage reform, respect
ing both newspspeI and letters. We have no
doubt that if proper energy be used in the matter,
the reform advocated 10y the Cheap Postage Asso
citation can be carried out at the next session Of
Congress.
ANNoYANcEs AT THE FASHIONABLE WATERING
Es-ExAcTIoNs o. DEPENDENTS AT THE Ho-
TEIs.-Among the annoyances to which boarders
at the fashionable hotels are subject, by no
means the least Is the exactlons made by the ser
wants about these establishments This evil has
grown hugely of late years, and il has now come
to be sort of conceded right, that waters, por.
tiers, and all sorts Of servants, may make all1the
money possible out Of those who remain as pemion-
nares for few days, or perhapsua few weeks, a
the houses where they are employed. We are
fact approaching an equality with Europe in this
respect, withIone difference, however; there, the
domestics are not paid for their services by the
publicons whe keep the houses; here they are paid
good wages and pursue the system of exactlon only
| TO procure pocket money or TO crafty an avari-
cious disposition.
THIS evil is complained Of by persons who visit
the fashionable watering places, as existing in all
the fashionable hotels, the largest houses being the
most plagued by it. At Saratoga and Newport
and, in fact, with here and there only an excep..
ton, the mode is the same. A gentleman takes a
seat at the dinner table and begins to enjoy his re.
past, when the waiter very likely in handing him
plate of beef or a dish Of vegetables, asks if he
likes his seat. The guest replies in the affirmative,
and finishes his meal when he is about to rise
from the dinner table, the waiter asks if he shall
"save this seat for the gentleman, or "these
Seats" If there should be more than one. The
reply, the house being crowded, is, Of course, in
the affirmative. These "sea,s saved, are always
80 saved at the expense OF the occupant who, in
order TO insure n tolerable attendance, must fee
literally the hand, be it white or black, which is
TO furnish him with meat and drink. But the
walters beng made all right, only step is made
towards securing the comforts Of the house. The
chambermads, the messengers, the porters, boots
and so on through the whole list, all must be re-
conciled, conciliated, made propiiious, under
penalty of discomfort to the boarder, in that par
tcular department which he neglects to reconcile,
concate and make prepitious.
The diplomacy, the extraordinary address, used
by these people to bring about their ends, is curl
osiiy In itself. No demand direc, is ever made, no
palm lie even outstr,tched. The donation invaribly
comes unasked from the donor himself. But come
it must, or he suffers the consequences of his ne
qlect We canno, but think this matter worthy of
the attention of the hotel keepers. The evil has
really come TO be a nuisance, and ought to be at
tended te. II is made the subject of complaint in
private circles, in the many houses where il is sub.
miited to with the best apparent grace. And Ger
ialny, In the end, the system must be INJURIOUS 10
the house itself. Why, in the cases OF transient
visiorr, these email affairs amount to az much or
more than the legitimate hotel charges, and il is
f, burhentone. See to II Messieurs landlords, and
remedy the evil.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE ABDUCTION
OF Rkr.-The Philadelphia North American, upon
which the Secretary Of State holds mortgage